Fred Cooper was a native of Detroit, Michigan, and graduated from the Indianapolis College of Physical Education. He studied at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for a few months before joining the Army during World War I. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and served for just over two years, with 14 months of that time in France.

In 1923, he came to Fort Dodge to take the jobs of physical education director and coach at the high school. He coached football, wrestling and track.

His wrestling teams won nine state championships – 1927, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1936 and 1941. He also coached 28 individual state wrestling champions.

In Iowa, Cooper ranks No. 3 on the list of coaches with the most state wrestling championships.

He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

In 1930, he became athletic director of both Fort Dodge Senior High School and Fort Dodge Junior College

Cooper was the commander of the Fort Dodge American Legion Post and vice commander of the Legion’s Eighth District.

In 1945 Gov. Robert Blue appointed him as superintendent of the Boys Training School in Eldora in the wake of a riot there. Cooper was credited with making many reforms there before his death of a heart attack in 1947 at age 51.

Cooper Elementary School at 2420 14th Ave. N. is also named after him.