Oral history with Mr. Owen Cooper, president, Mississippi Chemical Corporation, retired.

              Oral history with Mr. Owen Cooper, president, Mississippi Chemical Corporation, retired.
This oral history is provided through a cooperative project of University of Southern Mississippi Libraries and USM's Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage.
Funding provided by a National Leadership Grant for Libraries from the Institute for Museum and Library Services
The transcript is presented here for reference purposes only. Interviews in this collection are protected by copyright. PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MUST BE REQUESTED from the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. Please call ( 601) 266- 4574 for more information.
Biography
Owen Cooper was born on a farm near Vicksburg, Mississippi. His father, W. S. Cooper, Jr., migrated to Beulah, Mississippi, near the turn of the century to work on a plantation there. He then moved to Vicksburg to farm. It was here that he raised and supported a family of five.
Mr. Cooper attended Culkin Academy in Vicksburg, and received a degree in Agriculture from Mississippi State College. After graduation from Mississippi State, Mr. Cooper taught school in Leland, Mississippi for five years.
Upon completion of his fifth year in the educational field he returned to Mississippi State to serve as Alumni Secretary and remained in this capacity for one year. He then enrolled at the University of Mississippi where he was awarded a Masters Degree in Economics and Political Science.
Shortly after completing his studies, Mr. Cooper entered public service joining the Mississippi State Planning Commission. While in this position he attended Jackson School of Law and successfully completed requirements for admittance to the Mississippi Bar. Mr. Cooper never has practiced law but has found his knowledge helpful in his business career.
In 1918 Mr. Cooper, then Assistant Director of the State Planning Commission was replaced by Governor Paul B. Johnson and subsequently joined the Mississippi Farm Bureau - a blessing in disguise because it led to his eventful presidency of the Mississippi Chemical Corporation.
In the late 1940' s a cooperative was formed which was to be owned by the farmers of Mississippi and was to be funded initially by the Farm Bureau. Its purpose was to produce synthetic nitrogen and nitrogen derived fertilizers. Mr. Cooper was asked to serve as general manager for the new plant, Mississippi Chemical.
Mississippi Chemical was a great success under the direction of Mr. Cooper. The first year's production was sixty thousand tons. In 1972 production had risen to two million tons, an increased production of one thousand percent. Also, two additional plants had been constructed and placed into operation. mus- coh. coopero. doc Page 1 of 18