Thomas E. Cooper was born in Mullins, South Carolina on August 19, 1883. He attended the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina and graduated from Falls Business College, Nashville, Tennessee. He married Janie Collins of Conway, South Carolina; the couple had two daughters, Lois and Jane. He was the head cashier of the Merchants and Planters Bank of Mullins. After he moved to Wilmington he had an impressive career as a banker. He served as President of the Murchison National Bank and president of Liberty Savings Bank. He served as Chairman of the New Hanover County Board of Education from 1915 to 1925. When the bank closed he was tried, convicted and sentenced to a term in the federal penitentiary. He was pardoned by Governor McLean. He returned to Wilmington and to public life. He was unsuccessful in his run for sheriff but was successful in his run for state legislature in 1934. He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1940. He died May 5, 1949 and was buried in Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington, North Carolina.
From the description of Family papers, 1905-1949. (University of North Carolina, Wilmington). WorldCat record id: 49929902
