GenCorp Elects Ambassador J. Gary Cooper to Its Board of Directors
30 January 1998
GenCorp Elects Ambassador J. Gary Cooper to Its Board of Directors
FAIRLAWN, Ohio, Jan. 30 -- GenCorp announced
today the election of Ambassador J. Gary Cooper to its Board of Directors,
effective immediately. Ambassador Cooper is Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Commonwealth National Bank, Mobile, Alabama, and former United
States Ambassador to Jamaica.
The election took place at GenCorp's regularly scheduled meeting of the
board of directors, and brings the number of the board to 12.
"We are honored to welcome Ambassador Cooper as a member of our board and
look forward to the experience he brings in numerous fields including
business, politics, public service and the military," said Chairman and CEO
John Yasinsky.
Ambassador Cooper was posted in Jamaica from 1994 to 1997. Previously he
was a director and corporate officer for an insurance company, chairman of a
national bank, and president of a funeral home, which has been owned and
operated by his family since 1928. He was appointed Assistant Secretary of
the Air Force for Manpower, Reserve Affairs, Installations and the Environment
by President Bush in 1989. In this civilian position, he assisted in
preparations for Operation Desert Storm.
Ambassador Cooper also served as senior vice president, David Volkert and
Associates, a regional engineering and architectural firm and one of the top
500 engineering firms in the United States.
In 1973, he became the first African-American since reconstruction to be
elected to the Alabama State Legislature, representing Metropolitan Mobile.
After being elected for a second term, he resigned and was appointed a member
of the Governor's cabinet as Commissioner of the Alabama State Department of
Human Resources where he was responsible for delivery of services to more than
4 million state residents.
In 1976, he was among a distinguished group of Mobile residents who
organized and founded the first African-American-owned-and-operated national
bank in Alabama.
A native of Mobile, Alabama, Ambassador Cooper earned a BS in Finance from
the University of Notre Dame, and completed a special program for senior
managers in government at Harvard University. In 1992, he was awarded an
Honorary Doctorate of Law from Troy University in Alabama.
As an officer in the United States Marine Corps, Mr. Cooper achieved the
rank of Major General. His military career spans over 30 years, 12 of them on
active duty, during which he earned numerous awards and decorations, including
the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, two Purple
Hearts and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross.
Numerous civilian honors include the Roy Wilkins Meritorious Service Award
and the Benjamin J. Hooks Meritorious Service Award both presented to him by
the NAACP. He has twice received the highest award given by the Secretary of
the Navy for public service.
Ambassador Cooper has served on the boards of Talladega College and Spring
Hill College. He is a life member of the NAACP and an active public speaker.
GenCorp is a market driven, technology based manufacturer with leading
positions in numerous polymer product markets as well as the automotive and
aerospace and defense industries.
SOURCE GenCorp