The Airline Captain (Coppin)

by Godfrey J. Ellis – 12×16 acrylic 2020

Our  previous  stake president, Eric Coppin, was captain of United Airlines at the same time he served.  An amazingly loving and humble man, it was my pleasure to offer him a portrait. He selected this reference photo – one his daughter had taken of him in the cockpit. I wanted to capture the emblems of his work so it would serve as a fitting souvenir for his years of service. He looked at my art scrapbook and said he thought that his painting was the best of all of them.  We don’t think so, but were thrilled that he did. About a week later, we received a thank you card from him. Inside was a $100 gift certificate to a French restaurant.  We told him the painting was a gift, but he insisted. Prince of a guy!

Here is Captain/Stake President Coppin holding the portrait. Yes, he looks happy because, yes, he IS happy with it. And that makes me happy.