Max Cooley

Dr. Max G. Cooley, 88, 1 Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown and formerly of Shippensburg, died Friday, December 31, 2010 at the Masonic Home.

Born August 6, 1922, in East Towanda, PA, he was a son of the late Reed David and Mildred Cynthia Allen Cooley. He married the late B. Ruth Cowell of Rome, PA, on November 30, 1946. He graduated from Towanda High School in 1941. He was a WWII veteran with the United States Marine Corps serving in China.

Dr. Cooley was a Professor Emeritus of Business Education at Shippensburg University until his retirement in 1984. He also served in a number of administrative roles including Chairman of Business Education, Director of the Combined Business Education/Administration programs, Dean of Continuing Education, Dean of the Undeclared Major Student program, and Associate Dean of the School of Business.

Dr. Cooley received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Education from Bloomsburg State Teachers College in 1950. He also earned a Masters of Art in 1952 and a Doctorate in 1966 from Columbia University as well as a Public School Administrator Certification from Penn State University. He began his career in the field of education as the Supervising Principal at the Ulster-Sheshequin Joint School District in Ulster, PA. He also served as Associate Principal and Business Education teacher at Rome-Windham Joint School in Rome, PA and as a Business Education teacher at Sayre Area Joint High School in Sayre, PA.

He and his wife, Ruth, directed Shippensburg Operation Heartbeat for a ten year period in the 1970s, receiving an award from the medical profession of Pennsylvania for having contributed significantly to the health and welfare of people of Pennsylvania with their CPR training program. He also received the Common Ground Award for similar university/community service.

He was a leader among area business managers having served as the President of the Harrisburg Chapter of the Administrative Management Society, as Director of Area III AMS, and on the Executive Board of the International AMS organization. His awards at each level reflect his outstanding leadership.

Dr. Cooley was a member of honorary societies in his field and in education: Pi Omega Pi, National Honor Society in Business Education, Phi Sigma Pi, and National Honor Society in Education, Delta Pi Epsilon, and National Honor Society in Graduate Business Education. He served as President of the Shippensburg University Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, National Honor Society in Education. He received the Outstanding Post Secondary Business Educator Award for the state of Pennsylvania, 1982. He was Past President of the PA Association of Adult Education, having received an award for “Exemplary Service and Leadership.”

He was author of a monograph, published worldwide, on Continuing Education and of several nationally published articles in his field. In 1973, he received the Alpha Award for the top business education article of the year in the nation, based on his doctoral dissertation titled, “Perception, the Key to Ideal Cooperating Teacher Behavior.” Over the years of his tenure, he served as Supervisor of Student Teachers for a host of student
teachers and their cooperating teachers in twenty one school districts east of Shippensburg.

He was Past Master of the Roman Lodge #418 Free and Accepted Masons receiving his 50th year service award from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in June 2001. He was also a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Consistory, Harrisburg, PA and the Valley Tall Cedars of Lebanon # 145.

Dr. Cooley was a member of the Christ United Methodist Church in Shippensburg, serving on the Board and as Superintendent of the Sunday School during Rev. Crowding’s tenure. He also sang with church choirs in Ulster, Rome, Sayre and Shippensburg.

Dr. Cooley is survived by two sons; Gary D. Cooley, Shippensburg and Mark S. Cooley, Orrstown, a granddaughter; Marsha Cooley Walker of Elizabethtown and four great grandchildren; two brothers; Ralph D. Cooley, East Towanda, PA and Vern D. Cooley, East Towanda, PA.

He was preceded in death by his wife B. Ruth Cowell Cooley; two brothers Reed Manley Cooley and David A. Cooley as well as two sisters Mildred Elaine Cooley Daley, and Donna J. Cooley Smith.
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Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. in the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home Inc., Shippensburg, with the Rev. Michael C. Weigle officiating. Burial will be held Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. in the Rome Cemetery, Rome, PA with a Masonic service conducted by Roman Lodge 418 Free and Accepted Masons. A viewing will be held one hour prior to the service on Tuesday in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Dr. Cooley’s memory to the Max G. Cooley Scholarship Fund, Shippensburg University Foundation, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA 17257, a fund that continues to honor outstanding students of business.