What a beautifully written tribute to a great man....I have tears welling in my eyes reading this all....his great work gave me a lot to ponder, cherish and value, I didn't even know any of this information.

My prayers go out to his friends and family...may he finally now rest in peace.

[This comes from a friend, Jeff Johnson, a former investigative reporter for CNSNews.com] For nearly an hour, I've been staring at the computer screen trying to come up with words that do justice to the life of David Thibault and his impact on the lives of others. But there aren't any words that can adequately describe what better people we all are for having known Dave. And even if there were words that could accurately convey the positive influence he had on everyone with whom he came into contact, there just wouldn't be enough of those words to get it right.Many people, who didn't know Dave in 2001, don't know the story of his first battle with cancer. It was Dave's description of how well MRC, CNSNews.com, Doug Mills and Brent Bozell had treated him during that illness that convinced me to accept the job with CNSNews.com. I desperately wanted to be a part of an organization, no, a family that treated its people that well. Dave was the best salesman CNSNews.com ever had!As a boss, the thing I remember most about Dave is his ability to correct you when you made a mistake without belittling you as a person. Every time Dave called me into his office to point out something I'd done wrong, I walked out feeling challenged to do better rather than beaten down or disheartened. Most of Dave's time as editor-in-chief was spent praising everyone who worked for him and giving his subordinates all of the credit for accomplishments that rightfully belonged, at least in part, to him.As a teacher, the thing I remember most about Dave is his ability to "help you learn" something so that it stuck with you and you could apply it and adapt it to different situations and circumstances. He wasn't interested in "teaching you" something just so he could put a checkmark in a box. He wanted you to learn things that would help you be a better reporter, a better editor, a better leader and, most importantly, a better person.As a friend, Dave was more like a brother than any friend I've ever known. He shared his dreams for his family with me and offered me advice that, as a relatively new father, I am still using today. Any time there was an achievement or accomplishment, he would brag endlessly on his wife or kids. And when there were struggles, he would quietly ask for prayer. He was always talking about his relationship with his family and about how he wanted to be a better husband and a better father.We also had long talks about religion, politics and virtually every other topic that's not supposed to be brought up in polite social circles. Many times we agreed. Sometimes we disagreed. Occasionally, we disagreed vehemently. But Dave never once let any of those disagreements affect our relationship. One minute, he could be "mad as hell" at me after a conversation about the Second Amendment. The next minute, he would call me into his office and assign me to cover a story that he knew would make gun control supporters look like idiots. Dave had the ability to "disagree agreeably" better than anyone I've ever known.There's a memory that probably says more than I could ever write about who David Thibault was: Shortly after Dave was hospitalized in 2006, I was interviewed by Air America talk host Thom Hartmann. Thom is "combative" on the air, to put it politely, and he's a flaming liberal who's fond of ambushing conservatives with "statistics" that no one could counter off the cuff. He and Dave had gone round and round many times on the air about many different topics. Any time Dave's office door was shut and he was screaming into his phone, it was a safe bet he was being interviewed by Thom. But after every one of those screaming matches, Dave and Thom would talk, off the air, like two old friends from high school.As we began the interview, Thom mentioned to his audience that he had heard that Dave was in the hospital. He asked me to send his best wishes to Dave and he encouraged his listeners to pray for Dave. Now maybe Thom Hartmann is just a decent human being pretending to be a liberal talk show host. But my speculation is that it was Dave's willingness to "agree to disagree" with Thom that made Thom so concerned about the well-being of this man with whom he disagreed about so much.The last time I saw Dave was very difficult for me because my timing was so terrible. I was visiting him in the hospital, while he was undergoing chemotherapy, to tell him that I was leaving CNSNews.com and moving to Mississippi. (We came here so that I could spend more time with my wife and daughter and so that we could be closer to our families in Arkansas.)If Dave had been angry with me, called me a "traitor" or a "quitter," or even thrown me out of his hospital room, no one could or would have blamed him. But, even while he was in the middle of the fight of his life, he responded with the same grace that he had always extended to me. He congratulated me and told me that he was proud of me for putting my family first. We reminisced about the battles we had fought together over the last five years and he wished me and my family the best. We never said "goodbye," just "so long."When we left Northern Virginia for Mississippi, I knew that just being around Dave would be one of the things I would miss most. As many others have noted, his enthusiasm was contagious. Just being around him made you want to do more, do it better, and to live life more fully.So, when my phone rang this morning and the caller ID showed "Media Research Center," my heart sank because I knew there was only one reason someone from MRC would be calling that early. Before I could even answer the phone, I was crying.David Thibault was my boss and my teacher, and I can only hope that I will be able to pass on the things he taught me - about journalism and about life. He still is, and always will be my friend and my brother in Christ. I am sad for Lisa and their children, and for the MRC family, that he is gone. But I am so thankful that he is no longer suffering, and I praise God that I can know with certainty that I will see Dave again.May God bless everyone who reads this as much as he has blessed me through the life of David Thibault!Jeff

NB Editors,

Thank you for keeping this at the top of the 'page'.  In everything we 'blog' about, nothing is more important than spirit, personality and life----something that Mr. Thibault exemplified.   As I sit here and ponder on his life and all he did and contribute--a man I never knew-I reflect on my own life.  I too have been riddled with cancer--I was 21 at the time of diagnosis.  But like Mr. Thibault I have ALWAYS had the FIGHTING attitude.  I am 35 now, and so far free and clear,  but never have lost that fighting attitude.

We know what has happened to Mr. Thilbault but what I would like to tell his family is: relish in his spirit, for it was not his fault as to where he is now---he gave the good fight; his love in you, God and all that surrounded him was his salvation.  Furthermore know, Thibault family, it is his fighting spirit, among his soul, that will help you carry on.

Having been in his same fight, but never his shoes, I want you to know that you and your family are in my wife and I's prayers.  It is a very, very sad day, but please know he is out there, fighting for, and loving you all.

 In utmost and complete respect,

BW