Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

In 1965, he graduated fromWayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, with a BS in Biology and again in 1967, with anMS in Chemistry and then a PhD in Biology from Purdue University in 1969. This was followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1969-1971, where he first met graduate student, Martha Howe. Martha was born in New York City, while her father was in medical school. The family moved to Gastonia, North Carolina, where she grew up. In 1966, she graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a BS in Biology. She then attended MIT, earning a PhD in Virology in 1972. This was followed by post-doctoral fellowships in Rome and New York. During this time, she became famous as the “Mother of Mu,” the first virus discovered to mutate its host’s genes. This research contributed to explaining how cells mutate causing cancer, etc. and resulted in her receiving the prestigious Eli Lilly Award in 1985 and Alice Evans Award in 2007. Martha advanced through the ranks at the University of Wisconsin until recruited to UTHSC in 1987. In 1992, Martha and Terry began walking together at Hickory Ridge Mall. As their friendship continued to blossom, it had the potential to become a sensitive issue as Terry was Martha’s boss. With insight into possible collegial concerns of his faculty, Terry diplomatically discussed the situation in a faculty meeting, assuring them that no favoritism would occur. It worked; the faculty were comfortable. Terry and Martha continued their relationship and were married in 1994. According to Terry, “It was a real celebration with our entire department joining us.” After 15 years of department leadership, Terry stepped down as head of the department, increasing his commitment to an aggressive research program that was continuously supported for 45 years by the National Institutes of Health. Eventually, Martha would retire from UTHSC. While Martha has enjoyed retirement, Terry continues to work full time, traveling extensively, organizing and making plenary and keynote presentations at international scientific conferences. Terry and Martha leave a great legacy with their life’s work. Laboratory research and mentoring young investigators is fundamental to discovering that which leads to improving the quality of health and life. Research at the cellular level is basic to all others. Terry and Martha have published several hundred papers. Martha was elected as President of the 40,000 member American Society of Micobiology in 2001, while Terry has held membership on the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Board of Directors, the UT Board of Trustees and many others. According to both, their greatest achievement is mentoring those who follow. Terry and Martha are comfortable and happy at Kirby Pines. They value the Christian community and enjoy dining with friends and forming new friendships. Terry has two sons from a previous marriage with whom he remains close. He loves woodworking, photography and audiophile music. Martha loves African violets, gardening, word and picture puzzling. Together, they enjoy dominoes and sitting together reading the Bible each evening. Written by Joan Dodson, Resident, Kirby Pines The Pinecone | May 2026 • 7 • In 1985, Terry Cooper and two 18-wheeler tractor-trailer trucks full of scientific equipment arrived in Memphis to establish the Molecular Resource Center (MRC) at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). The state of Tennessee had just initiated an aggressive building program for higher education, including establishment of endowed Chairs and Centers of Excellence. Terry, Avinoff Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, was recruited to rebuild a dated Department of Microbiology and Immunology. He was internationally recognized for his research in molecular genetics and the emerging field of DNA cloning. Terry’s first task was to write the documents which resulted in establishment of and his becoming the first to be appointed as the Harriet S. VanVleet Chair of Excellence in Microbiology and Immunology at UTHSC. Needing a virologist, another Chair of Excellence was established, and Terry was able to recruit Martha Howe, who at that time was the Vilas Professor of Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin. In 1987, Martha arrived in Memphis with the required scientific equipment, 12 African violets and several graduate students. With an additional eight “cream-of-the crop” scientists that Terry hired, the MRC and Department became a well-staffed, state-of-the art center for research. Terry believed that to “walk on water, one must step on the stones” and his job was to point out “the stones” for his young faculty. Terry says, “Mentoring faculty and graduate students is one of the most rewarding things that I do. Our department was like a family, 18 faculty and 52 graduate students of various ethnicities; we especially enjoyed our dinners together.” Soon, half of the UTHSC basic science PhD graduates came from Microbiology and Immunology! Terry and Martha’s early lives consisted of years preparing them for their fields of research. However, their beginnings could not have been more different. Terry was born in Detroit during the Depression. Terry describes his early life as one of humble beginnings. His parents, neither of whom graduated from high school, were determined that their three children would receive the education they were denied. And it happened – all three graduated with advanced degrees!According to Terry, “As children, we were loved and happy. We were raised in a strong conservative, evangelistic, good work ethic environment. It was an assumption that we would go to college.” Terry claims that at first, he was a rather mediocre student, until he realized the opportunities that a research career offered. B U I L D I N G A L E G A C Y Resident Spotlight: Terry Cooper & Martha Howe A Young Cooper & Howe