[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 65 (Thursday, April 30, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S4959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               REMEMBERING MILFORD JUNE ``DOLLY'' COOPER

 Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I ask my fellow colleagues to join 
me in honoring the memory of a dedicated servant and leader, Milford 
June ``Dolly'' Cooper. After a lifetime of unprecedented service to his 
State and Nation as a World War II veteran and a member of the South 
Carolina House of Representatives, Mr. Cooper passed away in 
Greenville, SC, on April 26, 2009, at the age of 88.
  While he will be remembered by most as a man who loved to help people 
and demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the community, I will 
remember him as a spirited, commanding, honest giant of a man. 
Affectionately referred to as ``Dolly'' by all who knew him, he was a 
World War II veteran who prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice on 
behalf of our freedom. He served in the 30th Infantry Division and saw 
11 months of combat in Europe, at Normandy, at the Battle of the Bulge, 
and at the Rhine River. He was also involved with the capture of the 
last large German city, Madgeburg, which was 45 miles from Berlin. For 
his service he was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, American 
Defense Silver Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Belgian 
Forragere Award.
  Perhaps one of my greatest honors was to see that Mr. Cooper was in 
person at the dedication of the National D-day Memorial on June 6, 
2001. This memorial is a tribute to Mr. Cooper's valor, fidelity, and 
sacrifice, and those who served along side him during the allied 
invasion of Western Europe.
  Born and raised in upstate South Carolina, Mr. Cooper attended 
Piedmont High School in 1937 and joined the South Carolina National 
Guard in Easley. After his service in the military, Mr. Cooper opened 
the Piedmont Economy Store, which he solely owned and operated from 
1955 to 1999.
  In 1974 he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives 
on a platform of bringing health care services to rural South Carolina. 
Mr. Cooper served House District 10 for 16 years.
  In addition to his time in politics, Mr. Cooper was active in the 
Pelzer Lions Club for 55 years. He was member of the Medical University 
of South Carolina Board of Trustees from 1989 to 1996. Mr. Cooper also 
served as a board member for the Pelzer Rescue Squad, the Appalachian 
Health Council, and the Baptist Hospital Boards for Easley and 
Columbia. After decades of serving South Carolina, Mr. Cooper was 
awarded the Order of the Palmetto from Governor Carroll Campbell in 
1989.
  Mr. Cooper is survived by his wife of 61 years, Melba Blackmon 
Cooper, by his four children, six grandchildren, and three great-
grandchildren.
  I ask that the U.S. Senate join me in commemorating Mr. Cooper's 
lifelong dedication to service to our country and to the State of South 
Carolina.

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