In this article, Jack Gibbs writes an account of his life and work as a sociologist. Gibb’s dissertation is based on the work of Durkheim’s status integration theroy which Gibbs feels is key in the work of suicidologists in forming new suicide prevention strategies. Gibb’s began as a researcher for International Urban Research then moved to a formal career in sociology as assistant professor at the University of Texas. He is currently working as a sociologist professor at Vanderbilt University.