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90_SR0140
LRB9008266CBcb
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Senate were saddened to learn
3 about the death of James Frank Cooper, publisher of the
4 Breeze-Courier, Christian County's Only Daily Newspaper, and
5 president of the Breeze Printing Company, on Friday, December
6 19, 1997; and
7 WHEREAS, He was born on June 9, 1922 in Hannibal,
8 Missouri, the son of Dr. James Frank and Bertha White Cooper;
9 he was a 1939 graduate of Taylorville High School and
10 attended Illinois Weslyan University, DePauw University, and
11 graduated from Murray State University in Kentucky with a
12 Master of Arts degree in education in 1952; and
13 WHEREAS, He began studying music at an early age and by
14 seventeen he was principal trombonist with Millikin
15 University's Big Blue Band; he was first place trombone
16 soloist winner in the National School Music Competition
17 Festival; and
18 WHEREAS, He was a member of the American Federation of
19 Musicians and a life member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
20 Fraternity; and
21 WHEREAS, His education was interrupted by World War II,
22 when he served as a member of the Service Force Orchestra and
23 later performing with Admiral Nimitz's band in Hawaii; he
24 later performed with Tommy Dorsey, Les Brown, and Boots
25 Randolph; and
26 WHEREAS, Mr. Cooper began working in a managerial
27 position with the Breeze-Courier in 1952 and became publisher
28 in 1963, following the death of his aunt, Maud Cooper Reed;
29 he maintained memberships with the Newspaper Association of
30 America, Associated Press, Audit Bureau of Circulation,
31 Inland Press Association, and Illinois Press Association; and
-2- LRB9008266CBcb
1 WHEREAS, Before working at the Breeze-Courier Mr. Cooper
2 taught math, history, typing, and band at Ashland High School
3 for three years; and
4 WHEREAS, Mr. Cooper was affiliated with numerous
5 organizations, including the Masonic Lodge, where he was a
6 thirty-second degree Mason, a life member of Mound Lodge No.
7 122 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Taylorville, honorary
8 member of Nokomis Lodge No. 456, a member of Ansar Temple of
9 Springfield, the Christian County Shrine Club, and life
10 member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Lodge Council
11 Chapter Consistory Valley of Springfield; he was a member of
12 Court 20 Royal Order of Jesters for 35 years; and
13 WHEREAS, He was also a life member of the National Rifle
14 Association, a Golden Eagle, a life member of the Illinois
15 State Rifle Association, a member of the Veterans of Foreign
16 Wars Post 4495, a life member of Murray State College Alumni
17 Association, and a member of the First United Methodist
18 Church; he held the commission of Colonel in the Honorable
19 Order of Kentucky Colonels; and
20 WHEREAS, He will be deeply missed by his family and
21 friends, especially his wife, Wilda; his sons, James F. Jr.
22 and J. Robert; his daughters, Sallie Traynor and Marylee
23 Lasswell; his sons-in-law, Lance Traynor and Mark Lasswell;
24 and his grandchildren, Andrew, Owen, Nancy, Jemma, and
25 Murray, and his great-grandson, William James; therefore, be
26 it
27 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
28 OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we extend our sincere
29 condolences to the family and friends of James Frank Cooper;
30 and be it further
31 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
32 presented to his widow, Mrs. Wilda Cooper.