Jackson State University’s College of Business launched the William “Bill” Cooley Fund to honor the former business dean of the college’s years of service and acknowledge his continued support. Accolades and tributes were the order of the day at the “Breakfast of Champion” event, which underscored the establishment of the endowment. To date, the fund has raised more than $30,000.
President Carolyn W. Meyers, offering her own contribution, encouraged attendees to continue their support. She said, “So many of us have stood on his shoulders, which have got to be sore.” As a result, Meyers presented a special gift – a sturdy pair of shoulder pads – to the delight of Cooley and the crowd.
State Sen. John Horhn presided at the fete and described Cooley as a natural-born leader.
“He leads by inspiring others with invigorating energy. He cares about youths, making sure they put their best foot forward. This suggests the quality of his leadership. A lot of people rest on their laurels and hang on to their personal successes. Bill Cooley spreads it around,” Horhn said.
Dr. Ramin Maysami, dean of JSU’s College of Business, offered gratitude for Cooley’s legacy and credited his predecessor for being instrumental in the college’s continued success.
“He’s an honest man, and he tells you things the way they are. … We got AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation under Dr. Cooley, so now it’s our turn. We are among 5 percent of universities worldwide to be accredited by AACSB.”
Cooley, a native of the Mississippi Delta and professor emeritus of management at JSU, is chairman emeritus of Systems Electro Coating, Systems Consultants Associates and Systems IT. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Tuskegee Institute. In addition, he served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force and is a decorated Vietnam War veteran, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
Subsequently, Cooley earned a master’s degree from the University of North Dakota in industrial management and later accepted a teaching position at JSU. Also, he studied and taught management at Mississippi State University, where he earned a doctorate in business administration.
While at JSU, Cooley founded Systems Consulting Associates, which was recognized in 2003 by Inc. magazine as one of the Top 100 fastest-growing, inner-city companies in the U.S. In 2001, Cooley founded Systems Electro Coating, a tier-one supplier to Nissan North America Inc., in Canton, Miss. By the end of 2015, Systems Electro Coating was expected to be the sole provider of frames used in the manufacturing of all trucks and SUVs produced by Nissan in the nation. Since 2006, Systems has been among Black Enterprise’s Top 100 largest African-American companies in the U.S., ranking 32nd in 2014.
The event was held Oct. 23, in the JSU Student Center following a “Coffee with the Champ” event held at The Penguin restaurant, a campus and community landmark business co-founded by Cooley.