By James Windell
South Haven has long recognized that Bob Copping is a gem of a citizen. Soon the rest of the state of Michigan will understand why he is regarded as a truly outstanding individual.
On November 12, 2025, at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer will honor Bob Copping by presenting him with the Governor George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award.
Copping was selected for The George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award because he has dedicated most of his life to making a difference in his community, state, nation, and world.
“Bob’s commitment extends beyond his achievements,” said Aric Nesbitt, State Senator of District 20. “At 93 years old, he continues to inspire those around him with passion, wit, and unshakeable belief in the power of community. His unique ability to merge vision with practical action has left a legacy that will benefit South Haven for generations.”
The humble Bob Copping said he was “amazingly surprised” to be selected for his award. However, Copping has been working tirelessly for decades to make the South Haven community a better place to live. In recognition of his community advocacy, Copping was designated as one of West Michigan’s Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders by the publication Crain’s Grand Rapids Business in 2024.
“Good board members support nonprofits with their time, talents and treasures. Great board members do all of that and more,” the publication wrote in its November 25, 2024, issue. Copping more than exemplifies that description.
Raised in the Van Buren County community of Paw Paw, Copping matriculated with a major in accounting from Western Michigan University and a Master of Business Administration from Michigan State University. He joined the Army and was assigned to Germany as a security officer and later served as the transportation officer for the Nahbollenbach Depot with responsibilities for the movement of supplies throughout Europe.
Once discharged from the Army Bob began a distinguished professional life in financial management for several companies. After retirement, Bob and Jane, his wife of 65 years (she passed away in 2021), vowed to follow the philosophy of author David Brooks: Define a joyous life of meaning and purpose, notably in their community.
Jane was a dedicated teacher whose career touched the lives of children as far away as Germany and Slovakia with the International Executive Service Corps. Jane managed the SHOUT project of planting flowers on the Dyckman Bridge for nearly 20 years, originally carrying milk jugs of water for the flowers. She was cheerful, positive, persevering and relentless, despite health challenges. In her memory the South Haven Area Community Foundation has recently created the Jane G. Copping Classical Music Performance Charitable Fund.
When the Coppings came to South Haven they settled into a neighborhood where many property owners weren’t happy with their taxes. A protest group was organized calling themselves the South Haven Organization of Underrepresented Taxpayers – or SHOUT. Since Bob had at one point in his career been a corporate tax manager gaining an understanding of the tax schemes of 26 different States and several foreign countries, he agreed to research the subject for the north side residents concerned about their taxes.
Spending countless hours poring over records at City Hall, he came to the conclusion that the appraised values of properties on the North side of South Haven were significantly less than their true value. There was no reason to protest property tax bills. His conclusion was: “They were getting a break!”
However, he looked at this moment in time as an opportunity. “Let’s us northsiders get involved as advocates for our community.” The civic-minded SHOUT group was formed, becoming an exclamation – “SHOUT for South Haven, working to make a great community even better”
Inspired by Bob and Jane Copping, SHOUT to this day is engaged in a way that initiates new paths in the community, projects that otherwise might not see the light of day. The projects funded through hundreds of thousands of dollars in private contributions are numerous. They include the Dyckman Bridge flowers, downtown sculptures, SHOUT park, the Wilhelm Baum tugboat, signature street clocks, beach benches, and the winter fireplace gathering place in Dyckman Park. SHOUT was the inspiration – and Bob has served on the Boards of – the summer Waterfront Concerts, the Cottage Walk, the Performance Series, the Theatre Series and the South Haven Speakers Series.
Copping has been an active Rotarian, a member of the South Haven Yacht Club and has served in leadership capacities with the Michigan Maritime Museum and South Haven Community Foundation. Bob and Jane were the honorary Grand Marshals of the South Haven Fourth of July parade in past years and Bob was recently honored for his community service by the South Haven City Council.
“The positive impact of Mr. Copping’s work is tangible and far-reaching, and he continues to serve as a role model in our community. He embodies the values of education, excellence, and service that this honor seeks to recognize,” said Annie Brown, Mayor of South Haven.
Asked what he hopes people will take away from his being honored with the George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award, Copping said: “I hope that people will learn that once they retire they have only completed the first portion of their life. The second side of the mountain, as David Brooks says, is paying back to the world; paying back to others because it is far more rewarding than taking something for yourself.”
Even at 93, Copping says he is not contemplating retirement. He continues to serve on several boards, and he still has new ideas to improve the community. “I’m not ready to talk about my ideas because I still need to talk to people about what I’m thinking about.”
But whatever his ideas, one thing is certain. They will make his community a better place to live.
