A tribute to Mack D. Cooper II by Bill Bratton

Mack was a long time, good friend of mine. He would always laugh when we reflected back on the days of playing golf at Old Monterey golf course. We would meet there around 6:00 p.m. after work and at least get nine holes in and the golf pro there got to know us... told us to play as long as we wanted to.

I remember many a time when he would call me and say he needed to get away and he asked if he could come over to my place sit on the porch do some research. I told him yes and in that time I was receiving a lot of Amazon packages. And he at that time had never ordered anything from Amazon and he was laughing, he said welcome to Billy's world where it's always Christmas. He had a jolly heart about him he was not jealous of anyone. He would support you and help to push you forward.

What I will always remember about him is the fact that he loved to research. He loved politics, he loved any kind of education or information you could lock into your mind. Here recently it reached a point where my text message would go off at 3:00 a.m. in the morning and he would say, are you up? And I would say yes and he would call me to tell me something he had just read. I have no idea when that guy ever got some sleep. He thrived on information and he always told me he would love to be able to debate anyone on TV just for the fun of it because he felt he could give them a run for their money, he was very intelligent, well read.

I remember Mack and I drove to Smith Mountain Lake to see our friend Rob Turner. We spent the night there and went fishing on Rob's dock. Rob and I were catching fish but Mack was not, and all of a sudden he broke out a special lure out of his tackle box. We were going for catfish. He threw it in the water and caught one bigger than Rob and I caught put together. He stood there proud as we took pictures of him, if I can find that picture I will post it. I remember Rob and I were tired and I said I was going up and get some sleep and Rob said I'm right behind you, but Mack D Cooper II refused to give up ...he stayed out there all night fishing and had a great time.

He absolutely loved animals, he had a special baby named Basha and he took her everywhere he went in his van. When he would come over to my place he would always spend time with my two dogs.

We talked about religion and spirituality a lot. And he always professed Jesus Christ as his savior.

He did not say much about himself, he always wanted to hear about the other person and what they were experiencing in life. He told me that being a member of Kiwanis was very special.... you could go around the room and talk to everyone and learn so much, and many a time they did ask him to get up and speak at the dinners and he enjoyed that.

My friend, we will miss you and I will miss our conversations they were very enlightening... let me just wrap this up by saying; are you up? I know you are too busy to talk now, but just keep listening... you have many thoughts coming your way from many people. Until we meet again.

Bill