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Coppell artist designs White House Christmas ornament
By Jim Kilpatrick, Staff Writer
Jerry Malzahn, 62, Coppell resident has a hand-painted Christmas ornament hanging on the 30-foot evergreen Christmas tree in the White House.
“It was a great deal of fun being at the White House,” Malzahn said. “And a super big time honor.”
He added that theWhite House was just astonishing.
Malzahn painted an outline of the state of Texas, at the bottom of the ornament, just in case it was placed high on the tree and out of general view.
To his surprise, the ornament he painted was placed in the center of the tree at eye level.
“It was just an honor to be selected, much less have my ornament placed at such a great venue,” said Malzahn. “I was overcome with joy when I saw my ornament hanging there.”
The honor began for Malzahn during the summer when he was selected by U. S. Congressman Kenny Marchant of the 24th Congressional District of Texas to design an ornament for the White House Christmas tree.
“I was contacted by my congressman’s office in June,” Malzahn said. “They asked if I would like to donate my time to do the ornament.”
He gladly accepted the offer.
He received guidelines from the White House which encouraged the use of red, white and blue paint. “I just went by the guidelines the White House letter instructed: red, white, and blue with the state’s theme,” said Malzahn.
First Lady Laura Bush had invited all members of Congress to designate a constituent to decorate an ornament for the White House tree.
“It was an honor to be selected by Congressman Marchant (to paint the ornament),” Malzahn said. “And it was an opportunity of a lifetime to visit the White House.”
He finished his ornament and sent it back to the White House in October.
“That was the last I saw of it until I saw the tree at the open house,” Malzahn said.
Malzahn said he was even thanked personally by the First Lady following a speech she made to the assembled artists.
Malzahn, a soft-spoken, 25-year resident of Coppell, only began painting 14 years ago when his daughter, Franchesca, was attending the U.S. Naval Academy, he decided to sketch Bancroft Hall, the dormitory of the cadets.
The Naval Academy was so impressed by the 24-inch by 48-inch sketch that they displayed the painting for ten years.
“My wife, Lyla, donated it to the museum about two years ago,” Malzahn said.
The painting is now a permanent fixture at the Naval Academy Museum. He proudly proclaims it as a great achievement considering the historic paintings and artifacts within the museum.
With Malzahn’s art displayed in the U.S. Naval Academy Museum and now the White House, the Coppell resident has given his artistic gift to his country.
“I’m a dedicated American and was honored to be given the opportunity to participate in the birth of Christ, so I was ready to go,” Malzahn said.
Contact Jim Kilpatrick at jkilpatrick@acnpapers.com.
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