For those who knew him, it is no surprise that John McKibbin was going out of his way to help somebody else when he was killed in a plane crash.
McKibbin, 69, a longtime civic leader who had far-reaching tentacles throughout Clark County, died Wednesday when the small plane he was piloting crashed into the Columbia River near Astoria, Ore. According to media reports, he was flying a widow to help scatter the ashes of her husband near the mouth of the river. In examining McKibbin’s contributions to the region, this selfless act that turned tragic was befitting of his character.
So it is that the brief eulogies provided in the comments section at Columbian.com included platitudes such as “gentleman,” “humor and leadership,” “great man who was dedicated to making this community better,” “one of Clark County’s greatest assets,” and, in an understatement, “tremendous loss.”
And while we offer condolences to the families of both McKibbin and his passenger, we also offer appreciation for those who selflessly work to improve their community. And we call for other people who possess vision and a collaborative nature to seize the mantle of public service, an area that increasingly is occupied these days by ideologues and demagogues. As one commenter wrote, “Although I never had the honor of knowing Mr. McKibbin personally or professionally, I always mourn the loss of someone who is very involved in the community and gives back to others. That alone tells me that he was a man of much character.”
That character was evident throughout a career that began as a teacher of contemporary world problems at Columbia River High School. McKibbin went on to serve two terms as a state representative, three terms as a Clark County commissioner, time as president and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, and a stint as president of Identity Clark County.
As columnist Gordon Oliver of The Columbian wrote in 2014 when McKibbin moved to Identity Clark County: “McKibbin is polished in appearance and positive in presentations about the county, and he takes the big view you’d expect from someone who frequently has a bird’s-eye view of the county from the private plane based at Pearson Field. … He longs for a return to the cordial, collaborative relationships among business, politics, and citizenry that moved this county in the past two decades from bedroom community into a place with its own business and social identity.”
It is worth noting that the emphasis on cordiality and collaboration is linked with a time of progress for Clark County. In a modern era when political idealism and opposition often is viewed as a matter of principal, the truth is that it more typically results in little more than intransigence and gridlock that is detrimental to a community. Citizens should demand more from their leaders, expecting the kind of statesmanship that McKibbin frequently demonstrated. As The Columbian once wrote editorially, “McKibbin’s perspectives typically are solid and well-researched” — traits that should be guideposts for civic leaders.
Certainly, politics have changed since McKibbin was representing Clark County. But collaboration should not be confused with acquiescence; obstinacy should not be confused with leadership. Those were the lessons that John McKibbin provided during four decades as a community leader throughout the region. His loss is, indeed, a tremendous one for the community.
