Kenneth and Anne Cooper Family Papers

Kenneth Cooper was born in Egypt, Georgia in 1916. His family moved to Rosinton, Alabama when Kenneth was young. He graduated from high school in Robertsdale, AL and then attended the University of Alabama where he graduated with a law degree. He was in ROTC during his college years. After college, while serving his Army time, he was sent to Ft Funston in San Francisco, CA. In 1939 an Army buddy introduced Kenneth to Anne Messer, who was working as an accountant at Sears,Robuck and Co, after she too had left the south for California. Anne and Kenneth married in 1940 and were in San Fransisco together until 1944 when Maj Cooper was sent to Italy, leaving Anne and their two children in San Francisco.

After the war ended in 1945, the Army kept Kenneth on in Trieste, Italy as a procurement officer. Anne and the two children moved to Trieste where the family lived until 1948. In December of 1947 they had their third child. (Several years after returning to the states they completed their family with two more children.)

Kenneth and Anne returned to Baldwin Co in 1948, making their home in Bay Minette, where in 1949 Kenneth became the first elected Circuit Solicitor (District Attorney) for that part of Alabama. In the early 1950’s Kenneth and his family were sent to Washington DC for 3 years where he worked for the Army during the Korean War. They then returned to Baldwin Co where he continued to hold the District Attorney’s position until 1959. He then went into private law practice, continuing that practice for 34 years. Kenneth was involved in many organizations such as the Red Cross as area chairman. Was a member of the Baldwin Co Bd of Education for several years. In 1982 he was appointed for life as a Supernumerary District Attorney. He was a member of the Alabama Right of Way Association, the Alabama Bar Association, a director of the United Methodist Church Foundation. Active in the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War. Kenneth remained in the Army Reserves after the Korean War service, moving up in rank where he retired in the early 1970's as a full Colonel.

Anne was active in many civic clubs also, where she served on The Baldwin Co Historical Committee, Bay Minette Library Board, DAR, Quest Study Club, First United Methodist Church of Bay Minette. She was asked to have the first women’s radio program in the county, “Coffee With Anne” , and was on the local radio station (WBCA) for many years.

Anne died in March of 1992 and Kenneth died that same year in June.