Colonel White High School Class of 1965 © 2004 :: Featured Alumni

Featured Alumni

Joe McCoppin

Hello everyone, I'm Carol Flinspach Yinger and welcome to the Featured Alumni page. Each month we plan to bring you two featured members of our class. I am very pleased to share my first interview with you, and I think you will really enjoy it. We decided to start our featured class members with Joe McCoppin.

Joe, thanks for agreeing to be our first featured alumnus on our Class of ’65 website. We appreciate your taking time to share with us what’s been going on in your life during the past 37 years. Let’s start with your current location and occupation.

I live at 4810 Stonecrest Court, Abilene, Texas, and am a Field Service Engineer (Site Manager) for General Dynamics

Tell us about your family, Joe.

Well, I got lucky and married Vicki (Cook, Class of '70 Fairview HS) in December '71. We had six children during the first ten years of our thirty years together. Catina, born in '72, served in the USAF for 8 years at the Pentegon. She is currently a student at West Texas Tech, Abilene, TX. Amy, born in '74, served in USAF for 4 years as a lab tech with two deployments to Saudi Arabia. She is currently married to an AF student pilot stationed at Columbus AFB, MS. Jared, born in '76, served in the USAF for 4 years as an aircraft ground equipment repairman. He is currently a communications cable splicer with General Dynamics, working at Cape Canaveral AFS, FL. Erin, born in '77- Deceased 9/13/97 in car accident. Jason, born in '78, is a fiber optic cable technician with General Dynamics. Joshua, born in '81,served in the USAF; is currently an electrician helper living at home.

My Grandchildren: Keith, 10 years, Shawn, 3 days (deceased), Dante, 5 years, Laura, 18 months, and Hunter, 15 months.

You have a nice, big family, Joe. What did you do before working at General Dynamics?

I was in the USAF. Enlisted for 13 years, a Captain for 10 years, then retired from the Air Force.

What else have you been doing for the past 37 years?

Moving a lot.

Did you go on to school after graduation from Colonel White?

I went to Wright State 1970-71. I graduated from Wayland University (BS, 1980), and went on to get an MS from Oklahoma State (1986).

Do you have any special interest or hobbies?

A touch of everything.

Joe, have you had any memorable trips, job assignments and/or activities?

I’ve traveled to Rome, Innsbruck, Garmish, Bangkok, Saigon, London, Munich, Tokyo, Seoul, Guam, Johnston Island, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Cuba; have seen the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, the Redwoods, Pacific Coast Highway, D. C., New York World Trade Towers, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Aleutian Islands, Manila, Cocoa Beach, Panama City, Corpus Christi, Tucson, Salt Lake City, and Abilene.

You’ve really been around! Are your parents and siblings still here?

Mom and Dad are still alive (81 years) and living in St. Cloud, Florida.

What do you feel are noteworthy accomplishments or achievements?

My kids stayed out of jail and are making lives for themselves.

Do you have any regrets?

Yes. The night Mike Skelton and I were at a bar by U. D. before his accident. He was upset that he didn’t go to Viet Nam, and I told him some of the good ones need to stay behind and keep the country safe and educated for democracy. Also, smoking is bad. And I’m sorry for hitting Russ Hastings and Dave Hayslip in the mouth during my freshman year.

Do you think that your job and life are where you thought they would be when you were in high school? Why or why not?

Life is like a box of chocolates. - Forrest Gump

If you could start over, would you or would you not make the same choices you did the first time around? Why or why not? What would you do differently?

Nothing. I live and love life as it comes. However, yes, I have learned that there is a God and he loves us and has given me the free agency to live this life as I see fit. Not like He would probably, but that’s what makes Him so great to be such a good father.

Do you have any favorite memories of Col. White? A teacher or teachers?

I did not like school.

Classes or courses?

I did not like school.

Favorite activities?

I liked football, wrestling and gym class.

What about favorite classmates or pals?

I really liked everyone the best I could.

Any favorite weekend events?

Yes, Parkmoor on Main Street.

Do you have any future plans?

Yes. Stay out of debt.

What are your retirement plans?

Budweiser and the beach.

Joe, I’ve really enjoyed talking with you. Thanks for giving us a glimpse of your past 37 years since graduation. Do you have any words of wisdom, comments or messages for our classmates?

I expect to see each of you in a holding area on our way back home to be with our heavenly parents. Warm regards to all.

Thank you so much Joe, for taking time out from your busy schedule to spend a few minutes with us. Don't forget to keep watching this page. Very soon, we will be sharing another exciting interview with you. See you next time....

Carol Flinspach Yinger