Memories

What was very unique about Kenny was that he treated you like he was your best friend whether you had known him for 1 hour, 1 year or 30 years. I was one of those fortunate enough to have known him for 30 years.

So, for nearly three decades, we got to work alongside this terrific photographer and even better person. While we covered the games with our words, Kenny had that ability to capture those special moments from behind his camera. When it came to sports photos, Kenny had no equals.

I hadn’t seen Kenny very often in the last couple of years, but when I did, it was a warm greeting, firm handshake and, of course, a laugh or six.

Rest in Peace, my friend.

Ken remembered everything, every little detail in the lives of the people that made up the fabric of his life. I first got to know Ken during my 1988 fall internship 26 years ago in Muskegon. I was there for only 12 weeks, barely a blink in the eye of time, and yet, the last time I spoke with him within this past year he remembered details of my life.

Yes Ken, I will certainly send a salute to Hoxeyville in your honor. You will be missed but your spirit will live on in all of us for decades to come. So many up-and-coming storytellers over the years have you to thank for making their lives what they are today.

Every single day Ken Stevens performed his job with professionalism. As a photojournalist, he always treated people with dignity and respect, holding himself to a high standard of ethics. Most importantly, Ken was a first-rate person, enhancing the lives of everybody around him. He mentored me through high school, college and my first job at The Muskegon Chronicle.

One of my favorite Ken stories was when I was shadowing him as a student. It happened to be during the Muskegon Air Fair and we got to go up in a giant military transport plane. As we were strapped in, they opened the back to take pictures of Lake Michigan. After we were on the ground, Ken could tell I was amped up and said with a smile, “Now, Cory, everyday at the newspaper isn’t like this.” I just nodded but we both knew I was sold on a career.

My heart breaks for his wonderful family. I’m going to miss Ken very much and the Muskegon community lost a real treasure today.

Such sad news.. I always thought of Ken as one of the truly good guys, working in one of the coolest places a photojournalist could be back in the day. Even though we never got to work side by side, he was always willing to lend an ear, or an eye, to a younger photographer looking for advice. My prayers are with your family and many, many friends tonight, Ken Stevens. God bless – I’ll see you on the other side.

Spent the afternoon with a camera in my hand for the first time in years, shooting photos of the adobe buildings in Old Town Albuquerque, and while struggling to find a good angle to shoot San Felipe de Neri church, thought to myself “What would Ken Stevens do?”

Got home and went online for the first time today, only to find he’d passed away.
Throughout the 80s, whenever we were photographing the same event (which happened frequently), my goal was to get a better photo than Ken. I don’t think I ever did. We could be standing right next to each other on the sidelines photographing a CMU football game, and yet later I would see his photos, and think “When the hell did that happen?”

And yet, with all that talent, he was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. The world is less without him.