John Paul and Alice Cooper

     In the beginning of the enterprise, Mr. Cooper assumed entire responsibility of the cost, erecting and equipping the original building in 1905 and enlarging it in 1906. For a period of nineteen years he gave thousands of dollars to make the school a success. He contributed every penny that was given until, in the campaigns of 1921 and 1926, the people of Rome and other friends came generously to the support in the building of the Greater Darlington. The present site, formerly the DeSoto Park, is his gift to the school. Of greater importance than the large financial investments made in the enterprise was the personal interest, time, and thought which both Mr. and Mrs. Cooper gave the project. According to Dr. McCain, the first headmaster, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, in addition to personally supervising the erection and equipping of the first buildings, assumed entire responsibility of securing the student enrollment for the years 1905 and 1906. Quality was always encouraged, even when it meant smaller student bodies and larger deficits.

• Click here to view two articles written about John Paul Cooper.
• Click here to view a picture of Mrs. Cooper.