Love Mary Lou Cooper 2016
Oak Ridge summers were the best, playing with neighborhood kids, swimming, bicycling, eating my Mom’s fresh peach ice cream, taking picnic lunches to the Clinch River, playing croquet, going to my brother’s baseball games and producing plays for parents who had no choice but to attend. When I was 14, I spent the entire summer in hot pink foam rollers, just waiting for Mr. Right Boy.  I’ll never forget the Sunday night dances for the kids at First Baptist Church.  Neil Sedaka ruled, and Breaking Up was Hard to Do.



After graduating ORHS, I went off to Emory University in Atlanta for a degree in political science followed by a Master’s at the University of Texas.  I dreamed of working for Congress, but first paid my dues as staff with the Tennessee and Nevada legislatures. In the decade of the ‘80s, I was fortunate to serve as legislative director for two members of Congress in Washington, D.C. (One of them opined that I wasn’t liberal or conservative, just contentious.)  



In the ‘90s and 2000’s, we lived in Seattle and then in Santa Fe.   I telecommuted to California and directed a Western Legislative Academy for newer state legislators of both parties from Alaska to Hawaii.

Back in the 1970’s, I met and married Stan Cooper in Carson City, Nevada.  Stan began as a journalist and ended up a lifelong advocate for older Americans.



We retired a couple of years ago.  I now volunteer with our local public radio station doing research, booking and feature stories.  I enjoy fiction reading and writing, gardening and travel.  Currently, I’m at work on a Southern cookbook.  No bean sprouts allowed!
Posted By: NS Administrator - 05-03-2016
Views: 1551