Cooper, William E. (William Edwin)

Hopper is president of the Singer Manufacturing Company. Cooper is an agent.

From the description of ALS, 1874 March 4, New Orleans, La., to Inslee A. Hopper. (Haverford College Library). WorldCat record id: 43400828

Although not as well known as others who have achieved notoriety and fame in aviation circles, William Edward (Bill) Cooper was, nonetheless, a "mover and shaker" in the Dallas, Texas, and north Texas aviation and business communities from the 1950s through the turn of the century. Throughout his life aviation interests were interwoven with his business activities until his death, due to congestive heart failure in Dallas on March 6, 2008.

Born October 16, 1921, in Wichita, Kansas, Cooper at age 17 was introduced to aviation as he worked at Beech Aircraft while attending the Municipal University of Wichita (now Wichita State University.) The outbreak of World War II in December 1941 interrupted his studies; and the Doolittle raid on Tokyo in April 1942 inspired Cooper to enlist for pilot training in the U.S. Army Air Corps. His solo flight was in 1943. First serving as a B-17 bomber pilot, Cooper became a B-29 bomber co-pilot serving on Guam with the 501st Group, 315th Bomb Wing of the 20th Air Force. He accumulated about 750 flying hours and earned two Battle Stars by the time he was honorably discharged in May 1946.

Returning to his college studies, Cooper earned a degree in business administration in 1948. Employed by a color printing company in Wichita, he was transferred to Dallas, Texas, in 1952. In 1958 he became involved in Dallas' development as a wholesale merchandising center, and was appointed vice president of the Dallas Market Center in 1958 and president in 1969.

Remaining actively involved in north Texas aviation, Cooper played a significant role in the development of Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. In 1986 he was appointed to the airport's board of directors; and he served as chairman of the board from 1991 to 1993. In November 1988, in partnership with the History of Aviation Collection, The University of Texas at Dallas, Cooper, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Jan Collmer co-founded the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas, Texas.

Following World War II and for the remainder of his life, Cooper remained an active participant in veteran's organizations, especially the 20th Air Force Association. During the early 1990s he became an influential figure in what was to become known as the "Enola Gay controversy." The successful outcome of the "Enola Gay controversy" made 1995 a memorable year for Cooper. In his introduction to one of his personal scrapbooks, "1995, the golden anniversary of the end of World War II," Cooper records the year's highlights. First was the meeting of the Crusaders ⁰́₃ individuals involved in the controversy. The second significant event of 1995 was the meeting of the 20th Air Force Association board in Kansas City, Missouri. The final highlight of 1995 for Cooper was the week of August 13th during which the 315th Bomb Wing Association met at Wright Field, Ohio, for their annual reunion and a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Cooper was named past chairman of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, past chairman of the Dallas Council on World Affairs, and was actively involved in many other civic, religious and business organizations. His services were recognized with numerous awards and honors. At the time of his death, William Cooper was survived by his wife, Suzanne Blessington Cooper, and four adult children.

From the description of William E. Cooper papers, 1950-2008 1990-1995. (University of Texas at Dallas). WorldCat record id: 471785353