An Ounce of Prevention–or how Dr. Kenneth Cooper changed my life.

When I learned recently that my second cousin Ginny took a new job with the Cooper Clinic in the Dallas area, I sent her this message: 

• Ginny,

We heard from your parents and hadn’t understood who your new employer is.  Kenneth Cooper saved my father’s life.  You may have heard this story but I never tire of telling it.  While Clayton and I were away at college and/or starting our lives after college, late ’60s, early 70s, Dad (late forties) was diagnosed with severe heart disease.  He had angina so intense he could not walk around our block.  This was before bypass surgery was done; today it would be a no-brainer.  Fortunately, his cardiologist recommended Cooper’s Aerobics program.  Dad was very disciplined in everything he did so he faithfully followed the program working his way from slow walks to actually running miles at a time.  Linda and I returned to live in Tulsa with our new son Ethan summer of 1973.  Early fall that year, Dad challenged Clayton and me to a “race”.  We went to the high school track and the ground rules were that Dad would run the quarter mile laps without stopping and Clayton and I would run with him by relaying every other lap.  I think we both made 3 or 4 laps before being exhausted and unable to continue, meaning Dad had run 1.5 to 2 miles.  When we could not continue and conceded his victory, he ran one more lap just because.  He made his point; I started that week and now 47 years later can honestly say that I have faithfully and continuously maintained aerobic fitness as recommended by Cooper.  Dad and I ran the first 15K Tulsa Run together in 1978 and a few more after that till he switched to biking.  I ran in every one (or the same distance if out of town) for 30 years.  My 30-year medallion given to all participating that year is with Dad now.  Cooper saved my father from a certain heart attack death; allowed him to enjoy grandchildren and great grandchildren, travel and physical activity for many years, a quality of life not enjoyed by many.  When he finally did have bypass surgery, I think in his early 70s, the surgeon reported that his blockage had been almost total likely for decades and it was the collateral circulation built up through exercise that kept him going.  I tell this story whenever I can, hoping that Dad’s example might inspire someone else as he did me–all because of Kenneth Cooper’s pioneering work.  So, I am proud of your work and the opportunity you and your coworkers have to help other people make a difference in their lives.  I think we may have an early Aerobics paperback–if I find it would you be interested?

Gary 

Here are the three of us at the Hale track after the relay that day:

Here’s her reply:

Hi Gary,

So nice to hear from you! I totally remember that about Uncle Herb. I told Dr. Cooper that afternoon I got hired. I am so proud to be working there. Being the Director of the Nutrition Department there is the cherry on the Sundae of my career. Dr Cooper just celebrated his 89 birthday and he still sees some patients. His son Tyler is an MD MPH and is the President and CEO. 

Thanks for sharing this. There are so many stories like this here! 

Hope you all are doing well! 

Ginny
Me with Dr. Cooper in his office 10/19

Post Script:

Check out my related Post Crybabies which also has my all time fave thinker photo. And what’s with the flying saucer on his wall?

About a year or two into my new training I decided to go to another track and check my time running a mile. I had thought my average time was a little under 8 minutes a mile, so I was shocked–and pleased–when I easily clocked a 6 minute mile at the track. If I just kept training I was sure to be some kind of running phenomenon! The track was at Will Rogers High School where a fellow Hale Rangers Class of 1965 was basketball coach so I called him to report my success as a further reality check. He chuckled over the phone and said, “Gary, it’s a fifth (1/5) of a mile track so it takes five laps to make a mile, not the four you ran.” I was sad when that track was replaced years later with the standard quarter mile version.

As always lunch is on me for the first to ID the thinker photo location.