| Daniel William Cooper was known as the "balance wheel" of the fraternity because of his maturity and confidence. He was 26 years old when he helped found Sigma Chi and gave the group inspiration and cohesion; he was the first president of the chapter. After graduation he entered the seminary and was ordained a Presbyterian minister, which took him to many churches and on missionary services. He was the last of the founders to die (1920) and his original pin was presented to the fraternity as a permanent memento of the founding and is now passed on from one national president to the next. He is remembered for his self-control and level-headedness. These traits led Runkle to recall: "The little band was, if possible, over-stocked with physical courage, nervous energy, and overleaping ambition to place the White Cross high in the heavens. Cooper was quiet, calm, earnest, true, conscientious, and faithful. He was as the shadow of St. Peter passing by. We all sought him in his modest quarters, and no one came away without better resolutions and stronger hopes." |
