Perry County High School Alumni Association (PCHSAA) has proclaimed its annual meeting on April 30, 2022 as “Coach Carl Cooper Day” honoring one of its former coaches who died in 2021 at the age of 101.
Diane Harrison, newly elected President of PCHSAA, has announced that at their annual meeting in Marion they will be honoring Coach Cooper who was a beloved coach and teacher at PCHS from 1946-54.
He had been the last living coach of the school. Carl Cooper was the principal at Carbon Hill High School and the first principal of Mountain Brook Junior High School. Retiring as a Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves, a true American hero, Col. Cooper served on the front lines of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War.
Some of Coach Cooper’s family members will be special guests at the event and will be donating much of Col. Cooper’s PCHS memorabilia to the association. His former players are invited to attend.
Coach Cooper had a special love and connection to the school and had continued to attend its annual fish fry/alumni day even in his elder years when a grandson or nephew would drive him.
The PCHSAA is a 800+ member group who attended high school at the historic building until 1964 when a new school was built. It was once the home of the Marion Female Seminary and was built in 1850. It was one of the earliest colleges for women in America founded in 1835. It had been a high school since 1930.
The association and the Perry County Historical Commission raise funds to maintain the historical building. The building is located at 202 W. Monroe Street in Marion and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Those students who played for Coach Cooper and/or their families are especially invited to attend or provide us stories or memories of “The Coach”. Former students and friends are invited to attend the event that begins at 9:00am. Lunch tickets may be purchased by contacting PCHSAA, PO Box 654, Marion, Al 36756. Plates are $15.00 each. Questions may be directed to the association at mailing address or to pchs.alumni.assoc@gmail.com.
