奥斯卡·亨利·库珀
5th HSU President 1902-1909
奥斯卡·亨利·库珀, Sr. was born November 22, 1852, in Panola County, 德州. Following completion of work at Marshall University at the age of 15, he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in 1872. He did graduate work at Yale in 1880-81, and in Berlin from 1884 to 1885.
On November 24, 1886, he married Mary Bryan Stewart in Marshall, 德州. They had four children: 奥斯卡·亨利·库珀, Jr., Jackson Stewart Cooper, Hubert Newton Cooper, and Mary Theodosia Cooper (Mrs. 丹·加拉格尔).
After graduating from Yale, Cooper served as president of Henderson Male and Female College in Henderson, 德州, 1873年到1879年. From 1879 through 1881, Cooper worked toward creating a framework for a 德州 state university. At the 德州 Legislature’s request, Cooper wrote the historic University Bill that established the University of 德州. Then 德州 Governor O.M. Roberts commended Cooper as the most active person in the matter of establishing the state university.
Cooper was state superintendent of public instruction for 德州 from 1886 to 1890, and president of 贝勒大学 from 1899 to 1902. 皮博迪学院, 贝勒大学, the University of Nashville, and Simmons University (now HSU) all conferred honorary doctorates upon Cooper.
Among his service in many national organizations for the advancement of education he served as Vice President for one year for the National Education Association. From the idea advanced by Cooper while at the NEA came the birth of schools of education throughout the college and university system of the nation.
In 1902, he was elected the fifth president of Simmons College (now Hardin-Simmons University). During his tenure as president of Simmons College, scholars of high rank were added to the faculty and Simmons elevated its status in 德州 education.
Upon his resignation from the presidency of Simmons College in 1909, he opened the Cooper Training School for Boys in Abilene. Cooper returned to Simmons College in 1916 as Chairman of the 教师 and Professor of Philosophy and Education, a position he held until his death in 1932.
In his eulogy to Cooper, Dr. 弗雷德里克Eby, renowned professor of history and philosophy of education at the University of 德州 said, “The greatest native born educator that 德州 has ever produced was 奥斯卡·亨利·库珀. He did more to establish state and Christian education in 德州 than any other single man.”
