By: Place H.R. No. 746
73R11291 KMP-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, For more than six decades, Dawson Cooper has
1-2 tirelessly devoted himself to making Coryell County a better place
1-3 in which to live and work, distinguishing himself as an active
1-4 member of numerous civic organizations and a dynamic force in local
1-5 government and community politics; and
1-6 WHEREAS, The son of Newt Cooper and Belle Kelly Cooper of
1-7 Kentucky, Mr. Cooper was born in Gatesville, Texas, on June 18,
1-8 1909, and has remained a loyal citizen of this small community ever
1-9 since; known to all as an adventurous, hardworking, and intelligent
1-10 young man, he was salutatorian of his high school class and
1-11 subsequently attended business school on scholarship; and
1-12 WHEREAS, This prominent Gatesville resident embarked on his
1-13 successful career in banking and finance on December 6, 1926, when
1-14 he left business school to work for the First National Bank of
1-15 Gatesville as a stenographer and bookkeeper; demonstrating
1-16 perseverance and dedication, Mr. Cooper ultimately became bank
1-17 president, a position he held for 25 years before retiring in 1975,
1-18 and today continues to serve as a director of that fine
1-19 institution; and
1-20 WHEREAS, During his senior year of high school, Mr. Cooper
1-21 met his future wife, the lovely Frances Voss, and after a whirlwind
1-22 courtship, the couple exchanged marriage vows on September 5, 1937,
1-23 at a small home ceremony held for family and close friends; and
1-24 WHEREAS, Enjoying an exceptionally happy and rewarding
2-1 marriage, the Coopers devoted themselves to one another for 54
2-2 years, and during this time they were a source of constant delight
2-3 and inspiration to the friends and family with whom they shared the
2-4 richness of their life together until Mrs. Cooper's death in 1991;
2-5 and
2-6 WHEREAS, Like many other young couples, the Coopers deferred
2-7 their plans for the future during World War II, when Mr. Cooper
2-8 answered his nation's call to arms and joined the armed forces on
2-9 May 15, 1942; he served with honor and distinction as an
2-10 administrative assistant with the U.S. Army Air Corps for nearly
2-11 four years, receiving valuable training in finance and personnel
2-12 management at Washington and Lee University in Virginia and Officer
2-13 Candidate School in Florida; and
2-14 WHEREAS, Respected by all those who had the pleasure of
2-15 serving by his side, this patriotic American achieved the rank of
2-16 first lieutenant and obtained a rating of "superior" by his base
2-17 commanding officer for exceptional administration of the war bonds
2-18 and ration stamps programs; following his medical discharge from
2-19 the corps on September 21, 1945, Mr. Cooper returned to his
2-20 hometown, where he continued in his successful banking career and
2-21 became involved in many civic organizations; and
2-22 WHEREAS, This preeminent civic leader has served as president
2-23 of the Gatesville Chamber of Commerce and also has given his time
2-24 and expertise to local youth organizations such as the Future
2-25 Farmers of America; involved with the Boy Scouts of America for
2-26 more than 50 years, Mr. Cooper has served as scoutmaster and
2-27 treasurer for the Heart of Texas Council, which awarded him one of
3-1 its highest honors, the Silver Beaver Medal, for his work on behalf
3-2 of local scouting; and
3-3 WHEREAS, Determined to improve the quality of life in his
3-4 community and beyond, Mr. Cooper helped ensure the success of a
3-5 much-needed rural electrification program in Hamilton County; he
3-6 also served on his local water and soil conservation committee and
3-7 helped win approval for important local conservation projects and
3-8 programs; and
3-9 WHEREAS, During the 1970s this distinguished Texan was named
3-10 spokesman of the Coryell County organization Our Land Our Lives, a
3-11 community activist group formed to protect 60,000 acres of
3-12 privately owned land from annexation by nearby Fort Hood; with
3-13 Mr. Cooper's able guidance, this extraordinary group traveled to
3-14 Washington, D.C., persuaded Senator John Tower to hold a
3-15 congressional hearing in Gatesville, and won their struggle to keep
3-16 their land, farms, and homes; and
3-17 WHEREAS, In addition to his many contributions to Gatesville
3-18 city government and the Coryell County Museum, he is a member,
3-19 former pastor, and former secretary of his local Masonic lodge and
3-20 was awarded the 50 Year Pin for his long and distinguished record
3-21 of service to the organization; moreover, Mr. Cooper served the
3-22 Lone Star State with pride and integrity for nearly 25 years as a
3-23 volunteer reporting parole officer with the Texas Board of Pardons
3-24 and Paroles; and
3-25 WHEREAS, This remarkable gentleman is known to all for his
3-26 warmth, generosity, and delightful sense of humor, and his many
3-27 outstanding achievements are indeed worthy of special legislative
4-1 recognition and praise; now, therefore, be it
4-2 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
4-3 Legislature hereby commend Dawson Cooper for his many exemplary
4-4 contributions to Coryell County; and, be it further
4-5 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
4-6 prepared for Mr. Cooper as an expression of high esteem by the
4-7 Texas House of Representatives.