Reggie Bibbs receives Gold Addy Award

Feb. 22, 2007, 10:15PM
Reggie Bibbs receives Gold Addy Award
Second Baptist Church member honored for advertising campaign

By KIM HUGHES
Chronicle Correspondent

Reggie Bibbs, a member of Second Baptist Church on Woodway, was looking fine in a suit and tie recently when he went on stage to receive a Gold Addy Award for his advertising campaign to raise awareness of a disfiguring disorder called neurofibromatosis.

It was a dressy affair at the Hyatt Regency Hotel downtown, which is why Bibbs, 42, wasn’t wearing the T-shirt that won him the award.

On the front is an abstract outline of Bibbs’ face, and on the back are the words “Just Ask.”

“I can see how people look at me, and they will just stare,” said Bibbs, who was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis as an infant, and has several tumors on his left leg and face.

“Some of them look at me like I’m an apparition. You can see they want to ask — but they don’t — and it puts both of us in an awkward position.

“I want them to know it’s okay to ask me what’s wrong (with me).”

Originally from Houston, and still living in the same house he in which he grew up, Bibbs said his mother first noticed something was amiss when she would try to put his shoes on his little feet.

His left shoe just couldn’t go over his foot very easily, and he would cry whenever she tried.

Bibbs was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis when he was about 1-year-old.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at www.ninds.nih.gov, neurofibromatosis affects an estimated 100,000 Americans and occurs in both sexes and all ethnic groups.

It’s a genetic disorder of the nervous system that causes tumors to grow, and can produce other skin abnormalities and bone deformities.

“They told her there was no cure for it, and the only thing they could do was follow me,” Bibbs said.

He was fitted with special shoes, and Bibbs has since undergone about 10 surgeries to remove tumors from the roof of his mouth, his leg, nose and eye.

Bibbs said surgery is not usually a recommended course of action, because doctors believe removal of existing tumors propagates growth of new tumors.

Growing up, Bibbs said his five brothers and sisters were protective of him, and he knew at a very early age there was something different about him.

“I knew my eyes did not look like my brothers’ eyes, I knew I couldn’t see very well out of the one eye,” Bibbs said.

“Different parts on me were bigger. And as I grew, the tumors grew.”

Bibbs recalls the day, when he was about 10, when his brothers were tromping through mud puddles, leaving bare footprints on the sidewalk.

“My footprints, one would be the regular size and the other one would be really big,” Bibbs said.

“I would wish I could make the same kinds of footprints everyone else was making.”

Bibbs learned to accept and love himself, with the help of his mother, siblings and neighbors.

“We did a lot of praying and trying to encourage Reggie to just not worry about it,” said Dorothy Bibbs, 70.

“He always had someone with him wherever he went, and the neighbors were very helpful. They didn’t see him as having a deformity.”

Bibbs also credits his faith for getting him through.

“I know that God has really blessed me in so many ways, that I cannot begin to really express it,” Bibbs said.

“He has given me strength just to go on, and I have met so many wonderful people.”

That includes Gary Moore, senior associate pastor.

“Reggie is so faithful and he’s always here,” Moore said. “You look out there, and Reggie’s just out there smiling.

“Faith points you to a different life, and he is an opportunity for people to show what they’re really made of.”

But Bibbs said not all people can see past the physical.

“Just recently I was driving along, dropping my nephew off at the bus stop, and I was at a light,” Bibbs said. “I happened to glance over to my left, and I see a car full of guys laughing.

“I was just shocked. I don’t understand why someone would laugh. I can understand if someone is afraid or curious or something like that. But laugh? I just don’t understand that.”

If you see him, he said, don’t laugh, he said. “Just ask.”

Reggie Bibbs

• Age: 42

• Community connection: Member of Second Baptist Church on Woodway

• Fast fact: Bibbs recently received a Gold Addy Award for his advertising campaign encouraging people to “Just Ask”

• Quick Quote: “I thought his T-shirt idea was brilliant. He’s trying to answer a question before the question is even asked” — Lou Congelio, owner of STANANDLOU Advertising, 1001 West Loop South.

Info: For more information: www.reggiebibbs.com , or e-mail reggiereggiebibbs.com

Link to article in chron.com

THE WINNER IS……

Last night was the 45th Houston Advertising Federation ADDY Awards. It was a terrific! night. I’s a big deal for me. I thank all of my friends that helped make this happen. You know who you are. I wasn’t the only one there. If you were at the event, please let me hear from you.

ADDYS THIS WEEKEND

The ADDY Awards program will be this weekend. I will be there, with crossed fingers. I hope to be one of the recipients of these great awards. Although I have been lucky enough to attend a few years ago, I still feel a little nervous about the big day. If I don’t win this year, it’s OK. I know I will enjoy myself. I look forward to meeting new people, who I know will become new friends to me. Wish me luck, but don’t say “break a leg.” I only have one good leg. k. Any one have ideas on how to get over the nervousness?