Earl Cooley (smokejumper)
Earl Everett Cooley (September 25, 1911 – November 9, 2009) became one of the first smokejumpers for the United States Forest Service, when he and a colleague parachuted from a plane to fight a forest fire in July 1940.[1]
Cooley was born in Hardin, Montana and dropped out of school when he was 12 to help his family eke out a living from farming and trapping, and developed an interest in hunting and fishing. He ultimately graduated from high school in 1930 after returning for his education and earned his undergraduate degree at the forestry school of the University of Montana.[2]
Cooley founded the National Smokejumper Association in 1992 and served as its president from 1993 to 1995.
References
- ↑ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1940682,00.html
- ↑ Martin, Douglas. "Earl Cooley Is Dead at 98; Fought Fires as Original Smoke Jumper", The New York Times, November 14, 2009. Accessed November 16, 2009.
External links
- Earl Cooley - Daily Telegraph obituary
- Earl Cooley - Facebook page
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