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  • About
    • Alumni Awards
      • Awards Nomination
      • Alumnus of the Year
      • Honorary Life Member
      • Distinguished Life Member
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      • District Director of the Year
      • Club President of the Year
      • The Carroll N. LeTellier Award
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      • Strategic Plan 2026
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      • 2025 Candidates
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    • Holliday Alumni Center
      • Alumni Courtyard Bricks
      • Photo Gallery
      • Courvoisie Banquet Hall
      • Grand Foyer
      • LeTellier Alumni Courtyard
      • McKissick Library
      • Renken Dining Room
      • Scarborough Media Room
      • Tilghman Courtyard
      • Rental Information
    • Join CAA
    • Life Member Card and Decal Request
    • Life Membership Payment
    • Merchandise
      • Licensed Vendors
    • Mission and Bylaws
    • Staff
    • Sword Legacy Program
      • Legacy Swords
    • Alumni Travel
  • The Ring
    • Band of Gold Program
      • Band of Gold and Your Will
    • Class Ring Resize and Remake
    • Class Ring Policies
    • Order a Class Ring
    • Order Class Jewelry
    • Ring and Jewelry Prices
  • Network
    • 2025 Alumni Directory Project
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William E. Cooper, Jr., ’51

Major General Bill Cooper, age 93, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2023, at The Glenridge, Sarasota, Florida following a brief illness.

General Cooper was born in Birmingham Alabama on June 19, 1929. He grew up in Prattville, Alabama where he attended Stark Middle and Senior High Boy’s school and excelled as a student, and on the football and track team.  He held a number of state records in track and field.  Bill attended The Citadel where upon graduation he was commissioned as a second lieutenant.  He and Mary Jane Beers Cooper were married on February 16, 1952. Within a year General Cooper was deployed and served in Korea.

Throughout his military career, Bill held a variety of important command and staff positions culminating in his assignment as Vice Director for Foreign Intelligence, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC.  Other key assignments included Chief of Staff of the North American Air Defense Command, Peterson Air force Base, Colorado; and Commanding General, 32nd Army Air Defense Command, United States Army Europe. General Cooper served in Vietnam as Commander, 5th Battalion, 2nd Artillery, First Field Force Artillery and as Executive Officer to the Assistant Chief of Staff, Headquarters United States Army Vietnam. 

Bill held a Master of Arts degree in History from the University of Miami and a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from Georgetown University.  He was a 1962 graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College and a 1971 graduate of the Army War College.

General Cooper received the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medals, and the Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster).

When Bill retired, he and Mary Jane enjoyed traveling and exploring Europe, Central America, and South America.  He spoke Spanish and Romanian while she spoke German and Romanian. They moved to Sarasota in 1998 and in 2006 moved to The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch.  They developed many friends in the Sarasota and The Glenridge community and loved attending the Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Opera House, and Sarasota Ballet.

Bill is survived and loved by his wife of 71 years, Mary Jane Beers Cooper; children William (Jennifer) Cooper, Leslie (Mark) Sillcox and grandchildren; Jason (Jessie) Tortora and Christopher Tortora.

A memorial service will be held Friday April 14th, 10:30 AM at the Sarasota National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St Boniface Church or toHospice Foundation (TidewellFoundation.org).

Tags: 1951
Mr. Kyle Mims

Mr. Kyle S. Mims

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The Citadel Alumni Association is a self-supporting organization with the mission to support, advance and promote the ideals and purposes of The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, the Corps of Cadets, and the Alumni.

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