Paul Coker, Jr. R.I.P.

Sad news today, my very dear friend Paul Coker, Jr. passed away.  I talked to him very recently and he signed a whole bunch of Rankin/Bass postcards for me at 93!  You may know his work from Mad Magazine or Hallmark cards, but Rankin/Bass fans know his designs from Frosty the Snowman, The Year Without a Santa Claus and Santa Claus Is Comin' to town, among many other TV specials.  Our friendship goes back to the very beginning of my association with Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass.  Paul did the cover for my first book in the mid-1990s, which originally had a yellow background.  Since then he did many pieces of art for me and signed thousands of postcards.  Early on, we did radio show interviews together and he even did satellite TV interviews for Mervyns Department stores, for me.  He appeared in WE ARE SANTA'S ELVES on The Year Without A Santa Claus blu ray, for me.  We appeared together at the North Dallas Comic book show.  Later Paul told me, he came so that he could hang out with me.  Our phone conversations were always filled with laughter.  He poked fun at everything...me, his art, Rankin/Bass, etc.  We had a very similar sense of humor.   I really loved this guy and his work!  He was so important to The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass, I can't even put it into words.  He made doing what I do, so enjoyable. He will live on through his work and the wonderful memories I have of him! #Paulcokerjr #Frostythesnowman #heatmiser #snowmiser #winterwarlock #burgermeistermeisterburger