It’s Never Too Late – Rusty Gibson Graduate Spotlight

  • Monday, January 13, 2025
Tami Durrigan, Adult Education instructor on left, and Angela Cooper, Adult Education Director on right, celebrated with Rusty Gibson at the LETA graduation ceremony
Tami Durrigan, Adult Education instructor on left, and Angela Cooper, Adult Education Director on right, celebrated with Rusty Gibson at the LETA graduation ceremony

Growing up in Chattanooga, James “Rusty” Gibson was continually told he couldn’t learn, he wouldn’t amount to anything, and he would be in prison before he was 18. He dropped out of school in 8th grade and didn’t return until 2024. At the age of 54, Mr. Gibson graduated from two programs at Cleveland State Community College and started his dream job.

Mr. Gibson earned his high school equivalency diploma from the Cleveland State Adult Education program in June and started the Law Enforcement Training Academy in September. With Tennessee Reconnect, he could afford the 12-week LETA program. TN Reconnect is a last dollar scholarship that covers most of the tuition and fees for adults who are 23 years and older who have not already completed an associate or bachelor’s degree.

“Cleveland State made my dreams come true,” said Mr. Gibson. “The Adult Ed program was a big blessing. I had a teacher who truly believed in me and told me that I could do it. Ms. Tami (Durrigan) would explain things differently if I needed her to.”

Going straight into the workforce as a teenager, Mr. Gibson started with construction jobs. He moved to Meigs County and worked as a welder for 25 years. He also served as a volunteer firefighter and first responder for the county.

Mr. Gibson had been interested in law enforcement for many years when a friend told him about an opening at the Meigs County Jail. He applied and started working at the jail in 2023. Years earlier, he had earned a GED from a correspondence program in Georgia, but the Sheriff’s Department could not accept that certificate to be a patrol officer on the road, a dream for Gibson.

He started taking classes with the Cleveland State Adult Education program; he failed the high school equivalency test the first time and felt defeated. Mr. Gibson decided to give up until he ran into Ms. Durrigan teaching at the jail. She encouraged him to try again.  

"I had the honor to teach Rusty; he was very determined to be a police officer, a lifelong dream,” said Ms. Durrigan, Adult Education lead instructor. “Meigs was giving Rusty an opportunity to make his dream come true. He put forth everything a student needs to and excelled to become a Meigs County Police Officer. When Rusty started, he wasn't expecting to be able to do it since he had been out of school so long, but his determination and willingness to succeed proved he could make his dream a reality.”

Mr. Gibson said, “I just kind of believed that I couldn’t do it, but here we are. It took a lot; parts of the law enforcement academy were tough, especially basic law. I made it through with pretty good grades all around.”

He not only completed the LETA program, but he was awarded the Firearms Award at the graduation ceremony and began working as a patrol deputy with the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office the next day.

Mike Hodges, LETA director, said, “Deputy Gibson was a model cadet; he really pushed through the challenges of the law enforcement academy and performed extremely well. The Meigs County Sheriff's Office added a very good deputy to their ranks with Deputy Gibson.”

“I wish I had done this 20 years ago,” said Mr. Gibson. “My wife always believed in me and told me that I could do it for years. I just didn’t believe in myself. I made it, finally.”

For more information about the Adult Education program, call 614-8763. For more information about the LETA program, call 473-2439 or email lawenforcementacademy@clevelandstatecc.edu.


Rusty Gibson was one of four award winners at the December LETA graduation. From left, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Corey Campbell, President Dr. Andy White, Jaycee Neel, Academic Excellence Award winner; Rusty Gibson, Firearms Award winner; Jerron Henry, Driving Award winner; Tanner Radtke, Physical Fitness Award winner; Director Mike Hodges, and Assistant Director Douglas Towne.
Rusty Gibson was one of four award winners at the December LETA graduation. From left, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Corey Campbell, President Dr. Andy White, Jaycee Neel, Academic Excellence Award winner; Rusty Gibson, Firearms Award winner; Jerron Henry, Driving Award winner; Tanner Radtke, Physical Fitness Award winner; Director Mike Hodges, and Assistant Director Douglas Towne.
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