O.H. Cooper High School (commonly referred to as Abilene Cooper) is a public high school located in Abilene, Texas. It opened in 1960, in part to handle the increase in school age youth resulting from the Post World War II Baby Boom. It is one of three 4-year high schools within Abilene Independent School District.
Cooper High is named for Oscar Henry Cooper, who was president of Baylor University from 1898 to 1902. Prior to such time, his advocacy for a state-supported and state-controlled university led to the establishment of the University of Texas. After his time at Baylor, Dr. Cooper was president of Hardin–Simmons University in Abilene until 1909. Thereafter, he headed "Cooper's Boys' School" in Abilene until 1915.
Faculty and academics
Abilene is the home of Dyess Air Force Base and Cooper students have benefited from retired officers, and spouses of officers, from Dyess becoming teachers at Cooper. Retired US Air Force Colonel James Alderman, a mathematics and science teacher at the school, explained to his students that he worked on the development of the Gamma Ray Spectrometer and did research relating to nuclear fusion while in the United States Air Force. Retired US Air Force Colonel James Zumwalt taught Honors Calculus and, in 1981–1982, was zoo keeper over his homeroom class that called itself the "Zoo." Members of the Zoo included many of the top graduating students in 1982 and yet still managed to win the intramural sports championship.
In the years 1979 to 1982, Cooper consistently fielded teams for UIL competitions that finished in the top of their subject areas, including Speech, Creative Writing, Orchestra, Math, Band, and Choir. Cooper graduates frequently were named as Scholars, Finalists, Semi-finalists, and Commended by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Six members of the Class of 1982 received the Scholar designation.
Athletics
Volleyball
The Cooper High School Volleyball Team won the state 4A championship in 1967, defeating San Antonio Harlandale 15-0; 11-15; 15-7.
Golf
The Cooper High School Golf Team won the 5A State Championship in 1982, 1983, and 1984.
Bob Estes, Class of 1984, won the individual state title in 1983. As a collegiate golfer at the University of Texas, Bob was selected as an All-American, received the Jack Nicklaus award, and was named 1988 College Player of the Year. Mike Standly, Class of 1982, played for the University of Houston, finished in second place to Scott Verplank at the 1986 NCAA championship, won his first tournament in 1993, the Freeport-McMoRan Classic in New Orleans, and can still be found on professional golf tours.
Tennis
The Cooper High School Tennis Team has made appearances at the Texas state competition 8 times in its history, ranking 5th in the state for all-time appearances in conference 5A. It competed in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1992 and won the championship for three consecutive years in 1993, 1994 and 1995.
Ricky Meyers won the state singles title in 1976 and Ryan Hughes did the same in 1995. David Meyers and Scott Meyers (identical twins) won boys doubles state in 1982.
Jana Hanks won the state singles title in 1975 and 1976, Susie Ingram and Julie Jones won the state doubles title in 1976, and Leanne Hill and Stephanie Burnam won the state doubles title in 1982.
As of November, 2009, The Cooper Tennis Team is ranked 8th in the state in conference 4A.
Tennis State Championships
Boys Singles
1976 – Ricky Meyers (4A) 1995 – Ryan Hughes (5A) Boys Doubles 1982 – Scott & David Meyers (5A) Girls Singles 1975 – Jana Hanks (4A) 1976 – Jana Hanks (4A) Girls Doubles 1976 – Susie Ingram & Julie Jones (4A) 1982 – Leanna Hill & Stephanie Burnam (5A) Team Championships 1986 – lost to San Antonio Churchill High School 3-10 1987 – lost to Tyler Lee High School 6-9 1993 – def. Klein High School 9-2 1994 – def. Houston Clear Lake High School 15-3 1995 – def. Plano High School 9-3
Baseball
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the team consistently finished near the top in District. Baseball teams from Cooper have played in four state championship games, 1967, 1987, 1988, and 1993, winning the 5A state championship twice with consecutive wins in 1987 and 1988. Consecutive championships have only been accomplished by 3 other schools in the history of Texas high school baseball (one being crosstown rival Abilene High School).