Portraits of Moab (1988-1993) #2…by Jim Stiles

In the late 80s and early 90s, I was taking a lot of pictures of Moab’s ‘survivors.’ the ones who decided to tough out the hard times and make a new life. Here is Part 2 of my collection of Great Moab Faces…JS

CHIP BROX…Longtime Moabite and the owner of Grand Tire. He is the guy who can put a square deal in a round hole!!!

JANET LOWE came to Moab in the late 1980s. She now lives in Alaska with her husband Bob Buckingham.

DENNIS KILKER was a familiar face in Moab for decades and a mechanic at Rim Cyclery. He left us more than a decade ago. I miss getting flipped off by Kilker.


KELLY STELTER…one of the kindest and most good-hearted men I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. ‘Cheerful in all weathers…never shirked a task.”


JOSE KNIGHTON…for many years the manager of Back of Beyond Book store in Moab. He lives in Oregon these days.


DEVIN VAUGHAN came to Moab with his brothers Dirk and Darren in the early 90s when they bought Tex McClatchey’s business. Always the heartthrob, even when he started wearing skirts in public, he’s still in Moab.


JULIE FOX  moved to Moab in the mid-1980s. She had worked for AMTRAK for years but later started the Eklecticafe’ which still thrives, despite the onslaught of national chain restaurants. She is married to the infamous KEN DAVEY


BLACK BEAN or (to me) BEANIE BOY, was my next door neighbor in Moab for many years (along with Ken Davey & Julie Fox) and always greeted me, each and every time, as he appears in this photo. He was loved by all who knew him. I miss Beanie Boy…


DON SWASEY  was the owner of High Desert Gift shop on Main Street for more than two decades. He was also a brilliant artist and silversmith.  Don passed away in 2003.


TERI ANN TIBBETTS
Always outrageous and never forgotten, TeriAnn has been a part of the Moab landscape for decades.  She brings a lot of smiles to many faces.


NIK HOUGAN…cowboy, artist, resident hermit, NIK is one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. I hear he’s still living up on the Flats on his patented mining claim. One of a kind…


KARLA VANDERZANDEN…the creator, along with the late Robin Wilson, of the Canyonlands Field Institute in Moab. She’s still there, at the helm of CFI.


To read the PDF version of this article, click here.

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6 comments for “Portraits of Moab (1988-1993) #2…by Jim Stiles

  1. Mike Marooney
    February 1, 2012 at 10:23 pm

    Thanks for the memories, I got a little teary when I saw the picture of Nick, a man at peace with himself and the planet. As you may or may not recall, I commisioned him to construct the ear for Rumors. Ther
    is a certain sadness, having such a great trearsure trove of humanity all around you for so many years and to have let some of the memories slip away. Guess that’s what we have you for! Thank you my friend

  2. Janet Buckingham
    February 13, 2012 at 12:47 am

    Thanks, Jim. One important note to my biography: I WILL be coming back to Moab! It’s home. (And holy cow, where did the years go?)

  3. February 18, 2012 at 10:37 pm

    Hey Ladies!! What a fubluoas series, and a fubluoas set of bloggers.I sure miss living so close to the awesomeness that is Moab. Also, I have to put in a plug for all the fubluoas rivers around there. The Colorado, Green and San Juan have some great beginner stretches and sections that are quite family friendly. What I wouldn’t give to be on one of those rivers today

  4. Monty
    September 8, 2018 at 5:19 pm

    Sure miss Kilker aka Bono!

  5. Kelly Cooper
    September 9, 2018 at 10:32 am

    We love this article. My wife and I lived in Moab from 1971 to 1982. It had not been “discovered” yet. It was a magical wonderful place. We moved to southwestern Utah and have lived there since that time. We still return to Moab 6 or 7 times a year leading tours for Road Scholar out of Dixie State University. Things have changed mightily but we still love Moab and the unequaled splendor to be discovered and rediscovered there. We always visit two more survivors: Steve Brock and Becky Knouff. Here’s to many more returns.
    Kelly and Mick Cooper

  6. Gay Stocks
    December 10, 2018 at 7:07 am

    I feel bad you didn’t include Mayor Tom. He was one of a kind.

    I miss him so much.
    His biggest Cheerleader.
    Gay M. Stocks

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