Susan and Charles Cooper 2003 Recipients of Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award

1/10/03

DALLAS — Susan and Charles Cooper of Dallas are the first recipients of the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award, presented by Texas Woman's University and the TWU School of Occupational Therapy. TWU Chancellor Ann Stuart will confer the award during a Jan. 24 luncheon at the Lakewood Country Club in Dallas.

Mr. Cooper is known for his role with the Baylor Health Care System Foundation and as an activist for persons with mental health and mental retardation disabilities. He retired from the Baylor Foundation in 2002 and was awarded the title of president emeritus. He was appointed by Gov. Bill Clements to serve on the Texas Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board for six years and was reappointed for another term by Gov. George W. Bush, completing that term as president of the board. Mr. Cooper continues to be active and play a leadership role in the Dallas Association for Retarded Citizens, Dallas County MHMR, Senior Citizens of Greater Dallas County, C.C. Young Methodist Retirement Center and the American Heart Association.

Mrs. Cooper has served 30 years on the Old City Park Board. She also has served as vice president of the Association for Retarded Citizens, council member for Bethpage Lutheran Group Homes, capital campaign chairperson for Camp Summit for persons with life-long disabilities, and as a member of the Women's Auxiliary of the Alzheimer's Association, Baylor Hospital Celebrating Women and Family Gateway. Mrs. Cooper currently is co-chair of the 2003 Games of Hearts Luncheon, sponsored by the Women's Guild of the American Heart Association, and has maintained a leadership role in Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

The Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award was established in 2002 and is given annually to a Dallas resident who represents the caring, commitment and leadership Mrs. Dykes exemplifies.

As a health care provider and through her civic activities, Mrs. Dykes has spent a lifetime committed to helping others. Nationally and internationally she's known for her work in occupational therapy. Locally, she's known for her leadership in such organizations as the Dallas Opera, Dallas Arboretum and Dallas-Fort Worth Ballet.

Mrs. Dykes completed the graduate occupational therapy program at Texas Woman's University in 1954 after earning her bachelor of arts in art and psychology from Southern Methodist University in 1952. She was director of the Occupational and Recreational Therapy Department at Baylor University Medical Center for 25 years, and developed and supervised the occupational and recreational therapy programs at Baylor in rehabilitation, adult and adolescent psychiatry, eating disorders and hand splinting. Mrs. Dykes also founded the Boomerang Club, the first support group for stroke patients and their families in Dallas.

Her community service activities have included establishing the annual Fanny B. Vanderkooi Endowed Lectureship for the School of Occupational Therapy at TWU; serving on the board of directors for the Dallas Opera, Theater III, Fort Worth Opera, Dallas-Fort Worth Ballet, Les Femmes du Monde and Dallas Theater Center Guild; serving as president of the Diana Dean Head Injury Guild; and chairing auxiliary board of the Healing Environment Program at Baylor.

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For Further Information Contact:

Roy Kron
Director of News and Information
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: rkron@twu.edu