PORTRAIT OF ELLIOTT: The Life of Elliott Thompson

The story of Elliott Thompson's remarkable life proves that it's never too late to overcome obstacles and reinvent yourself. A rebellious teen, Thompson left school and joined the Navy during the Great Depression. After sailing the world, he began a lengthy government career, immersed in numbers and budgeting. Throughout the next three decades, he struggled with alcohol addiction and failed marriages. Along the way, he dreamed of becoming an artist and living in France.

Eventually, Thompson...