Algernon J. Cooper facts for kids

Algernon Johnson Cooper, Jr. (born May 30, 1944) is an American politician and lawyer. He served as the mayor of Prichard, Alabama. Cooper was one of the first African American elected officials in Prichard. He was also one of the first African American mayors in the modern era.

Early Life and Education

Algernon Johnson Cooper, Jr. was born on May 30, 1944. His birthplace was Mobile, Alabama. His parents were Gladys Catherine Mouton and Algernon Johnson Cooper, Sr. His sister is Peggy Cooper Cafritz, a well-known helper of communities. They were raised in the Catholic faith.

Cooper went to St. Peter Claver Elementary School in Mobile, Alabama. In 1958, he moved to Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois. He was the first African American student there and graduated in 1962. He then attended the University of Notre Dame. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1966. In 1969, he completed his law degree from New York University.

Cooper's brother, J. Gary Cooper, also became a politician. He was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives.

Early Career in Law and Politics

In 1967, Cooper joined the staff of United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy. He later worked on Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1968. Cooper was with Senator Kennedy when he was tragically killed. Cooper attended Kennedy's funeral. He also helped Coretta Scott King on the funeral train.

From 1968 to 1969, Cooper was the national treasurer for the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association. In 1968, Cooper started the National Black Law Students Association. This group helps African American law students. On December 18, 1970, Cooper made history. He became the first African American member of the Mobile Bar Association.

In 1970, Cooper worked for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. He helped challenge a law in Alabama. This law made it harder to desegregate schools. He worked to ensure all children could attend integrated schools.

Serving as Mayor of Prichard

Becoming Mayor

In 1972, Algernon Cooper ran for mayor of Prichard, Alabama. Prichard was a place where segregationist Governor George Wallace often spoke. Cooper came in first among seven candidates in the first election. The current mayor, Vernon O. Capps, was second. In the final election, Cooper won against Capps. This made him the first African American elected official in Prichard.

Some people mistakenly thought Cooper was the first African American mayor in Alabama since the Reconstruction era. They also thought he was the first to defeat a white mayor in Alabama. However, Andrew Hayden in Uniontown, Alabama was actually the first to do so.

Cooper was reelected as mayor in 1976. He won against city council member Alford Turner and Fleicito Ramos.

Mayor's Time in Office

Cooper became mayor of Prichard, Alabama, in 1972. From October 14 to 15, 1972, Cooper helped organize a meeting. He and four other African American mayors in Alabama started the Alabama Conference of Black Mayors. Cooper later became the chairman of this group.

On October 27, 1972, Cooper supported John Sparkman for the United States Senate. He believed Sparkman had a better chance to win than the only African American candidate, John L. LeFlore. Cooper did say he disagreed with Sparkman on some civil rights laws. He also felt that electing the Republican candidate, Winton M. Blount, would be bad for Alabama.

In 1975, an incident occurred at Cooper's house. A man was arrested and charged after a gunshot was fired into the home. The man was later sentenced to prison.

In 1978, Cooper faced a legal challenge. He was accused of receiving money from a company. He was the third person in Prichard's city government to be investigated. Cooper said he was innocent during the trial. A jury found him not guilty on September 14.

On October 11, 1978, Cooper sent a letter of resignation. He later said this was done out of frustration. He clarified that he was not formally resigning. In 1980, Cooper was offered a job as an aide. He would work for United States House and Urban Development Secretary Moon Landrieu. On June 1, 1980, Cooper resigned as mayor to take this new full-time role.

Later Political Campaigns

In November 1979, a seat opened in the Alabama House of Representatives. The current representative, Cain Kennedy, became a judge. Governor Fob James called for a special election. Cooper decided to run for this seat. However, he did not meet the residency rules for the district. Former Attorney General Bill Baxley challenged Cooper's campaign. Cooper was removed from the ballot and did not fight the decision. He later supported Bonnie Hicks for the House seat.

In 2007, Cooper ran for the Alabama Senate. He was the Democratic candidate for the 32nd district. However, he was defeated by the Republican candidate, Trip Pittman.