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<p><em>Jimmy Barnell “Jim” Cooper Jr.</em> decided early in his life that he wanted to spend the rest of it serving others in a consequential and meaningful way. Jim faithfully kept to this ideal in his personal and professional life, deeply touching and influencing the lives of family, friends, USMA classmates, and countless others. </p>
<p>Jim was born on October 6, 1970 in Atlanta, GA to Jim Cooper Sr. and Blaine Cooper. Jim spent his childhood in Cumming, GA, graduating from high school in 1989, which was in Duluth, GA. While there, he sought and successfully received admission and an appointment to West Point, where he (along with the rest of the Class of 1993) began his journey as a cadet and future Army officer in the summer of 1989. Jared Ware remembers Jim, known to many as “Coop,” and his immediate influence on others in 2nd Platoon, Company G during Cadet Basic Training. Jared states: “Coop is one of a kind. Being in Cadet Basic Training with this proud, fun-loving Georgia guy was a blessing to everyone in our platoon. He was friendly to everyone he encountered, and he lived his faith. Having attended church services and bible studies with him, I recognized that he was someone smiled on by God.”</p>
<p>Patmon Malcom remembers the impression Jim made upon him when they met plebe year and the lifelong bond the two formed: “I met Jimmy as a plebe at West Point. We were both from Georgia, spoke with a southern accent, were on the football team, and were just getting used to the shaved-head new look. Jimmy was great about staying in touch and ever so dedicated to his family and faith.”</p>
<p>Jim majored and excelled in electrical engineering. Simon Hernaez remembers Jim always helping him and others through very challenging academic times in the Thayer basement with warm smiles and well-timed jokes. Sava Marinkovich remembers the time he spent with Jim trudging through Juice “commiserating on figuring out circuits, logic, and embedded code.”</p>
<p>When Jim wasn’t laboring through West Point’s challenging academics, he often showed another side of himself: the humorous prankster who knows something about electrical engineering. A favorite memory of C-2 cow roommate Charles Buffington is the time Jim hijacked a formation with loud music: “[Coop] figured out that he could wire the Central Area loudspeaker to our stereo, so he wired it up. When we went out for lunch formation, we set a 2 Live Crew cassette tape to play and timed it so it would start playing just as the battalion was being called to attention. No one ever found out. We laughed about that prank even in his final days.”</p>
<p>After graduating with his class in 1993, Jim began his Army career as a signal officer. After completing his basic course at the Signal School, he moved to Fort Bragg, NC. Among other jobs there, he served as the battalion signal officer for 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Jim decided to depart the Army in 1998. </p>
<p>After meeting at a singles ministry event, Jim and his wife, Cindy, were married in 2004. Settling in Cedar Park, TX, Jim and Cindy raised two children, Ali and David. Jim kept to his mission of serving others, becoming a financial advisor with Primerica Financial Services. During a 19-year career, he helped many clients become financially secure. Jim also served his community as a member of the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce and as an elder at Hill County Bible Church. Jim spent his time with friends and family sharing faith, eating good food, and rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs. </p>
<p>Throughout his life, Coop had a presence that was larger than himself, and he touched many lives in important, significant ways. Classmate George Salter’s tribute speaks volumes: “Jim was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever known, and he had a natural ability to make you laugh. He always had a smile on his face and could cheer you up instantly. You made the world a better place and you left us way too soon.”</p>
<p>Rest in peace, fellow Defender.</p>
<p><em>— Classmate Michael Senn, with help from Jim’s Family and many Friends from the Class of 1993</em></p>
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