Edwin J. Cooper, best known for his long and distinguished career as superintendent of Robbinsdale Public Schools, lived a life marked by dedication, leadership, and service to both education and community.
Born in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, on February 13, 1897, E.J. was one of six children in the family of Dr. and Mrs. R. Watson Cooper. Two years later, the family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where his father taught English and literature at Hamline University. In 1907, the Coopers relocated to Fayette, Iowa, where Dr. Cooper became president of Upper Iowa University, a post he held until 1916.
E.J. showed early promise as a scholar. In high school, he earned a medal for excellence in history from the Sons of the American Revolution and graduated at the top of his class. He later attended Upper Iowa University, the University of Illinois, and the University of Minnesota, earning a bachelor’s degree from Upper Iowa and a master’s degree from Minnesota.
In 1918, during World War I, Cooper joined the Air Cadets, trained at Kelly Field, and earned his wings as a Reserve Military Aviator. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Aviation Section of the Signal Reserve Corps and sent to France as a pursuit pilot. That same year, he married Lavon Hartman, a former Upper Iowa student who had also studied nursing in Chicago.
After the war, E.J. and Lavon homesteaded in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, where he taught history and coached athletics. In 1922, he became principal and coach at Fayette High School in Iowa, and the following year was appointed superintendent of schools in Guttenberg, Iowa. In 1927, he accepted the superintendency at Monona, Iowa.
In July 1930, Cooper moved to Robbinsdale, Minnesota, to begin what would become his defining career as superintendent of schools. At that time, the district had just one building—the Regent Elementary School—along with two portable classrooms, a staff of 34 teachers, and about 1,100 students in kindergarten through ninth grade. Over the next 35 years, Cooper oversaw the growth of District 281 into the fourth largest school district in Minnesota, encompassing seven communities.
He was deeply committed to hiring talented teachers, providing high-quality facilities, and ensuring that every student had access to the best materials and equipment. Under his leadership, the district became a magnet for families moving to the Twin Cities, drawn by its reputation for educational excellence.
Major milestones marked Cooper’s tenure. In 1936, the district celebrated the opening of Robbinsdale’s first high school, giving the community its first comprehensive K–12 system. In 1959, the John Cooper Memorial Scout Camp was dedicated in honor of his son John, who had died in a tragic plane crash in 1952 after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy and serving in the Air Force. In 1960, Carl Sandburg himself visited Robbinsdale to dedicate the new Carl Sandburg Junior High School, staying as a guest in the Cooper home. Finally, in the ultimate tribute, the new high school was named E.J. Cooper Senior High School, an honor few men ever receive during their lifetime.
Cooper’s influence extended well beyond the school system. In 1937, he became commander of the Westphal Post 251 of the American Legion, where he had been a member since 1920. He rose through its ranks, becoming 10th District Commander in 1938 and later third vice commander for the Department of Minnesota. He was a charter member of the Robbinsdale Lions Club in 1939 and served as its president in 1945. A lifelong Mason, he became Worshipful Master of Compass Lodge 265 in 1948 and later served as Worthy Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star, Robbinsdale Chapter 238, in 1951.
E.J. and Lavon raised five children. Their daughter Katherine (Mrs. C.W. Johnson) remained in Robbinsdale, raising three daughters of her own. Their son Edwin “Jeff” Cooper became a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, serving for more than 20 years in Spain, Japan, and Korea. Their daughter Joann (Mrs. John Murphy) graduated from Robbinsdale High in 1946 and went on to raise six children in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her physician husband. Their son Lt. John Watson Cooper, Joann’s twin, was the first Robbinsdale High graduate to attend a service academy. He entered the Naval Academy in 1951 but tragically died in an Air Force plane crash the following year. Their youngest, Emma Jean, was born in 1921 and died in infancy in 1922.
In recognition of his wife’s contributions to the district, the Schoolmasters Wives Club of District 281 created the Lavon H. Cooper Scholarship.
Though known as a demanding educator, Cooper also enjoyed a rich personal life. An avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting, fishing, and gardening at his Robbinsdale home at 4310 Lake Drive or relaxing at the family’s cabin near Cable, Wisconsin. In college, he had been a skilled marksman, winning first place in rifle competition at Illinois. He was also a passionate collector of guns, antique bottles, and especially books. His personal library contained more than 2,000 volumes, including 400 on Abraham Lincoln. Carl Sandburg himself inscribed one prized book during his 1960 visit to Robbinsdale.
Cooper retired in 1965 after 35 years of service, leaving behind a district transformed by his vision and leadership. He was remembered not only for his achievements in education but also for his deep involvement in civic life, his devotion to family, and his many hobbies and passions.
As one community tribute put it:
“Our best face is the face of a good school.”
And for decades, in Robbinsdale, that good face was shaped by E.J. Cooper.
Thanks for the wonderful story on E.J. Cooper. He was icon in School District 281. I remember him very well. He was there when my mother graduated at the top of her class in 1941 and when I was in the district from 1952-1966 (well until he retired in ‘65). I recall as an enterprising young member of the Robin’s Tale school newspaper that I called E.J.’s office and asked for an appointment to interview him. I got the appointment and with some trepidation went to his office. He was rather austere but willing to answer my questions. It’s an interview I’ll never forget. Robbinsdale Junior and Senior High. None better.