PRESIDENT'S BIOGRAPHY

Wilma Lee (Willee) Withers Cooper was born and raised in Pennsylvania, but got to Kentucky just as soon as she could convince her husband, Rich, that it was time to retire from the military! Willee and Rich moved to Hopkinsville, Kentucky, in 2000.

Prior to that she spent her adult life traveling among military bases in the Unites States and Europe. She is a former high school teacher who has taught in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Colorado, Georgia, and with the Department of Defense Overseas School System.

Willee describes herself as a “grassroots” organizer. She has been a poll worker, a phone volunteer, a doorknocker, and lives at Republican headquarters during the campaign season. She helped reorganize the Christian County Republican Women’s Club (CCRWC) in 2001 and saw that it was re-chartered into the Kentucky Federation of Republican Women (KFRW). She served two terms as president of the CCRWC, as well as two terms as Governor of the 1st Congressional District for the KFRW. During that time, she helped organize seven new Republican women’s clubs within the 1st District.

She served as chairman of the Christian County Republican Party from 2004-2008. She recently completed a four-year term as commissioner for the Kentucky Commission on Women, and she attended the Republican Women’s Round Table in 2004. She has been the Republican Volunteer of the Year in Christian County, and in 2006 was presented with the Ed Bradford Memorial Award for Extraordinary Service to the Republican Party in the 1st District. At the National Convention, Willee was Kentucky’s female delegate to the Committee on Permanent Organization.

Willee is a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania and attended Pittsburgh Seminary. Her husband, Rich, is a retired army chaplain (colonel). They have two adult sons, and they share their home with a brat-terrier named Buddie.

Publisher's Note: Text published as provided by Kentucky FRW.

FEDERATION PROFILE

Mrs. Simeon Wells, the governor's wife, met with a group of women to form the Kentucky Federation in 1947. KFRW affiliated with the NFRW that same year. Club members are active in political campaigns and community service. Huda Jones, a former state president, served as NFRW president from 1990 to 1993.

Past presidents include:
Mary Lou Wright
Ann Cheek
Mrs. Becky Harilson, 1996-2000
Mrs. Susan Ware, 1994-96
Mrs. Dorothy Land, 1990-94
Mrs. Mae Hoover, 1988-90
Mrs. Pat Snyder, 1984-88
Mrs. Mary Whittle, 1982-84
Mrs. Emogene Holt, 1980-82
Ms. Betty Holmes, 1978-80
Mrs. Jerri Simmons, 1976-78
Mrs. Betty Gillis, 1974-76
Mrs. Huda Jones, 1972-74
Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas, 1970-72
Mrs. C.M. McDaniel, 1968-70
Mrs. Howard Williams, 1966-68
Mrs. Ginny Davis, 1964-66
Mrs. Agnes Sittington, 1962-64
Mrs. Catherine Cowart, 1960-62
Mrs. Roy C. Gray, 1958-60
Mrs. Hardin Durham, 1954-58
Mrs. William Smith, 1952-54
Miss Marie Croley, 1950-52
Mrs. Walter Harang, 1948-50
Mrs. George A. Joplin, 1947-48 (founding)

Publisher's Note: Text published as provided by Kentucky FRW.

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