Charles T. Cooper

Enshrined 1977
Born: August 30, 1907
Newark, DE
Died: December 19, 1980

Charles "Tarzan" Cooper, a schoolboy standout at Philadelphia's Central High School, excelled at the center position for twenty professional basketball seasons. From 1924 to 1929, Tarzan starred with the Philadelphia Panthers and Philadelphia Saints. In 1929, Cooper joined the legendary New York Renaissance. For the next eleven years, Cooper directed the Rens, an all-black team, to 1,303 wins in 1,506 games. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Cooper, considered the team MVP, led the Rens to 88 straight wins (1932-33) and the 1939 World Professional Tournament Title. The Rens' success was due in part to their precise outside shooting and Cooper's ability to pull down rebounds, start the fast break, and score from the inside. Cooper ended his career in 1944 with the Washington Bears, but not before leading the Bears to the 1943 World Pro Title.