Richard Alan Stephenson

Richard Alan “Big Al” Stephenson died suddenly January 8, 2025, at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, following a brief hospitalization in late December for pneumonia. He was 83 years old.

Al was born July 17, 1941, in Macon, Georgia, where he attended Lanier Junior and Senior High School for Boys, and then Mercer University where he joined ROTC. After graduating in 1963, he received a 3-year Defense Education Assistantship for graduate study at the University of Georgia in Modern European Diplomatic History. It was there he developed his allegiance to the Georgia Bulldogs football team.

After graduate school, Stephenson entered the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant in January 1967. Following his graduation from the Army Officer’s Counter-Intelligence School in Baltimore, he volunteered and served in Vietnam 1967-1969, attaining the rank of captain.

Returning home, he reentered graduate school at the University of Georgia where he became Photo Editor of the University’s daily newspaper, The Red and Black, a position that ignited his lifelong career as a photojournalist.

In 1970 Stephenson became a staff photographer for the Atlanta Journal & Constitution. In this position he covered the governorship of Jimmy Carter and Carter’s subsequent campaign for the presidency, as well as news events throughout the state.

Al served as vice-president and president of the Atlanta Press Photographer’s Association and began to win state and regional awards for his news photos. “Big Al” was also an active member of the National Press Photographers Association, receiving its McLaughlin Award of Merit in 1983 for “10 years of service to photojournalism as a leader and motivator.”

In January 1982, Al met Barbara Baker at a National Geographic Society photo seminar in Washington. After a whirlwind romance, the two were married October 9, 1982, in McLean, Va., where she lived. After his 12 years in Atlanta, Al moved to Virginia and continued his freelance public relations and news photography in the DC Metro Area where he worked for numerous national newspapers, the Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times DC Bureau, covering Congress and the White House during the Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations. He was a member of the White House News Photographers Association.

Al and Barbara Stephenson lived 30 years in McLean, Va., where they had one son William, born July 18, 1987, one day after Al’s birthday. The family was involved in community life, particularly in school activities and athletics. Al reveled in being a father. He was a volunteer extraordinaire at Churchill Road Elementary School, well-known and appreciated by faculty, students and other parents. Everyone knew Mr. Stephenson. Besides helping teachers on classroom projects, Al documented school life with his camera from 1992-1999, serving as Co-Chair and Chief Photographer for the school’s Yearbook.

Though Al never played soccer he embraced this new sport when son Will joined a youth team.  He volunteered as an assistant and eventually become a head coach himself. For several years he coached Will and his classmates on a McLean Youth Soccer Association team. Stephenson attended coaching clinics and also became a certified referee. Then in 1999, he began an eight-year stint as the Referee Assignor for McLean Youth Soccer.

Just as he reveled in the joy of fatherhood, Al was devastated when he and Barbara lost their son William following a five-year battle with cancer. Will was diagnosed after his first year of college and died January 18, 2011, at age 23 years, 6 months. For Al this was a profound and lasting loss.

In 2014 Stephenson and his wife moved to Scottsdale, AZ.  In retirement he enjoyed playing golf and traveling internationally. In the past 10 years they visited London; Paris; Barcelona; Madrid; Monte Carlo; Rome; St. Petersburg and Moscow on a Russian River Cruise; Athens and a Greek cruise, including Ephesus in Turkey; a cruise from Auckland, New Zealand, to Sydney, Australia; Lisbon and Porto in Portugal; and most recently a British Isles cruise for Stephenson’s 83rd birthday.

Richard Alan Stephenson was preceded in death by his son William Alexander Stephenson; both parents, Marshall Earle and Ruth Harrison Stephenson; two brothers, Marshall E. Stephenson, Jr. and Bill Stephenson. Al is survived by his wife of 42 years, Barbara Baker Stephenson of Scottsdale, AZ; his sister, Rita (Wiley)King of St. Marys, GA.; and his brother Carlton Dean (Lisa) Stephenson of Macon, GA.

A public Visitation was held January 22 at Messinger Indian School Mortuary, 7601 E. Indian School Rd., Scottsdale, AZ. Stephenson’s wish was to be laid to rest next to his son. The private interment will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Mount Morris, IL, in February. A Celebration of Life will be held August 1-3, 2025, in Mount Morris.

Memorial contributions can be made to Cedar Hill Cemetery Association, 4748 W. Oregon Trail Rd., Mount Morris, Ill, 61054; or a charity of your choice.