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The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees unanimously elected Angus R. Cooper III to represent the First Congressional District on the Board at its meeting on Feb. 7, 2025. Cooper, a lifelong resident of Mobile, serves as president of The Cooper Group of Companies, an Alabama-based maritime firm with a global footprint.
“Angus Cooper III is widely regarded as one of Alabama’s most respected business leaders and has achieved impressive corporate success while remaining deeply committed to public service and community advancement,” said Trustee Karen Brooks, chair of the Board’s Nominating Committee. “With his extensive leadership experience, strong business expertise and unwavering commitment to strengthening Alabama, we are confident he will be an exceptional addition to the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees.”
Anchored by one of the country’s oldest and largest stevedoring and maritime firms, The Cooper Group of Companies has grown under Cooper’s fourth-generation leadership into a multifaceted organization with thousands of employees impacting numerous industries, including agriculture, energy, construction, food service, and tourism. The entity’s diverse operations include warehousing, terminal operations, tugboats, push boats, barging, barge fleeting, floating terminals, logistics, forestry operations, vessel repair, and restaurants. Before joining The Cooper Group of Companies, Cooper worked at Herfuth and Co., a shipping company in Belgium, and Regions Bank.
Cooper’s expertise in international trade, logistics and economic development recently earned him an appointment by Governor Ivey to serve on the Alabama Growth Alliance, an initiative to drive economic growth and innovation across the state. He has also served on countless corporate and civic boards and held key leadership positions on the Alabama State Port Authority, Alabama Wildlife Federation, Business Council of Alabama and UMS-Wright Preparatory School boards.
“The Board is pleased to welcome Angus Cooper III, whose leadership has shaped not only the success of his company but also contributed to the growth and prosperity of our state,” said Board of Trustees President Pro Tempore Scott Phelps. “His deep knowledge of the state’s workforce needs will help us continue to offer innovative, in-demand degrees to our students, and his ability to unite people around a common goal and drive strategic growth will be invaluable as we ensure the continued success of the University of Alabama System and its far-reaching impact across the state.”
A longtime UA System supporter, Cooper is a cabinet member of The Rising Tide 2.0 and earned his bachelor’s degree from The University of Alabama. He and his wife, Gretchen Van Brackle Cooper, have four children: Angus IV, a recent UA graduate; Harris, a current UA student; Mary Lynn; and Darden.
Cooper’s election will be submitted to the Alabama State Senate for confirmation. The UA System Board of Trustees is comprised of 15 elected members who represent Alabama’s Congressional districts on a volunteer basis as well as the Governor of Alabama, who is an ex-officio member of the Board.
The UA System Board of Trustees ensures the effective leadership, management and governance of the University of Alabama System, the state’s largest employer and largest higher education and healthcare enterprise. It includes three doctoral research universities – The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, and The University of Alabama in Huntsville – and the UAB Health System.
