Bennett Cooper

The firstborn of a set of twins, Bennett along with Emmett was born to Emmett, Sr and Lyda Jones Cooper on June 3, 1921 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Soon thereafter, the family moved to Oklahoma where Bennett excelled and graduated from Manual Training School. The twins moved to New Orleans to attend Xavier University where Bennett met and was smitten by Zelda Mohr. The introduction of their siblings eventually led to a double wedding ceremony at Blessed Sacrament Church in Cleveland on November 19, 1941.
Bennett was inducted into the army shortly thereafter, served in the Pacific theater and was present on Okinawa when the bombs were dropped on Japan ending the Second World War. His son, Bennett, Jr was born in New Orleans while Bennett Sr. was deployed. After the war, Bennett returned to Cleveland to join his brother and work at the Post Office. His daughters Eileen and Bernice were born there as were Emmett’s three sons, Emmett, Gerald and Hewitt. All of the Coopers lived together on 8809 Empire Avenue. The house became the center of the neighborhood. As well, family members from the South had a home until they established roots in Cleveland as well.
While working and raising a family in Cleveland, Bennett attended Case Western Reserve University graduating with honors while completing his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Industrial Psychology. In 1957, Bennett moved his family to Mansfield, Ohio and entered the field of Corrections becoming the Chief Psychologist, then Deputy Superintendent and Superintendent at the Ohio State Reformatory. At that time, he was the highest ranking African American in the Ohio system.
As a result of his dedication to rehabilitation to the people that he served, Bennett was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from Ashland College.
Moving to Columbus, Bennett became Commissioner of Corrections for the Department of Mental Health, Hygiene and Corrections. In 1972, Governor Jack Gilligan appointed him to the Cabinet as the first Director of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. He served in that role until 1975. He was the first African American to become a prison superintendent in a state government system and the first African American Director of a state prison system. He received the E.R. Cass award for outstanding achievement from the American Correctional Association in 1985.
Bennett was a founder of the National Association of Blacks and Criminal Justice, an organization dedicated to promote the needs of African Americans in the criminal justice arena, such as diversity, fairness in the justice system and professionalism. Lovingly known as “the Godfather”, he was adored respected by all who knew him. His extraordinary life made a difference to his family, extended family, the communities where he lived and the nation.
His life continues to be celebrated by his loving wife of 70 years, Zelda; children, Bennett (Anne), Eileen Reed(Jim) and Bernice; his sister-in-law, Melda and her children, Emmett (Sharen), Gerald and Hewitt (Constance) Cooper. His immense legacy is left also to his adoring grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his extended family who knew him as Uncle Benny, and his dear friends. He was, indeed, our gentle giant.