Cooper, "Tarzan" (Charles T.)
Basketball
b. Aug. 30, 1907, Newark, DE
d. Dec. 19, 1980
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Cooper was a big player for his era, and his long arms, which contributed to his nickname, made him an even bigger rebounder. After graduating from high school, Cooper played with semi-professional teams in Philadelphia for four years before joining the Harlem Renaissance team in 1929.
The all-black Rens, as they were called, had several fine shooters. Cooper brought the team rebounding and the ability to score from close in. During his eleven seasons, the Rens had 1,303 wins to 203 losses. When the Rens won the first world championship tournament in Chicago in 1939, Cooper was named the tournament's most valuable player. Cooper played for the Washington Bears when they won the tournament in 1943.