Stamp faces cancer battle

LISBON -- Longtime area high school coach Gary Stamp arrived in Houston on Wednesday, seeking treatment for lung cancer at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Stamp, 65, has been in poor health since December. He was treated for bronchitis in January, then pneumonia in February.

In early March, he was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer, which has spread to his bones and lymph nodes. Stamp is a non-smoker and an avid runner.

A website page (www.caringbridge.org) has been developed in Stamp's honor. As of 1 p.m. Thursday, the page has had more than 1,300 visitors and more than 160 entries its guestbook.

Mount Vernon athletics director Duane Orr told SourceMedia News that a benefit is scheduled for May 1. Orr also said that Stamp hopes to coach the Mustangs in softball this spring.

Stamp has coached four seasons at Mount Vernon, leading the Mustangs to the state tournament in 2009 and 2010.

It is his 13th coaching job in a career that has included softball, baseball and football.

He began his career at Vinton in 1969, then coached at Creston, Midland, Camanche, Lincoln Community, Olin, Lincoln again, Lisbon, Iowa City High, Tipton, Mount Mercy and Anamosa before taking the Mount Vernon softball post.

He coached Lisbon to the Class 1A state baseball title in 1994. His four children -- Tait, Paige, Quinn and Shea -- all excelled athletically at Lisbon.

Stamp also serves as a wrestling official, and worked the state tournament in February.

A video from John Campbell's story on Stamp from Wednesday's 10 o'clock news: