A well-known former photographer for the Amarillo Globe-News and at Pantex, John Siegist Ebling, died April 8. He was 76.
Ebling was an excellent photographer, known for his photographs of people and historic events, such as the massive flood in Palo Duro Canyon. He had his own style of photography, going to great care in the darkroom to bring out the best in his black and white prints, which captured people in their best light. He was also meticulous in chronicling information about happenings and the people involved.
When the Palo Duro Canyon flooded back in 1978, Ebling rode into the Canyon with rescue trucks and met the people who were waiting to be rescued. Not only did he take their photos and stories, but he wrote them into a notebook and kept up with them through the years.
When the Globe-News wanted to revisit the “Flood of the Century,” he willingly turned over his photos and well-kept information, as well as reaching out to those he still had contact with, to make the story complete.
Ebling was always willing to lend a helping hand to someone who needed it and looked after his older photographers and news friends, checking on them and giving assistance when possible.
Learning his trade in the days of black and white film, Ebling transitioned with the times and kept interested in a variety of things including some painting for friends. He was a former manager of the Texas Camera Center, along with John Ebling Creative Photography and working at Pantex, and he stayed active in his retirement.
He was born June 19, 1949, in Kansas City, Missouri and lived with his parents and family in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a BS degree in Journalism.
He was a longtime member of Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo and served in various capacities, which included greeter, Sunday school teacher, small group leader, and a photographer (as needed).
According to his obituary, “Ebling loved meeting new people and would often talk with you as long as needed. He never met a stranger, and almost everywhere he went, he would meet someone who knew someone else he knew. These encounters would give his family a good laugh.”
A visitation for Ebling was held Monday, April 13, at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home, 2800 Paramount Blvd. The memorial service is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14 at 11 a.m. at Paramount Baptist Church, 3801 S. Western. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers, Amarillo.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo remembers photographer John Ebling
Reporting by Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
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