Another pillar of Idaho’s export community road off into the sunset during the October IDEC meeting. Lee Gibbs announced his retirement from Zion Bank after 41 years of helping businesses wrangle international business issues.  Lee’s departure follows that of Amy Benson, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service in Idaho for nearly 20 years, who left Boise for South Africa in September to become the Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Johannesburg.

Lee’s colleague and mentee at Zion Bank and fellow IDEC member Shane Hamblin affectionately calls Lee the “International Kung Fu Master.” Shane noted that Lee made a tremendous impact on everyone he met during his successful career in banking and international trade. “Everyone instantly loves Lee, who has a work ethic that is matched by his amiable character,” said Shane. He added that Lee was tireless in helping his clients solve knotty problems and improve processes.

Lee saw many adventures during his long international career. One of the most memorable was having his horse shot out from underneath him while wrangling collateral cattle.