Joe Cooper has been designated for special recognitionafter decades of service as the MIAA’s supervisor of footballand basketball officials.
Cooper first joined the MIAA as an official in footballand basketball in 1957. In 1971, under former MIAA commissioner AlDeal, Cooper was named the supervisor of officials for football andmen’s basketball. His role was expanded to includewomen’s basketball when women’s sports were added tothe MIAA in 1978.
“Since then, whether on a sunny day in October atone of our MIAA football fields or sitting in a gym on a coldJanuary evening, you could find Joe sitting quietly, without anyfanfare, observing and evaluating officials, diligently working toimprove MIAA officiating,” said MIAA commissioner DavidNeilson, ’66.
After earning a degree in education at Western MichiganUniversity, Cooper moved to the Marshall area with his wife, Willo,in 1948 when he taught at the high school and began what would be a17-year baseball coaching career. Cooper continued officiatingpart-time for area high schools and colleges in southwesternMichigan before being hired by the MIAA. He has also served aspresident of the American Amateur Baseball Congress.
Joe and Willo are the parents of three grown daughters,Martha, Carolyn, and Becky.
