It was February and temperatures reached as low as -25° in Chicago. I was there because the Manco “duck tape” Corporation had asked me to demonstrate their new line of children's watercolor markers at the McCormick Place. I was to replicate impressionistic paintings at this trade show. I found it to be exhilarating to work alongside their fun-loving team, which included CEO and founder Jack Kahl. My attire was completely white to impress the participants that this new product line was neat and would require no messy clean up. I painted reproductions of impressionists from Renoir to Picasso, spending 30 to 45 minutes on each painting. Manco’s new “Press ‘n Paint” markers were difficult to work with since the tip of each one did not come to a sharp point but instead was a flat quarter inch in diameter circle. I felt like I was trying to do a ballet wearing combat boots. Nevertheless, it was pleasant being included in their Sam Walton-inspired camaraderie.
On the final day of the three-day event, Jack Kahl received a phone call from his alma mater, John Carroll University to which he was a regular and major contributor. The question was whether he knew of a portrait artist who could do a painting of Don Shula for their Sports Center, which was to be named after and dedicated to him. This famous NFL coach was also an alumnus and star quarterback besides being a very large donor. Jack replied, “Yes, and he's standing right here. Would you like to speak to him?” We scheduled a meeting for after I returned to Cleveland. I promised a triple image reflecting Don Shula's years on John Carroll's football team along with his time as a coach. With the help of the NFL, I put together the triple image.
One evening, I was drawing late into the night, using a small football trading card with the Shula signature on it as my source material. As I drew, I did something strange–I included his signature as it appeared on the card. Months later, as I met Don and his wife on stage for the unveiling, Karen and I dropped the veil which had covered the portrait, and the arena became perfectly quiet until I began to hear ooh’s and aah’s followed by thunderous applause. Of course, I gratefully appreciated this response.
As the years went on, John Carroll University reproduced Don’s portrait on materials as small as a postcard and as large as a billboard. The portrait became an important means of raising funds for The Don Shula Sports Center which has been named in his honor.
