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Show Dion Stephenson 'tried to excel,' friends remember Bv TOM HARALDSEN Clipper Correspondent BOUNTIFUL As word of the death of Marine Lance Cpl. Dion Stephenson during an Operation Opera-tion Desert Storm fire fight reached home, friends and former teachers paused to remember the young man who always strived to excel. Dion, or "D" as he liked to be called in 1986, his junior year at Woods Cross High School, was active ac-tive in school affairs, drama and a leader on the Wildcat swimming team that won its seventh consecutive con-secutive Region 4 swim title. Popular with his friends, Dion lost in a close race for senior class president to his good friend Vaughn Elkins. "They participated on each other's campaign skits. They didn't care who won. They were just great friends," said Vaughn's father, Larry. out of the country. Thirteen of the young men were serving missions for the LDS Church and Dion was in the military. Each would write letters to their surrogate mom, Mary Ann Watson, and she would compile com-pile the letters into a newsletter and send it to each of them every month. "We were all home but Dion on Thanksgiving and we had a reunion and everyone wrote to him,' said Chris. We are all going to miss him," he said. "Everyone knew and loved Dion" said neighbor and good friend Mary Ann Watson. "When the news of his death came the entire en-tire neighborhood was affected. He was a good friend to everyone regardless of their age. His love for people was remarkable," she said. "He was an extremely sensitive, committed and self disciplined young man," said Dion's Woods Cross High drama coach Bonnie 3L The Marines killed alongside vT"" Lance Cpl. Dion J. Stephenson of Bountiful w25lS25k during combat with SS Iraqi troops near 1 Khafji, Saudi Arabia, included: $gt. Garett A. Mongrella, 25, Belvidere, N.J. Cpl. David T. Snyder, 21, Kenmore, N.Y. Cpl. Stephen E Bentzlin, 23, Wood Lake, Minn.;; Cpl. Ismael Cotto, 27, New York City I Lance Cpl. Frank C. Allen, 22, Wianae, Hawaii Lance Cpl. Thomas A Jenkins, 20, Mariposa, Calif. --K-y-y-y-y.:-yy.v---:v v.v, -.; r -. y.y,y.y :; x-. w .v:,v 'Lance CpL Michael E. Underman, Jr., 19, Douglas, Ore. Lance Cpl. James H. Lumpklns, 22, New Richmond, Ohio lance Cpl. Daniel B. Walker, 20, Whitehorse, Texas Hobbs. "Everyone liked Dion. He was such a giving individual. He had the determination that allowed him to reach a degree of excellence that not every high school student can achieve. We will really feel his loss,' ' she said. It was little wonder that when Dion's death was disclosed on Thursday afternoon, the sense of loss was felt strongly at Woods Cross even amongst a student-body student-body which was in junior high or grade school when Dion Stephenson Stephen-son brought glory to his alma mater. "This is one of those sad incidents in-cidents when we lose a young person per-son who had so much to give," Steve Hill, Woods Cross athletic director, di-rector, said. "Dion was very active here in school, very popular and well lov-' lov-' ed. He really was the All -American kind of boy. Wildcat football coach John Han-ing Han-ing never coached Dion as a player, but he developed a great love for him as a friend. "We became real good friends right after he graduated, just before he went into the military," said Haning, who spent most of Thursday Thurs-day with the Stephenson family. "Whenever he was back in town on leave, he'd always come over and visit with us and our kids," Haning said. "He was a great young man always upbeat, always very positive. People just sort of gravitated to him. ' Throughout the day Thursday, and through much of Friday, the thoughts and praises of Dion were shared aloud in schools and neighborhoods in Davis County, and beyond. Sherri Shuldberg, who grew up a few blocks away from Dion and attended at-tended the same school, said she was "just totally stunned" at the news of his death. "It bothered me most, because for so long I kept saying 'I need his address, I need his address to write him,' and now it's too late to do that," Shuldberg said. She also urged citizens in Davis County to fly the flag or display yellow ribbons in honor of the dead Marine. "I just think it's important, especially espe-cially within this next week that's when his funeral's going to be and everything - that everyone get flags out or show their support by putting yellow ribbons out," Shuldberg said. His swim coach and close friend, Dan Maroney, spoke highly of Dion each week as the swimming wrapup was gathered for news reporters. Dion's leadership qualities were - clearly evident even at the age of 16. As the 1986-87 school year began, it was to become Dion's year in the sun. Swimming practice began shortly after classes reconvened that fall In assessing his team for the year, Maroney pointed out that Dion would be one of those swimmers not only counted on for points, but looked up to by his teammates and classmates. Dion did not disappoint He qualified again that season, as he had the previous two seasons, for region and state swim meets. His events were grueling the fly, the IM but his efforts both in practice and in performance never wavered. At region in 1987, Dion swam a fine 200 IM and finished second, but a powerful East High team that had geared up for seven years to end the Wildcat reign as league champs finally prevailed, edging Woods Cross for the team title. Dion went on to state that spring, finishing ninth in the 100 fly. There remained another dynasty at Woods Cross, however. He was a big part of that as well In May, the Wildcat soccer team lost for the first time in over three years to Bonneville in a first-round state playoff game. It appeared for a time that Woods Cross long stranglehold on soccer championships champion-ships might be over. Such was not the case. Battling back through the loser's bracket of the double-elimination tournament, the Wildcats earned a repeat shot at Bonneville in a Saturday Satur-day night final. Woods Cross dropped the Lakers 3-0 to win a fourth straight state title, and Dion joined his fellow teammates in a midfield celebration. Dion was also a state championship champion-ship caliber actor. In 1987, he took top superior ratings for his pantomime pan-tomime routine. His picture, along with those of his fellow Wildcat state champion actors and actresses, graced the front page of the Clipper on May 21, 1987. Fellow Thespian Chris Thomock said, "He was a great friend and a very positive person. He did everything every-thing with a lot of excitement.' Dion and Chris were two of 14 friends who kept in touch through the "Fella's Flyer' while they were |
