TOM COONEY
1956 Graduate
Nominated by: John Lazur ‘56

Tom Cooney is an internationally recognized leader in the field of mathematics education. He began his career in mathematics education by teaching middle and high school mathematics at Rossford High School (1960-1966). He received his BSED with majors in mathematics and science from the University of Toledo (1960) and his MED from UT with a major in mathematics (1963). He was inducted into Pi Mu Epsilon (mathematics) and Phi Kappi Phi honorary societies. He received his Ph.D. in mathematics education from the University of Illinois in 1969 whereupon he accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Georgia. He retired from the University of Georgia in 1999 as Professor Emeritus buy has remained active in the field. (The Department of Mathematics Education at the University of Georgia has consistently been recognized as the leading Department in the country according to various surveys over the past 25 years.) Dr. Cooney’s achievements include the following:

Honored as a Distinguished Alumni, College of Education, University of Illinois (U of I is one of the top five graduate schools in the U.S.), 2000

Recipient of Yeany Award for outstanding research in his field (awarded by the College of Education, University of Georgia), 1999

Recipient of Thomason Award for outstanding service in mathematics education to the State of Georgia (awarded by the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics), 1999

Member, Committee on Volunteer National Examination, 1999. (This select Committee reported to Congress regarding the status of the development of this National examination supported by President Clinton.)

Chair, Editorial Panel of the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education (leading research journal in the U.S.), 1994-1995

Chair, Special Interest Group, Mathematics Education of the American Educational Research Association (national election), 1992-1994

One of 40 mathematicians and mathematics educators selected by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) to create curriculum and evaluation standards for school mathematics. This project has significantly influenced testing standards in various states and authors of textbooks for school mathematics. (Standards published by NCTM in 1989)…and many more…

Professor Cooney is the Founding Editor of the internationally acclaimed Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education. The Editorial Board for this journal consists of leaders in the mathematics education throughout the world. The journal publishes articles on issues in mathematics teacher education from scholars around the world. Professor Cooney was Editor-in-Chief from the journal’s inception in 1996 to 2001 and an Editorial Board member since 2001. The board honored Dr. Cooney in 2008 for his pioneering work and contributions to the Journal over the last 12 years.

Dr. Cooney has more than 100 publications including books and articles on research in mathematics education, innovative approaches to educating mathematics teachers, and mathematics books for teachers and secondary school students. Dr. Cooney has lectured in every country in Western Europe and in Israel, India, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, and Thailand. In addition he has been a frequent speaker (more than 150 presentations) at national, regional, and state conferences on mathematics, mathematics education, and education more generally. His primary area of research is on the nature of teachers’ beliefs about mathematics and their teaching of mathematics and how those beliefs influence classroom instruction. 

Since his retirement, Tom has worked on a variety of Teacher Quality grants around the state of Georgia. These grants were designed to help mathematics teachers learn to work with new curricula, new assessment ideas, and to teach in new ways. He has just completed a comprehensive assessment of the entire Teacher Quality Program in Georgia. Tom is the lead author on a book for teachers on mathematical functions, which will be available and presented at the NCTM meeting in spring 2009.

Tom is a volunteer for the Loran Smith Cancer Support Center in Athens, Georgia and writes articles for the Center’s monthly newsletter. He is Co-Chair of Covenant Presbyterian Church’s Stewardship and Finance Committee, is a Past-President of the Men’s Golf Association at the Athens Country Club (currently serving as Treasurer), and participates in golf tournaments sponsored by the Georgia Senior Golfers Association.  His family consists of wife Sara of 47 years and children Kathy and James and their spouses who reside in the Atlanta area.

DANIEL ANDERSON
1941 Graduate
Posthumously – September 28, 2008
Nominated by:: Tammy Hughes ‘76

Daniel Anderson had dedicated his many years of life to being an influential and more importantly, an active member of the Oregon community. He was born and raised in Jerusalem Township, on July 21, 1923, to Albert & Anna Anderson. He lived on the same homestead for his entire 85 years of life.

At the onset of WWII, Danny enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp. He received the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, and the European Ribbon with two battle stars. Later in life Danny was a speaker at the area schools on freedom. Danny also gave a first-hand account of the war which is being kept at the Smithsonian Institute. 

Danny was an active member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Curtice, where he was past president and sang in the choir. He also sang with the Velvetone Choraliers for over 21 years. Danny was also a scout master for Troop 131 for over twenty years and managed several men’s softball teams for 30 years. He was awarded the Frederic E. Hansen Humanitarian Award in 1998 for all he has done for the community. 

Danny was also very active with Christ Dunberger American Legion Post and was Legionnarie of the Year in 1996.

Danny was married to his wife Elizabeth for 61 years and had several children and grandchildren