George Bernard "Jack" Copps, Jr.
March 22, 1937 - November 1, 2024
The best educators view their profession as a calling, not a craft, inspire in and out of the classroom, and never really leave the profession, seeing every individual encountered as a potential student. By this measure, Jack was among the best of educators, and we were all his students.
George Bernard "Jack" Copps, Jr. was born and raised in Rapid City, S.D. His parents, Ruth (Schmadlewsky) Copps and George Bernard Copps, Sr., raised Jack along with his twin sister, Jean, two additional sisters and two brothers.
Jack graduated from Rapid City High School and earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Black Hills State College. He completed additional studies at Montana State University in Bozeman, and he also taught several courses at MSU and MSU Billings.
In 1960, he married Donna Reid. They raised three children and later divorced.
In 1982, on the banks of Holland Lake, Jack married Penny Clark Bullock, spending the next 42 years as one another's biggest fans. Together, they enjoy five children, 11 grandchildren (two deceased), and four great-grandchildren.
Jack began his teaching career on the Fort Peck Reservation in Poplar, Mont., teaching and serving as High School Principal for 16 years. To this day, tribal leaders and members recall it was Jack's firm guidance and love that helped direct their lives. Jack then moved to Lewistown, serving as High School Principal from 1976 to 1979.
In 1979, he and his family moved to Helena, joining School District 1 as an Administrator. In 1989, Jack resigned as Helena Superintendent of Schools to serve as Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, under Superintendent, Nancy Keenan. After ten years of serving all students in the state, Jack retired . . . for the first of many retirements.
Jack couldn't leave education behind, assuming several leadership roles in the state, including with Northwest Accreditation and serving as the First Executive Director of the Montana Quality Education Coalition, fighting to ensure funding to fulfill our state constitution's aim of establishing a system which will develop the full educational potential of each person and guaranteeing equality of educational opportunity to each person of our state.
Then he retired. Again.
From 2006 to 2011, Jack came out of retirement to serve as Superintendent of Billings School District 2. He retired yet again, but after only a year, was asked to once again return as Billings Superintendent, serving until 2013. Jack was more than just Superintendent; he was an active and engaged member of every facet of the community of Billings.
In 2016, at the tender age of 79, Jack again came out of retirement to again serve as Superintendent of Schools in Helena, a position he held until 2018; his seventh retirement. During his last term, he was especially pleased to lead the effort to obtain funding and build three sorely needed elementary schools.
Everywhere Jack went he built community, made friends and left an impact. He had a special gift for building consensus, supporting and nurturing the talents of others, and making everyone feel special and valued.
Jack is survived by his wife, Penny; and his five adult children: Georell Copps Bracelin (Gary), Bend, Ore.; Bill Bullock (Robin), Condon; Trent Copps, Helena; Troy Copps, Helena; and Steve Bullock (Lisa), Helena. He is survived by nine grandchildren: Josh Bullock, Sam Bullock, Kaitlyn Bullock, Trey Bracelin, Caroline Bullock, Mae Bracelin, Alexandria Bullock, Drue Copps, and Cameron Bullock; as well as four great-grandchildren. Jack was preceded in death by his parents; and two siblings; one infant child, Trevor Copps; and two grandchildren, Jeremy Bullock and Lt. Max Bullock. He is also survived by two sisters: Jean and Marilyn; and his brother, Dan, all living in California.
A celebration of Jack's life will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. at Central Elementary School in Helena. A reception will be held after the celebration at Brothers Tapworks, 40 S. Last Chance Gulch, in Helena.
The family requests that any memorials made in his honor be sent to: the Helena Education Foundation, PO Box 792, Helena, Mont. 59624; the Billings Education Foundation, 415 N. 30th Street, Billings, Mont. 59101; the Poplar School District - Jack Copps Memorial Fund, Box 458, Poplar, Mont. 59255; or the Jeremy Bullock Safe Schools Summit, PO Box 942, Condon, Mont. 59826.
Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Jack.
