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 help 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."