C. Sterling Cooley, D.C.
“COOLEY, C. STERLING, D.C. (b. Hillsboro, N.C., Feb. 8, 1890, d. Tulsa, Okla., Nov. 24, 1965). A pioneer chiropractor in Oklahoma, C. Sterling Cooley received his degree from the Palmer- Gregory School of Chiropractic, Oklahoma City, in 1908. He was one of the last surviving students of D.D. Palmer.
Dr. Cooley was appointed to the first chiropractic examining board in Oklahoma, serving as president from 1921 to 1934, and was reappointed in 1938, serving three years as treasurer. From 1938 to 1941 he was also a member of the Oklahoma Basic Science Board. Dr. Cooley was elected president of the National Chiropractic Association in 1934 [1935], having previously been treasurer. He was a member of the NCA executive board from 1936 to 1941, and served three terms as chairman. He was also a trustee of the International College of Chiropractors and was awarded one of its first fellowships.
A writer and editor, Dr. Cooley published four books, including an early biography of D.D. Palmer. He published several articles on the life of The Founder in The Chiropractic Journal between 1934-41. He was associate editor of The Chiropractic Journal for five years and later editor of the Journal of the Oklahoma Chiropractic Physicians’ Association.
In 1965, Dr. Cooley was honored by the Palmer College of Chiropractic as an “outstanding pioneer” with a personal tribute by Dr. Dave Palmer, grandson of The Founder.” (Necrology, 1980)
Cooley’s life was also captured by Keating in a chronology.
Cooley is also known as a mentor to Harper and a dedicated student of D.D. Palmer. His writings in the 1940s (some of which were republished in Drain’s 1949 book) helped to launch D.D. Palmer studies as a discipline.
Cooley’s papers on D.D. Palmer are very interesting:
One Important “Extra” Every Chiropractor Should Employ in His Practice
Daniel David Palmer: An Immortal Among the Great Names of History
Daniel David Palmer: A Tribute to the Founder of Chiropractic
Daniel David Palmer was the First True “Basic Scientist”
The Guiding Principle for Success is “To Thine Own Self Be True”
“That Old Medical Fool!” Said the Old Master with Great DIsdain! by A.T. Godzway (father of Cooley)
