James I. Gibson was born March 22, 1925, in Golden, Jefferson County, Colorado. His family moved to Las Vegas in 1936. He graduated from Las Vegas High in 1943 and enrolled in the NROTC at the University on Colorado, subsequently receiving an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. He graduated with distinction in 1947 with a bachelor’s degree and was commissioned in the Civil Engineer Corps of the Navy. In 1950, he received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering. 

       In 1956, he began to serve on Henderson’s school board. His first of four terms as a state assemblyman began in 1958. He served as the chairman of the Ways and Means committee for six years.  In 1966, he was elected to the first of six terms in the state senate, where he was Majority Leader for five sessions.