The Tullahoma City Schools Board of Education has nominated the late W.C. Cooper as the next recipient of the Clyde Smith Jr. Leadership award.

During its August meeting, Board Chairman Kim Uselton introduced the item, during which she gave a summary of the award. The award was named after Clyde Smith Jr., who served on the school board for 20 years. Per Uselton, during his time on the board, which saw him serve as both the chairman of the school board and president of the Tennessee School Board Association, Smith made a difference in countless lives through his service. The award was established in 2012 following his passing in 2010, and former school secretaries, teachers and administrators have been given this award.

“These 26 individuals have impacted thousands of lives through their service,” Uselton stated.

She then turned it over to school board member Pat Welsh, who made the motion to nominate Cooper as the next Clyde Smith fellow. After the motion was opened for discussion, board member Gigi Robison recounted her time working under Cooper at West Middle School, where she praised him for his work and treatment of the students.

“He was just awesome,” Robison said.

With no further discussion, the board unanimously approved Coach W.C. Cooper as this year’s honoree for the Clyde Smith Jr. Leadership Award. Cooper’s legacy will be celebrated at the Oct. 20 Board of Education meeting.

About W.C. Cooper

Coach Wilburn Conda “W.C.” (Dub) Cooper was born on Oct. 9, 1928, in Knoxville on Cornell Street, which is now part of the University of Tennessee campus. He played his high school ball in Knoxville, where he was All-South. He would play football for the University of Tennessee under Coach Neyland, lettering in 1948, 1949, and 1950. He was Player of the Week against Alabama in 1948, when he ran for a touchdown and threw for a touchdown. Cooper would earn his bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Education while at the University of Tennessee. Cooper also served his country in the Air Force and played for the Air Force Bombers, a traveling service academy team, putting up impressive numbers and an undefeated season. During his time at the University of Tennessee, he met his wife, Betty Jo Lambdin, and married her during his senior year. They would have twin sons, Dirk and Mike.

Cooper then arrive in Tullahoma to take the job as assistant football coach at Tullahoma High School in 1954. His time as assistant coach would be short-lived, as he would take the reins as the football coach for the THS Wildcats football team from 1956-1966, where he would cement his legacy as the “Legend of the Gridiron,” as he would lead the Wildcats to a 68-36-6 record and capture the Central Tennessee Conference titles four times. Cooper’s success as a coach was recognized by the school district when the football field was named after him. After coaching the football team, Cooper became athletic director and was the longtime principal of West Middle School. Cooper passed away on April 11, 2021, at the age of 92.