Birth date: Jul 12, 1936 Death date: Sep 19, 2020
On September 19, 2020, the World’s Most Interesting Man left me sitting all alone while he took off for the party of the ages. I was not invited. My Daddy, Cecil Clay Stibbens, aka Steve, came into this world on July 12, 1936, via Read Obituary
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed talking with your dad while I was your mail carrier. He always had a lot to share. Sharon Dollar
Steve was a great neighbor to our family. He loved our kids and our dog. He was always friendly to talk to, and he enjoyed my baking=) He will be missed.
I always told my Dad that he was the luckiest man I’d ever met. Going through my dad’s papers, I’m reminded what a charmed life he led. He always loved traveling, and he seems to have circled the globe at least three times. I found travel vouchers for the Philippines, Tahiti, Reykjavik, most of Germany, and of course, Southeast Asia, and that was just for the Marines. I found menues from fancy restaurants, odd, questionable, souvenirs from the lavish parties at the Paris Air Shows, and ash trays from everywhere. I found his notification of being first in his journalism class, every certificate he had ever been awarded in the Marines, including one for his Bronze Star (which he always attributed more to a stellar recommendation than to his own merits). I also found every letter exchanged between him and my mom while he was overseas, and a slew of my childish drawings. I found every Christmas card anyone ever sent him. Mostly, I found pictures. Pictures of my mom, the love of his life. Pictures of me, playing dress up, first in my mom’s clothes, later in my own. Pictures of all the many critters we have had in our lives. Finally, pictures of him with his friends, some famous, many not, but all all of whom were deeply cherished. I have pictures too, of him, grinning from ear to ear, always excited just to see what each new day would bring, delighted just to be in good company. Those I keep in my heart. I love you, Daddy!
I am looking back over 56 years to the 23 year old kid UPI reporter who pitched up at the Marine Press Center in Danang in April 1965. One of the first smiling faces to greet me was that of Gy.Sgt. Steve Stibbens and he immediately lent a helping hand to the newcomer.
We went out on nearly every Marine operation in I Corps that spring and summer and fall, along with Henri Huet and Eddie Adams and George Esper and Steve Northup and Dickey Chappelle. Steve knew the Marines better than anyone else: He WAS a Marine! He was also a damned fine photographer who was fearless in combat situations. A lot of us went to school on Steve Stibbens and we learned from the best.
Steve was great company in a foxhole or a watering hole, then and later, in Vietnam and elsewhere. He was a good loyal friend from that first day to his final day last week when his great heart simply gave out.
I will miss him all the remaining days of my life, and I am certain when I land wherever I am going one of the first smiling faces I will see will be that of Gy. Sgt. Steve Stibbens, waving me over to the bar of some Marine Club!!!
--Joe Galloway
UPI Vietnam 1965-66; 1971; 1973; 1975.
