Austin Cooper

[The Librarian]

Austin Cooper's work for the us bureau of mines helped make coal mining safer for miners in Western Pennsylvania and around the world.

Mr.. Cooper worked as a physical scientist with the now deceased agency at a time when he operated an experimental mine in South Park, where he carried out controlled experiments on the combustibility of coal dust.

"my dad helped the mines be safer", said his son, Peter. "the research they made changed the coal industry for men".

Mr.. Cooper worked with other scientists abroad and was co-author of books on mining safety with scientists from other countries, he said.

Austin R. Cooper: From Greensburg, previously from Mcmurray, he died on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at the hospital excela health westmoreland in Greensburg. He was 97 years old.

Born on August 18, 1920 in Washington, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the deceased Roman Cooper and Esther (Johnston) Cooper. He graduated from East Washington high school and attended Knoxville college in Tennessee.

After his service in the navy, he went to work for the mine office. He investigated in the Pittsburgh experimental mine on explosive properties of dust, hydraulic fluid and other mining products, said Peter Cooper.

"he took us there when they were children and showed us how even common household products, under appropriate conditions, can be explosives", he said.

Mr.. Cooper testified as an expert witness in several trials, including one that involved a woman who was burned while heating carnation milk on a stove, he said.

He retired in 1984 after 40 years with the office, which was closed in 1996.

Mr.. Cooper was also a devoted Jehovah's witness who became when he was young and remained active in the Hall Kingdom Hall until his death.

In 1963, he participated in the Jehovah's world witness assembly, a travelling convention that began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and visited some 18 countries before returning to the United States.

" the goal was to show the International Brotherhood (of Jehovah's witnesses). They welcomed these delegates from all over the world. The purpose was to build unity and show how the teaching of Jehovah's witnesses was the same ", he said.

Mr.. Cooper met his wife, Maureen, from Edinburgh, Scotland, while attending a Jehovah's witness convention at Wembley stadium in London.

"they responded, and she came to America", said her son.

Mr.. Cooper was preceded by death by a brother and three sisters.

He's survived by his 66-Year-old wife Maureen H. (Christie) Cooper; four children, Austin Cooper Jr. And his wife, Valerie, from Greensburg, James Cooper and his wife, Beth, from Irwin, Jonathan M. Cooper, from Greensburg, and Peter Cooper and his wife, Debra, from Jeannette; 12 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; a sister; and a brother

https://triblive.com/obituaries/newsstories/13837148-74/former-mcmurray-mans-research-made-coal-mining-safer