CO SJM002

Senator Eldon W. "Coop" Cooper died on April 16, 2013, at age 86, and the General Assembly memorializes him as a dedicated public servant and outstanding citizen.

Cooper served in World War II, receiving the Asian Pacific Theater Ribbon, Victory Medal, and Good Conduct Medal, and rose from Private to Technician Fourth Grade.

Cooper represented House District 4 in Adams County (1968-1974) and House District 30 in Denver (1974), then served in the Colorado Senate representing Senate District 18 (1974-1978), serving on committees including Game & Fish, Appropriations, and the Joint Budget Committee.

Cooper was a labor leader who promoted workers' safety and collective bargaining rights as Denver Area Labor Federation leader, international representative for United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Workers, and president of the Colorado AFL-CIO.

Cooper's legislative achievement included creating the senior citizen's lifetime fishing license, and after leaving the General Assembly, he served on the Colorado Division of Wildlife and was appointed Assistant Director for the Department of Labor's Western Region by President Jimmy Carter.