81-year-old Melvin Cooper of Prattville was named by Samford last month as the Alabama Baptist layperson of the year. He has taught Sunday School for 63 years and been an active deacon for 45 years, most recently at Montgomery’s First Baptist Church. He was the first executive director of the Alabama Ethics Commission. Nominators cited his church, denominational and community service. He also practices good stewardship, and his family’s budget records show a gift to his church on May 18, 1948 – the first Sunday after he married – of $3.50 on a weekly income of $35.

The world is better because of the faithful service of Melvin Cooper.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.