[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                A SALUTE TO FATHER AUSTIN R. COOPER, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 23, 1998

  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to pay tribute to 
Father Austin R. Cooper, Sr. Later this month, Father Cooper, who 
serves as a rector at Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, will retire 
after 38 years of ministry and service to the church and community. As 
Father Cooper prepares to depart, the St. Andrew's Church family is 
hosting a series of special events to commemorate Father Cooper's 
extraordinary and distinguished career. I join St. Andrew's and the 
greater Cleveland community in saluting Father Cooper on this occasion. 
I want to share with my colleagues and the nation some information 
regarding this outstanding individual.
  Austin Rellins Cooper, Sr., is the son of the late Benjamin and 
Louise Cooper. His parents were two very devout Anglicans from the 
Bahama Islands who came to America as teenagers. Father Cooper 
graduated from St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, North Carolina, 
receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. He received his 
Master of Divinity degree from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in 
Evanston, Illinois.
  Mr. Speaker, on September 15, 1970, Father Cooper was installed as 
rector at Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church. Before coming to Cleveland 
as a pastor, Father Cooper held other positions in the Episcopal Church 
including assignments which found him in Florida, New York and Texas. 
Father Cooper is greatly admired by his parishioners for his spiritual 
guidance, management of the church and leadership of the congregation. 
In fact, every place that Father Cooper has served has been touched by 
his determination and commitment.
  When Father Cooper was installed as rector of St. Andrew's Church, 
the parish was suffering financially. Undaunted, Father Cooper wrote 
``A Master Plan for St. Andrew's Parish.'' The plan included parish 
renewal, neighborhood outreach, property acquisition and economic 
development. Under Father Cooper's leadership, an endangered church 
became a financially sound institution that bought its mortgage ahead 
of time.
  With Father Cooper at the helm, Saint Andrew's Church has also been a 
beacon of light in the Cleveland community. The church has placed a 
strong emphasis on education, providing mentoring and tutoring programs 
for the youth of our community. As a testament to his efforts, I am 
proud to note that Father Cooper has served longer than any other 
priest in the history of St. Andrew's.
  In addition to his work at Saint Andrew's, Father Cooper is a member 
of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Ohio and he is listed in 
Who's Who Among Black Americans and Notable Americans. Additionally, he 
is the cofounder and past president of the Union of Black 
Episcopalians, and the past president and a life member of the NAACP, 
having received that organization's ``Black Church Religious Leadership 
Award'' and its ``Distinguished Service Award.''
  Mr. Speaker, as he prepares to depart St. Andrew's, Father Austin 
Cooper, Sr., will be remembered as a strong leader whose selfless 
devotion is unmatched. I have been privileged to share a special 
friendship with Father Cooper and members of his family. He is someone 
whom I respect and admire. He is also a confidant whose wisdom and 
guidance has meant a great deal to me. I extend my best wishes to 
Father Cooper, his devoted wife of 37 years, Patty, and the Cooper 
children; Austin Rellins II, Angela and Patricia. I join the St. 
Andrew's Church family in wishing him Godspeed in the years to come.

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