Life-long Owego resident, Richard Cooper, is one of four individuals who are being inducted to the Owego Free Academy Wall of Fame on Wednesday, June 10. Richard, a 1953 graduate of OFA is a Korean War veteran, worked at IBM for 29 years and later started his own business in Owego, Cooper Financial Services, now known as Cooper Sage Financial. Richard received the 2011 Glenn A. Warner V.F.W. Post 1371 Community Service Award and contributed to the community by coaching little league, supporting Ross Corners Christian Academy and the Owego SCAMPS, and was a 20 year board member and treasurer for the Tioga County Council on the Arts. (Provided photo)
Pictured is the 1953 OFA Varsity Basketball team. Front row, from left is C. Knauf, J. Lockwood, J. Manchester and J. Kuhns. Standing, from left, is Coach Deeb, R. Thompson, J. Murphy, #9 Richard “Deac” Cooper, E. Miller, R. Harding and R. Bristol. Richard Cooper’s game scoring record still stands at OFA, where he scored 44 points in a single game on Jan. 9, 1953. While at OFA, Cooper lettered in four varsity sports including football, baseball, basketball and track. (Provided photo)
Owego resident Richard Cooper, a 1953 graduate of Owego Free Academy (OFA), is one of four individuals to be inducted to this year’s OFA Wall of Fame on June 10.
In addition to the Wall of Fame induction, a formal proclamation was delivered by Town of Owego Supervisor Donald Castellucci. Officially stamped with the town seal, the proclamation highlighted several of Cooper’s accomplishments and community service and stated, “Whereas, Richard T. “Deac” Cooper is a life-long resident of Owego and is celebrating his 80th birthday, I hereby proclaim April 27, 2015 as ‘Richard T. Cooper Day.’”
The Cooper family, which included Richard’s parents and three brothers, lived in a house on Armstrong Place in Owego. During his senior year at OFA, Cooper, nicknamed “Deac” or “The Deacon” by his older brother Jim, lettered in four varsity sports including football, baseball, basketball and track. In basketball, Cooper’s game scoring record still stands, an incredible 44 points in a single game on January 9, 1953. Deac’s high school sports achievements were news headlines back in the day, as was being named the “most athletic boy” in the 1953 Tom-Tom.
And, if history could be re-written, Deac had aspirations of a career in major league baseball. When asked what his favorite sport was at the time, Richard replied, “Baseball.”
Following high school graduation, Cooper attended Broome Community College and volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, stationed in France from 1954 to 1956. The G.I. Bill offered Cooper the opportunity to attend Harpur College, and subsequently completed a 29 year career at IBM Corporation. Richard married Dorothy Russell and raised three children, David, Karen and Laura.
After retirement from IBM, Richard’s next venture was to start his own business, Cooper Financial Services, focusing on tax preparation and financial investment services. Now known as Cooper Sage Financial, daughter Laura Sage joined him as a partner in 2010 at the 103 Southside Drive business.
Officially retired in 2013, one of Richard and Dorothy’s favorite activities is attending their grandchildren’s sports events. With nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, the Cooper’s are kept active and on the road. Grandson Christian Sage has his own future aspirations, to break his grandfather’s single game basketball points record at Owego.
Brother Steve Cooper, one of three individuals who nominated Deac for the OFA Wall of Fame, shared in his nomination, “Richard Cooper should be chosen for induction to the Wall of Fame because of his long-standing contributions to the Owego community, especially to its youth.” Richard also joins another brother, John, on the Wall of Fame.
In another OFA Wall of Fame nomination, friend and work associate, Louis Desantis, cited specific examples of Cooper’s contributions and military service. “Richard spent countless hours of community service supporting Owego Gymnastics (SCAMPS) and Owego Little League. Richard served Owego residents with his own financial services business and served as Treasurer of the Tioga County Council on the Arts.” In addition, Richard received the 2011 Glenn A. Warner V.F.W. Post 1371 Community Service Award, and has been active in other veterans’ organizations.
Family friend and neighbor, Gerry Walker, shared, “An inspiration to family and friends, he shared his knowledge and expertise with his financial services business, and guided non-profit organizations designed to make the community a better place to grow and live in. He also put many youth on the right path to good citizenship, and committed to making life’s valuable lessons available.”
The first OFA Wall of Fame ceremony was held in 2004. For 2015, the three other individuals to be inducted along with Richard Cooper are Dr. James Elam, Class of 1950, Dr. David Kwaitkowski, Class of 1970 and Goldburn Williams, Class of 1980.
Reservations for the June 10 OFA Wall of Fame celebration were due by Friday, May 15. For information, contact Janet Kline at (607) 687-6227.
