MYERS YOUNG COOPER was born near Saint Louisville, Ohio. After studying at the Lebanon (Ohio) Normal University for two years, he entered the real estate business in Cincinnati, later expanding his interests to home construction, lumber distribution, and coal mining. He was President of the Ohio Fair Managers Association for eleven years and President of the Ohio Council of Churches for three terms. Cooper joined the Bull Moose movement in 1912 but returned to the regular Republican Party in 1916, serving as a state and national party convention delegate regularly until his nomination for governor. As governor, he had a good working relationship with the state legislature, such that all twenty-two of his vetoes were upheld. In addition, all of his recommendations to the legislature became law, among them: closer regulation of utility companies; strengthening of election and banking law; revision of the highway code; and conservation of natural resources. Cooper lost his bid for reelection in 1930 and returned to his business activities in Cincinnati. He sought the governorship again in 1932 but was defeated in the primary.