Dudley Lee Gibson III, known as "Lee" to his friends and "Sonny" to his family, passed away unexpectedly on April 20, 2023. Lee was born on July 10, 1950 in Temple, Texas to Lola Winn Gibson and Dudley Lee Gibson, Jr.. He grew up in Dallas and attended Bryan Adams High School where he was active in band, in Demolay, and in talent shows where he performed a comedy routine that had people rolling in the aisles. He graduated from Bryan Adams in 1968, and went on to attend Southern Methodist University, also in Dallas. While an undergraduate at SMU, he worked as a DJ at KSMU, the campus radio station, and at KNUS, the popular local rock station at the time. He graduated with a BFA in 1972 with a major in Radio, TV, and Film. After graduation, he went on to work as a radio announcer at various stations in Dallas and Chicago; his favorite among them the classical music station WRR in Dallas, where he worked for many years. Subsequently, he made the decision to change his career direction and enrolled in SMU again, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in English in 1995. Thereafter, he continued his studies in SMU's doctoral program and taught English and writing at SMU for many years. He received multiple awards and accolades for teaching including the Hilltop Scholars Award and the Hope Professor Award, both of which he won several times. In 2004, through a poll taken of students, faculty, and alums, his English class was recognized in Texas Monthly Magazine as one of the best classes to take at SMU.

Lee was known by friends and family as a gentle and quiet soul with a sharp wit. He loved poetry and literature, teaching writing, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Rolling Stones, all things SMU, watching Dallas Cowboy football with his father, Texas Ranger baseball, birds, and all animals, especially cats. He had a high intellect and broad knowledge and could always win when playing Trivial Pursuit against multiple family members as a team of one. He had a remarkable life and will be greatly missed.

Lee is survived by his beloved cat, Max, his sister Jane Gibson Kosarek and husband Michael of Dallas, niece Jennifer Hughey and husband Blake of Plano, niece Katherine Walston and husband Mark of Dallas, and six great nieces and nephews: Grayson, Olivia, Charlotte, Price, Anderson, and Davis.

A Memorial Gathering to celebrate Lee's life will be held on Sunday, April 30th from 2 to 5 pm at 5837D E. University in Dallas. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory should be made to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.