[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 68 (Thursday, April 26, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E872]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE CAREER OF RETIRING CALVIN COLLEGE CHAPLAIN DALE COOPER

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                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 25, 2007

  Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dale Cooper, 
chaplain of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who will retire 
after 30 years of service at Calvin.
  Chaplain Dale Cooper began his work at Calvin College in 1976. Three 
years later, he became chaplain, and has over the past three decades 
provided students, faculty, and staff at Calvin College with remarkable 
guidance. Chaplain Cooper's devotion to God and love for all people led 
him to become chaplain, and by all accounts, his career at Calvin can 
be regarded as wholly successful. In his time there, he has provided 
invaluable spiritual guidance to students, whether they had suffered a 
loss in the family or were struggling to cope with a rigorous class 
schedule. Through his counseling, preaching and other interactions with 
students and faculty, Chaplain Cooper embodied the creed of the 
Christian Reformed Church to incorporate faith and to honor God in 
every aspect of life, including work and study. Chaplain Cooper has 
helped see the Calvin College community through both good times and 
bad, and has left a lasting impact on everyone he has come into contact 
with.
  One of Chaplain Cooper's most remarkable endeavors occurred when he 
drove his 1941 John Deere ``B'' tractor across the Midwest, from Calvin 
College all the way to Alton, Iowa. It was a spiritual journey for 
Chaplain Cooper; his father was a farmer and John Deere tractor 
enthusiast. He had to give up farming after his wife, Dale's mother, 
was paralyzed from the neck down by polio. The illness confined Dale 
Cooper's mother to an iron lung for 40 years of her life. Incredible 
spiritual journeys such as this are not uncommon for Chaplain Cooper.
  Chaplain Cooper's effectiveness as a spiritual guide to students at 
Calvin College is validated by their affection for him. Known simply as 
``Coop'' to most students, Cooper has a gift of immediately connecting 
with people. His friendliness, open door policy, and love for Calvin 
College and its students, faculty and staff have earned him a sterling 
reputation around campus, and in the greater community.
  In addition to providing guidance, Chaplain Dale Cooper will leave 
behind a number of programs at Calvin College that reflect his 
dedication to the institution. Cooper worked to constantly reform the 
college to welcome people of all backgrounds and faith traditions.
  For these and other acts of caring, compassion and dedication to 
Calvin College and the community it serves, we honor Dale Cooper in his 
retirement. The impact he has had on people at Calvin cannot be 
measured by any tangible means. But ask anyone who has gotten to know 
him there, and it is evident that the mark he leaves behind at the 
institution is immeasurably large. I hope Dale Cooper's life continues 
to be as fulfilling for him in retirement as it has been in his years 
at Calvin College.

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