Myers Y. Cooper
Myers Y. Cooper | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 51stGovernor of Ohio | |
| In office January 14, 1929 – January 12, 1931 | |
| Lieutenant | John T. Brown |
| Preceded by | A. Victor Donahey |
| Succeeded by | George White |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 25, 1873 St. Louisville, Ohio,U.S. |
| Died | December 6, 1958(aged 85) Hyde Park, Cincinnati,Ohio,U.S. |
| Resting place | Spring Grove Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | National Normal University |
Myers Young Cooper(November 25, 1873 – December 6, 1958) was an AmericanRepublicanpolitician andbusinessmanfromOhio.Cooper was the 51stgovernor of Ohio.
Born InSt. Louisville, Ohio,the youngest of eleven children, Cooper had a public school education, and attended theNational Normal UniversityinLebanon, Ohiofor three years. In 1893, at age 20, he joined his brothers inCincinnatiin a large real-estate and homebuilding business. On December 15, 1897, he marriedMartha Kinney.His business interests also included lumber, building supplies and banking.[1]After losing in 1926, he won election to the governorship in 1928, serving from 1929 to 1931.
The defining feature of his term was the beginning of theGreat Depressionin October 1929, which was exacerbated by a drought the following summer that pummeled the Ohio farm economy. Cooper largely echoed theHoover Administration'scalls for calm and efforts to speed up previously-planned public works spending[2]which represented the conventional view of how to respond to sudden downturns. Local committees were created to aid in finding jobs of the unemployed but this effort largely proved ineffective as the crisis intensified.
Cooper was nominated without opposition in 1930, but lost toGeorge White.[3]Cooper's tepid response to the developing Great Depression led to a collapse in voter turnout - about 20 percent fewer votes were cast compared with the 1928 election. White won despite winning fewer votes than Democratic candidate Martin Davey collected two years previously.[4]Cooper unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor again in 1932, his last bid for office.[5]
In 1929 Cooper signed a one-cent increase in the state gas tax which was estimated to produce $8.5 million in additional funds for road and bridge work. His administration also authorized the start of construction on the State Office Building to house agencies scattered in rented space aroundColumbus.The building on Front Street is now home to theOhio Supreme Court.[6]Cooper also faced a major crisis when a fire at theOhio Penitentiaryon April 21, 1930 killed 322 inmates. The fire led to legislative efforts to ease overcrowding and the establishment of a state parole board.[7]
In mid-to-late 1920s, Cooper was associated with South Florida real estate developer and politicianGeorge E. Merrick.Cooper was involved with Merrick'sVillage Projectdevelopments inCoral Gables, Floridathat would later impact and inspire the architecture of Cincinnati homes in the 1930s-50s.[8]
His former home is now the grounds forClark Montessori High School.
Cooper Arena at theOhio Expo Center and State Fairgroundsin Columbus, Ohio, was named in honor of Cooper.
References
[edit]- ^Goss, Charles Frederic(1912).Cincinnati, the Queen City, 1788-1912.Vol. 4. Cincinnati: S J Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 466–469.
- ^Walker, Harvey (1948).Constructive Government in Ohio: The Administration of Myers Y. Cooper.Columbus, Ohio: The Ohio History Press. p. 224.
- ^Fess, Simeon D.,ed. (1937).Ohio, A four volume reference library on the History of a Great State.Vol. 4. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company. p. 434.OCLC418516.
- ^Walker, Harvey (1948).Constructive Government in Ohio: The Administration of Governor Myers Y. Cooper.Columbus, Ohio: The Ohio History Press. p. 226.
- ^Walker.Constructive Government in Ohio.p. 232.
- ^Walker, Harvey (1948).Constructive Government in Ohio: The Administration of Myers Y. Cooper.Columbus, Ohio: The Ohio History Press. pp. 85, 149.
- ^"Ohio Penitentiary Fire".Ohio History Central.Retrieved6 October2021.
- ^"The Seven Villages".29 October 2015.
External links
[edit]- Myers Y. CooperatFind a Grave
- "The Myers Y. Cooper Company - Real Estate Investment Developers since 1895".Retrieved2012-01-14.
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