William Allen "Bill" Cooper

Cooper William Allen Cooper "Bill", 73, of Wayzata, Minnesota and formerly of Dublin, Ohio, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on February 7, 2017. Bill was an extraordinary man from an ordinary background. If you knew Bill you understand. Bill was born in 1943 in Detroit, Michigan and grew up with parents of very modest means. He flunked the 3rd grade and was kicked out of one High School. He ultimately began his career as a police officer while putting himself through night school at Wayne State University. After earning an accounting degree he worked as a CPA at Touche Ross. He later joined Michigan National Bank in 1969 where he rose to the position of Controller in the 1970's. His innovative career in banking spanned more than 40 years. Bill helped create a system whereby the bank could open branches beyond a geographic limitation imposed by bank regulation at that time that was innovative and changed banking throughout the state of Michigan and the entire U.S. During the late 1970's and early 1980's Bill worked at Huntington National Bank in Columbus and Cleveland where he rose to President of the bank. Bill was a very innovative banker who shook things up everywhere he went and was responsible for new methods and products in banking at every stop in his career. At Huntington, Bill was responsible for the acquisition of the Union Commerce Bank in Cleveland, which at the time was the largest bank acquisition in the state of Ohio. Later in the 1980's Bill was responsible for the development and construction of the Huntington National Bank building at Broad and High. He engineered Huntington merging its 19 affiliate banks into one state wide charter which was innovative for the time. In 1985 Bill was named Chairman and CEO of Twin City Financial ("TCF") in Minneapolis Minnesota. TCF was a failing Savings and Loan during the Savings and Loan Crisis when Bill arrived. He not only saved the taxpayers billions by saving an institution that most others had written off as not worth saving but he turned it into one of the most profitable and innovative banks in the industry making many wealthy along the way. He successfully led TCF for over 30 years. Bill retired as CEO in 2015 and remained the Chairman until his death. Bill pioneered "Free Checking" and made the debit card what it is today by making it "free" to all customers while other banks charged fees for its use and thought of it as a product for high end customers. Other innovations by Bill like supermarket branches and 7 day a week hours changed the industry forever. As a banker, Bill prided himself on appealing to "Joe Lunch Bucket" the customer who he felt was underserved and not respected in the banking industry. Bill grew up in Detroit in a working class neighborhood and understood this customer very well since he had lived and worked the same lifestyle himself. "Joe Lunch Bucket" was a term of endearment for him that was symbolic of how he lived his life as a regular guy even as the world and people around him became wealthier and more sophisticated. Bill always retained his roots as a regular guy that made him so approachable and easy to talk to. Bill demanded a lot from his employees but the fierce loyalty he created can still be seen today and his attitudes about banking will forever change many who worked with and for him. Bill's family would like to thank his dear friend and personal assistant, Pam Gordley for her extraordinary and dedicated service to their father. Bill also co-founded with his son, the Cooper State Bank, in Columbus, which operated for almost 10 years before being acquired. Bill loved to ski at Snowmass Colorado and boat on Lake Minnetonka especially with his children and grand children. He loved to teach kids how to ski. Bill prided himself on being a master of practical jokes and always loved to have a couple beers and talk about whatever was on his mind. Drinking beer and shooting pool with his kids was a past time he enjoyed for many years. He liked to tell jokes and his favorite stories. Bill had a passion for education and school choice. He believed every child deserved a chance to succeed in life beginning with a good education. He was a founder of the Providence Academy in Plymouth, Minnesota, a strong supporter of Ascension School of North Minneapolis and founder of Friends of Education, a charter school sponsor. Friends of Education supports more than 8,500 students and sponsors 15 schools, several of which have been recognized as among the highest performing schools in the United States. Bill is survived by children and grandchildren in Central Ohio, including children, William Allen Cooper Jr. (Christy), Christine Scott (Christopher), Brian Cooper (Kristi), Lauren Cooper; and grandchildren, Sam Scott, Clara Scott, William Allen Cooper III, Frankie Cooper and Lexi Cooper. A public memorial service celebrating Bill's life will be held March 4, 2017 at 12 noon, TCF Bank Stadium DQ room, 420 23rd Ave. SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455. In lieu of flowers, Bill's family requests that memorial contributions be made to Friends of Education, 200 Lake St. E, Wayzata, MN 55391, or for more information visit www.improvek-12education.org.