Cooley, George Ralph, 1896-1986.

George R. Cooley was born May 29, 1896 in Troy, N.Y. In the fall of 1917 he enrolled at Colgate University, three years after his graduation from high school, during which time he worked at a variety of occupations in order to save enough money for school. Six months after entering Colgate Cooley joined the United States Army, leaving the service ten months later as a second lieutenant.

Upon his return to Troy, Cooley sought employment from a local banker, who instead of giving him a job, advised him to seek his fortunes in bonds. Cooley eventually landed a position at the private banking house of Dillon, Read and Company, here he learned the investment banking business. After being transferred to Albany, Cooley formed his own investment firm, George R. Cooley and Company (now known as First Albany Corporation). Cooley's success in the investment banking business allowed him to "retire" in 1953.

Cooley's retirement from investment banking allowed him to embark on his second career as a botanist and naturalist. He became a fellow of Harvard University's Gray Herbarium and, in 1960, joined the Board of Governors of the Nature Conservancy. He authored a number of papers on botany, especially the plant life of Florida and the Carribean Islands. Cooley identified several new varieties of plant life and was responsible for the further development of botany through the establishment of Cooley Fellowships and Cooley Herbaria at three universities in the United States.

Cooley's interest in the conservation of nature and the Nature Conservancy is further evidenced by his role in founding the Eastern New York Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, and the acquisition of several preserves by the conservancy including the Big Bear Swamp and the Hannacroix Ravine.