"I never went out anywhere with Bill Fibben that he didn't stop and talk to half a dozen people, a restaurant, a tavern, the movies, a book store. I think he knew every third person in Atlanta." reflected Bruce Harlan, a friend and film colleague.

Bill Fibben, who died from pancreatic cancer, was born on January 1, 1944, in Washington. He grew up in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. He attended various colleges including the University of Georgia, where he studied psychology. Mr. Fibben moved to Atlanta in the mid-sixties, becoming involved in the civil rights movement. He quickly found work photographing the people and places of the city he loved, first for The Great Speckled Bird, an underground newspaper which chronicled the hippie movement in Atlanta from 1968 to 1978, and then for The Atlanta Gazette from 1974 to 1980.

As his attention turned to work in motion pictures, he applied his love for hard work toward the strenuous aspect of filmmaking known as gripping. After an on set accident weakened his back, he recreated himself again and became one of the country's premier boom operators. With partner Mary Ellis, Bill Fibben recorded the sound for over 40 motion pictures including such titles as "Driving Miss Daisy," "Fried Green Tomatoes," and "October Sky".

Fibben was a founding member of The Nexus Photography Gallery, and his photographic work was included in Nexus' first book, The Southern Ethic, published in 1975. His non-profit leadership included service as a member of the Board of Directors of IMAGE Film and Video, Inc. He was an advocate for people and places, working tirelessly as a pioneer of the Grant Park area beginning in the mid 1970's.

Bill Fibben is survived by his wife, Alison Fibben, and their son, Kirby Sinclair Fibben, of Grant Park, as well as a sister, Joy Fibben of California, and his mother, Juanita Fibben of New York.

Friends of the Fibben family have requested that contributions go to the Fibben Fund, P.O. Box 246, Avondale Estates, GA 30002, or to your favorite charity in Fibben's name.