He is survived by his beautiful wife, Cathy (Stevens) Poplin, children, Andrew (Jennifer) and Allison Amos (Thomas), grandchildren, Lincoln, Maverick, and Anaya, and brother, Richard (Janet). He is preceded in death by his parents, George and Pearl (Smith).
Mike was born on January 28, 1951 in Fresno, California, but moved to Phoenix in 1969 to attend Grand Canyon (then) College on a baseball scholarship. In 1972, a year before he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, he married Cathy, who was the love of his life.
After college, Mike blazed trails in the TV ministry at North Phoenix Baptist Church, where he worked with Cathy’s father, LeRoy, until 1982. Mike’s successor, Rick Hooton wrote, “Mike forged a new trail in Christian broadcasting. Every streaming broadcast and Facebook Live service can be traced back to the visionary leadership of Mike Poplin and LeRoy Stevens.”
His next adventure was running AMP Video Productions (named after the initials of his children). Throughout his time behind the scenes, Mike produced five music videos for Glen Campbell, he worked the NBA All-Star Game and Arizona State Fair events and concerts, and he travelled the world.
Eventually Mike settled down as the Director of Technology Support and Media Services at Phoenix College, where he also coached a few baseball seasons. One season, his team finished second at the National Junior College World Series—the same season he was named Coach of the Year.
When he wasn’t travelling for work or baseball or directing an event, Mike was doing something baseball-related. He was either coaching Little League or attending Firebirds games before the Diamondbacks came to town. He has successfully passed on his obsession for baseball to his son, and grandson.
Mike was an avid hat-wearing, suit-wearing churchgoer, but above all he was a baseball fanatic. The day before he died, he took Cathy on a date to a Diamondbacks game, ate a giant ice cream cookie sandwich, and saw all of his children and grandchildren. In a way, he was in Heaven a day early.
Mike was awaiting a heart transplant, but looking back, no heart he would have received would have been as good or as big or as loving as the one he already had.
A celebration of his life will be held at North Phoenix Baptist Church at 11 am with a reception to follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering in Mike’s name at https://give.imb.org/.
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