McMurry President Found Dead In Home
Dr. Harold G. Cooke, President of McMurry College, was found dead in his home the morning of March 17 after a week-end illness. He had served as president of the college since January, 1943.
During the past 15 years under Dr. Cooke's leadership, the college has greatly increased its facilities and its endowment program.
Six new buildings have been added to the campus. They are Radford Auditorium, Iris Graham Dining Hall, President Hall, Gold Star Dormitory, and James Winfred Hunt Memorial Dormitory.
In 1940, the endowment of McMurry was $419,399, but under Dr. Cooke's unceasing efforts to make McMurry financially secure, that amount was raised to $5,215,000 in 1958.
"Here is to arise one of the great colleges of America. Through your prayers, your interest, and your aid, it shall be done . . . The time has now come in the good providence of God for McMurry to take the place she is destined to occupy in the cultural life of this territory, and in the developing life of the Methodist Church," Dr. Cooke stated in his inaugural address on September 14, 1943.
Born June 12, 1890, he received his B. A. degree from Southwestern University, Georgetown, in 1911 and his B. D. from SMU, Dallas, in 1922. He received two honorary degrees, a D. D. from Southwestern in 1943 and a LL. D. from Oklahoma City University in 1951.
Dr. Cooke served as District Superintendent of the San Angelo District from 1939 to 1942. He also was pastor of 12 churches during his lifetime, five of which are in Texas.
His name appears in the Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the Methodist Church.
Dr. Cooke was a member of the Masons and the Rotary Club.
He and Erie Helen Kimbell of Houston were married in 1914.
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, three sons, two sisters, and 19 grandchildren.
The McMurry Chieftan (Abilene, Texas, monthly), March, 1953, page 1.
Harold G. Cooke was born in 1890, 25 miles from a post office, near Scatterwood Lake, in South Dakota, the son of John Bunyan and Lucinda Jane COOKE. When he was six years of age, his parents moved to Missouri, and two years later they came to Texas and settled in the open territory between Beaumont and Port Arthur, near Nederland and Port Neches. Here his father became a rice farmer, and it was at Spindle top, near their home, that the first Texas "Gusher" came in. Thus, it can be said that young Cooke was reared in the atmosphere of the rice industry and the oil development. He attended grade and high school in Port Arthur.
In those early days, school terms were short and Cooke spent much time working on the farm, and in time working on the farm, and in the oil industry, driving six mule teams, walking the levees, and working as a steel tank riveter and rivet heater. Later, during college vacations, he worked as a book and aluminum ware salesman, selling aluminum ware in the territory between Amarillo and Post for several summers.
In the fall of 1906, he enrolled in Southwestern University, Georgetown, but the next year, during the panic of 1907, he was forced to stay out of work. During this year he took orders for picture enlargements for the Chicago Portrait Company, and clerked in a grocery store for several months.
The next year he returned to Southwestern, through the aid of Dr. Edwin D. Mouzon head of the Bible Department, whom he met at the annual conference. He lived in Dr. Mouzon's home until the latter's election to the Episcopacy.
Dr. Cooke received his A. B. degree from Southwestern University in 1911, and that fall joined the Texas Conference. He has been practicing since that time, with the exception of two years 1912 and 1913, when he was a lawyer, employed by the Houston Oil company, for whom he acted as investigator of land claims.
In the fall of 1913, he was appointed pastor of Mc Shan Chapel, Houston, where he served three years. During his pastorate there he was married to Miss Erie Kimbell, of Houston, and two of their four children, Lee and Harold, Jr., were born there. In the fall of 1916, he was transferred to the North Texas Conference, and moved to Dallas, where he held a student pastorate and attended Southern Methodist University for three years.
President Cooke, who came to McMurry in January, from San Angelo Texas, was serving as district superintendent of the San Angelo – Llano Districts for the fifth year. He has served as pastor of some of the largest churches in Texas, the south and southwest. During these pastorates several large and magnificent church edifices have been built. He has held pastorates in Dallas, Beaumont, Houston, and Paris, Texas; Tulsa, McAlister, and Oklahoma City, in Oklahoma; Knoxville and Memphis, Tenn.; Paducah, Kentucky, and Phoenix, Arizona.
Abilene Reporter News, 12 Sept. 1943, page 2.
Dr. Harold G. Cooke, President of McMurry College, was found dead in his home the morning of March 17 after a week-end illness. He had served as president of the college since January, 1943.
During the past 15 years under Dr. Cooke's leadership, the college has greatly increased its facilities and its endowment program.
Six new buildings have been added to the campus. They are Radford Auditorium, Iris Graham Dining Hall, President Hall, Gold Star Dormitory, and James Winfred Hunt Memorial Dormitory.
In 1940, the endowment of McMurry was $419,399, but under Dr. Cooke's unceasing efforts to make McMurry financially secure, that amount was raised to $5,215,000 in 1958.
"Here is to arise one of the great colleges of America. Through your prayers, your interest, and your aid, it shall be done . . . The time has now come in the good providence of God for McMurry to take the place she is destined to occupy in the cultural life of this territory, and in the developing life of the Methodist Church," Dr. Cooke stated in his inaugural address on September 14, 1943.
Born June 12, 1890, he received his B. A. degree from Southwestern University, Georgetown, in 1911 and his B. D. from SMU, Dallas, in 1922. He received two honorary degrees, a D. D. from Southwestern in 1943 and a LL. D. from Oklahoma City University in 1951.
Dr. Cooke served as District Superintendent of the San Angelo District from 1939 to 1942. He also was pastor of 12 churches during his lifetime, five of which are in Texas.
His name appears in the Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the Methodist Church.
Dr. Cooke was a member of the Masons and the Rotary Club.
He and Erie Helen Kimbell of Houston were married in 1914.
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, three sons, two sisters, and 19 grandchildren.
The McMurry Chieftan (Abilene, Texas, monthly), March, 1953, page 1.
Harold G. Cooke was born in 1890, 25 miles from a post office, near Scatterwood Lake, in South Dakota, the son of John Bunyan and Lucinda Jane COOKE. When he was six years of age, his parents moved to Missouri, and two years later they came to Texas and settled in the open territory between Beaumont and Port Arthur, near Nederland and Port Neches. Here his father became a rice farmer, and it was at Spindle top, near their home, that the first Texas "Gusher" came in. Thus, it can be said that young Cooke was reared in the atmosphere of the rice industry and the oil development. He attended grade and high school in Port Arthur.
In those early days, school terms were short and Cooke spent much time working on the farm, and in time working on the farm, and in the oil industry, driving six mule teams, walking the levees, and working as a steel tank riveter and rivet heater. Later, during college vacations, he worked as a book and aluminum ware salesman, selling aluminum ware in the territory between Amarillo and Post for several summers.
In the fall of 1906, he enrolled in Southwestern University, Georgetown, but the next year, during the panic of 1907, he was forced to stay out of work. During this year he took orders for picture enlargements for the Chicago Portrait Company, and clerked in a grocery store for several months.
The next year he returned to Southwestern, through the aid of Dr. Edwin D. Mouzon head of the Bible Department, whom he met at the annual conference. He lived in Dr. Mouzon's home until the latter's election to the Episcopacy.
Dr. Cooke received his A. B. degree from Southwestern University in 1911, and that fall joined the Texas Conference. He has been practicing since that time, with the exception of two years 1912 and 1913, when he was a lawyer, employed by the Houston Oil company, for whom he acted as investigator of land claims.
In the fall of 1913, he was appointed pastor of Mc Shan Chapel, Houston, where he served three years. During his pastorate there he was married to Miss Erie Kimbell, of Houston, and two of their four children, Lee and Harold, Jr., were born there. In the fall of 1916, he was transferred to the North Texas Conference, and moved to Dallas, where he held a student pastorate and attended Southern Methodist University for three years.
President Cooke, who came to McMurry in January, from San Angelo Texas, was serving as district superintendent of the San Angelo – Llano Districts for the fifth year. He has served as pastor of some of the largest churches in Texas, the south and southwest. During these pastorates several large and magnificent church edifices have been built. He has held pastorates in Dallas, Beaumont, Houston, and Paris, Texas; Tulsa, McAlister, and Oklahoma City, in Oklahoma; Knoxville and Memphis, Tenn.; Paducah, Kentucky, and Phoenix, Arizona.
Abilene Reporter News, 12 Sept. 1943, page 2.
McMurry President Found Dead In Home
Dr. Harold G. Cooke, President of McMurry College, was found dead in his home the morning of March 17 after a week-end illness. He had served as president of the college since January, 1943.
During the past 15 years under Dr. Cooke's leadership, the college has greatly increased its facilities and its endowment program.
Six new buildings have been added to the campus. They are Radford Auditorium, Iris Graham Dining Hall, President Hall, Gold Star Dormitory, and James Winfred Hunt Memorial Dormitory.
In 1940, the endowment of McMurry was $419,399, but under Dr. Cooke's unceasing efforts to make McMurry financially secure, that amount was raised to $5,215,000 in 1958.
"Here is to arise one of the great colleges of America. Through your prayers, your interest, and your aid, it shall be done . . . The time has now come in the good providence of God for McMurry to take the place she is destined to occupy in the cultural life of this territory, and in the developing life of the Methodist Church," Dr. Cooke stated in his inaugural address on September 14, 1943.
Born June 12, 1890, he received his B. A. degree from Southwestern University, Georgetown, in 1911 and his B. D. from SMU, Dallas, in 1922. He received two honorary degrees, a D. D. from Southwestern in 1943 and a LL. D. from Oklahoma City University in 1951.
Dr. Cooke served as District Superintendent of the San Angelo District from 1939 to 1942. He also was pastor of 12 churches during his lifetime, five of which are in Texas.
His name appears in the Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the Methodist Church.
Dr. Cooke was a member of the Masons and the Rotary Club.
He and Erie Helen Kimbell of Houston were married in 1914.
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, three sons, two sisters, and 19 grandchildren.
The McMurry Chieftan (Abilene, Texas, monthly), March, 1953, page 1.
Harold G. Cooke was born in 1890, 25 miles from a post office, near Scatterwood Lake, in South Dakota, the son of John Bunyan and Lucinda Jane COOKE. When he was six years of age, his parents moved to Missouri, and two years later they came to Texas and settled in the open territory between Beaumont and Port Arthur, near Nederland and Port Neches. Here his father became a rice farmer, and it was at Spindle top, near their home, that the first Texas "Gusher" came in. Thus, it can be said that young Cooke was reared in the atmosphere of the rice industry and the oil development. He attended grade and high school in Port Arthur.
In those early days, school terms were short and Cooke spent much time working on the farm, and in time working on the farm, and in the oil industry, driving six mule teams, walking the levees, and working as a steel tank riveter and rivet heater. Later, during college vacations, he worked as a book and aluminum ware salesman, selling aluminum ware in the territory between Amarillo and Post for several summers.
In the fall of 1906, he enrolled in Southwestern University, Georgetown, but the next year, during the panic of 1907, he was forced to stay out of work. During this year he took orders for picture enlargements for the Chicago Portrait Company, and clerked in a grocery store for several months.
The next year he returned to Southwestern, through the aid of Dr. Edwin D. Mouzon head of the Bible Department, whom he met at the annual conference. He lived in Dr. Mouzon's home until the latter's election to the Episcopacy.
Dr. Cooke received his A. B. degree from Southwestern University in 1911, and that fall joined the Texas Conference. He has been practicing since that time, with the exception of two years 1912 and 1913, when he was a lawyer, employed by the Houston Oil company, for whom he acted as investigator of land claims.
In the fall of 1913, he was appointed pastor of Mc Shan Chapel, Houston, where he served three years. During his pastorate there he was married to Miss Erie Kimbell, of Houston, and two of their four children, Lee and Harold, Jr., were born there. In the fall of 1916, he was transferred to the North Texas Conference, and moved to Dallas, where he held a student pastorate and attended Southern Methodist University for three years.
President Cooke, who came to McMurry in January, from San Angelo Texas, was serving as district superintendent of the San Angelo – Llano Districts for the fifth year. He has served as pastor of some of the largest churches in Texas, the south and southwest. During these pastorates several large and magnificent church edifices have been built. He has held pastorates in Dallas, Beaumont, Houston, and Paris, Texas; Tulsa, McAlister, and Oklahoma City, in Oklahoma; Knoxville and Memphis, Tenn.; Paducah, Kentucky, and Phoenix, Arizona.
Abilene Reporter News, 12 Sept. 1943, page 2.
Dr. Harold G. Cooke, President of McMurry College, was found dead in his home the morning of March 17 after a week-end illness. He had served as president of the college since January, 1943.
During the past 15 years under Dr. Cooke's leadership, the college has greatly increased its facilities and its endowment program.
Six new buildings have been added to the campus. They are Radford Auditorium, Iris Graham Dining Hall, President Hall, Gold Star Dormitory, and James Winfred Hunt Memorial Dormitory.
In 1940, the endowment of McMurry was $419,399, but under Dr. Cooke's unceasing efforts to make McMurry financially secure, that amount was raised to $5,215,000 in 1958.
"Here is to arise one of the great colleges of America. Through your prayers, your interest, and your aid, it shall be done . . . The time has now come in the good providence of God for McMurry to take the place she is destined to occupy in the cultural life of this territory, and in the developing life of the Methodist Church," Dr. Cooke stated in his inaugural address on September 14, 1943.
Born June 12, 1890, he received his B. A. degree from Southwestern University, Georgetown, in 1911 and his B. D. from SMU, Dallas, in 1922. He received two honorary degrees, a D. D. from Southwestern in 1943 and a LL. D. from Oklahoma City University in 1951.
Dr. Cooke served as District Superintendent of the San Angelo District from 1939 to 1942. He also was pastor of 12 churches during his lifetime, five of which are in Texas.
His name appears in the Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the Methodist Church.
Dr. Cooke was a member of the Masons and the Rotary Club.
He and Erie Helen Kimbell of Houston were married in 1914.
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, three sons, two sisters, and 19 grandchildren.
The McMurry Chieftan (Abilene, Texas, monthly), March, 1953, page 1.
Harold G. Cooke was born in 1890, 25 miles from a post office, near Scatterwood Lake, in South Dakota, the son of John Bunyan and Lucinda Jane COOKE. When he was six years of age, his parents moved to Missouri, and two years later they came to Texas and settled in the open territory between Beaumont and Port Arthur, near Nederland and Port Neches. Here his father became a rice farmer, and it was at Spindle top, near their home, that the first Texas "Gusher" came in. Thus, it can be said that young Cooke was reared in the atmosphere of the rice industry and the oil development. He attended grade and high school in Port Arthur.
In those early days, school terms were short and Cooke spent much time working on the farm, and in time working on the farm, and in the oil industry, driving six mule teams, walking the levees, and working as a steel tank riveter and rivet heater. Later, during college vacations, he worked as a book and aluminum ware salesman, selling aluminum ware in the territory between Amarillo and Post for several summers.
In the fall of 1906, he enrolled in Southwestern University, Georgetown, but the next year, during the panic of 1907, he was forced to stay out of work. During this year he took orders for picture enlargements for the Chicago Portrait Company, and clerked in a grocery store for several months.
The next year he returned to Southwestern, through the aid of Dr. Edwin D. Mouzon head of the Bible Department, whom he met at the annual conference. He lived in Dr. Mouzon's home until the latter's election to the Episcopacy.
Dr. Cooke received his A. B. degree from Southwestern University in 1911, and that fall joined the Texas Conference. He has been practicing since that time, with the exception of two years 1912 and 1913, when he was a lawyer, employed by the Houston Oil company, for whom he acted as investigator of land claims.
In the fall of 1913, he was appointed pastor of Mc Shan Chapel, Houston, where he served three years. During his pastorate there he was married to Miss Erie Kimbell, of Houston, and two of their four children, Lee and Harold, Jr., were born there. In the fall of 1916, he was transferred to the North Texas Conference, and moved to Dallas, where he held a student pastorate and attended Southern Methodist University for three years.
President Cooke, who came to McMurry in January, from San Angelo Texas, was serving as district superintendent of the San Angelo – Llano Districts for the fifth year. He has served as pastor of some of the largest churches in Texas, the south and southwest. During these pastorates several large and magnificent church edifices have been built. He has held pastorates in Dallas, Beaumont, Houston, and Paris, Texas; Tulsa, McAlister, and Oklahoma City, in Oklahoma; Knoxville and Memphis, Tenn.; Paducah, Kentucky, and Phoenix, Arizona.
Abilene Reporter News, 12 Sept. 1943, page 2.
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