Lebanon council member dies at 69

Gib Adkins, a member of Lebanon City Council, has died.

Adkins, 69, died Dec. 7, according to his obituary posted to HolmanHowe.com. His cause of death was not disclosed in the obituary. 

As a Lebanon council member, Adkins represented Ward 1 since 2015, according to a statement from city Mayor Jared Carr posted online.

"He was not only a committed public servant – he was one of Lebanon’s strongest advocates," Carr said in the statement. "Gib believed deeply in this community, championed its progress and took great pride in seeing Lebanon grow and succeed.

"His steady leadership, his knowledge of city operations and his passion for improving quality of life made a lasting impact on our city."

Carr said via email that Adkins’ Ward 1 seat is up for election in April 2026. Filing for the election begins today, he said, noting he hasn’t yet determined if he would fill Adkins’ seat until the next election.

Adkins worked the past 10 years as regional outreach administrator for Missouri State University's Lebanon campus, according to his obituary. He also worked in the insurance industry, and his civic service included time with the Lebanon Rotary Club, the Masonic Lodge and the Lebanon Ambassadors organization.

"Gib was a passionate student of history and constantly encouraged other good people to become involved in public service," his obituary reads. "A dedicated public servant, Gib served multiple terms on the Lebanon City Council, following in his father’s footsteps and always striving to improve the city he loved."

A visitation is planned from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at Holman-Howe Funeral Homes. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Dec. 11 at First Baptist Church in Lebanon, followed by burial at Mount Rose Memorial Park, according to his obituary.