William E. Cooper

William Edward "Bill" Cooper (October 16, 1921 – March 6, 2008) was a prominent Dallas businessman and civic leader.

Biography Born in Wichita, Kansas, Cooper worked nights at Beech Aircraft while also attending the Municipal University of Wichita (now Wichita State University).

Cooper enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II and trained as a B-17 pilot. He became a B-29 co-pilot and served in Guam, flying transport for the prisoner of war missions and other cargo missions. He also flew as co-pilot to the Chief test pilot of the 315th Bomb Wing and as 1st pilot on all test hope of B-17 and C-45 types of military aircraft and had approximately 750 military flying hours.

After being honorably discharged, May 1946, Cooper returned to college, and completed his economics degree in 1948.

Cooper worked for a color printing company in Wichita and was transferred to Dallas in 1952. "Mr. Cooper's commission checks soon became bigger than his boss' salary," according to The Dallas Morning News. In 1958, the chairman sent a registered letter ordering Mr. Cooper back to Kansas. 'I wrote him a registered letter and said "no,"' Cooper said, 'When you do that, that's it.'"

Frontiers of Flight Museum In November 1988, Cooper, Kay Bailey Hutchison and Jan Collmer founded the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas, Texas. Originally located within a terminal at Dallas Love Field, the museum now occupies a building at the Southeast corner of Love Field on Lemmon Avenue.

The museum is now home to an extensive collection of artifacts as well as a cross-section of private, commercial, military and aerospace vehicles.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Cooper played a prominent role in D/FW Airport from its inception. In 1986 he was named to the airport's board of directors and was board chairman from 1991 to 1993.

Cooper joined The Rotary Club of Dallas on July 9, 1962 and served on many committees and hosted many Rotary events such as the 1967 District Conference as well as the 1982 RI Convention in Dallas. He was elected President of The Rotary Club of Dallas in June 1973. April 2008

Cooper was also active in the Catholic lay community. The Jesuit Foundation named him as the 1991 recipient of The Patrick H. Koch, S.J. Award, given to an individual, couple or group "that exemplify the Jesuit spirit of service to others." In 2004, he was part of a group demanding the resignation of Dallas Bishop Charles Grahmann.

Cooper been honored with awards from Wichita State University, The National Conference of Christians and Jews, The Dallas Urban League and twelve others.

Cooper died in Dallas, Texas, March 6, 2008, from congestive heart failure.

Awards Cooper was awarded the H. Neil Mallon Award by the World Affairs Council in 1985. The H. Neil Mallon Award, hosted by the World Affair Council of Dallas/ Fort Worth, is presented annually to individuals who have excelled at promoting the international focus of North Texas. The prestigious Mallon Award is named after the Council’s founder and is presented annually to individuals who have excelled in promoting our region’s international profile. Funds raised from this event support the World Affair Council’s public and education programming, international exchanges, and diplomatic services.