In Honor and Memory of our Friend
Gregg Cooke
June 14, 1955 - September 17, 2006
In a column appearing following his death, The Dallas Morning News commended Gregg Cooke "for his tireless and innovative efforts to give Texans a healthier place to live, first as the Regional Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, and most recently, as an attorney and consultant." Gregg not only was highly regarded on the national and state environmental stage, he was especially well-known for his performances on stage at this conference. It is only fitting that Gregg’s memory, which has been honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with the Clean Air Excellence Award and the EPA Strategic Alliance Award, and by the Texas Environmental Excellence Award, as well as by resolutions from the State of Texas Senate and House, be honored here as well--at the Nineteenth Annual Texas Environmental Superconference.
Throughout the years of the conference, Gregg was an active participant, especially in his years as EPA Regional Administrator. None of us who saw his performances, especially paired with former TCEQ Chairman Bob Huston, can forget Gregg’s willingness to take on hilarious personas consistent with the theme of that year’s program, from John Wayne, to Felix of the Odd Couple, to the Beatles, and to Luke Skywalker, paired with Bob’s Yoda. Photos>> These performances were consistently rated the tops of each year’s program, for providing substance as well as entertainment.
Gregg Cooke built a national reputation as EPA Regional Administrator for EPA Region 6 for leadership, vision, and passion, including an ability to broker sometimes controversial compromises to improve air and water quality in Texas. Gregg loved the environment; he enjoyed showing everyone the Louisiana wetlands and having them experience its ecological significance, coastal restoration, and off-shore oil and gas development. He also was a national leader in the Brownfields program and led the way for revitalization of our communities. Gregg also was a great friend and supporter of our state agencies as well as the Native American communities.
Like Will Rogers, Gregg never met a stranger he didn’t like -- on Southwest Airlines, the street, or the halls of the State Capitol or Congress. Through these "new friends," he constantly saw new opportunities and eagerly brought these ideas back to pursue to improve the environment.
Gregg’s people skills included a unique ability to bring disparate parties together to solve environmental problems, through his willingness to listen and to think outside the box.
At the time of his death, Gregg was a consultant to Collin, Dallas, Tarrant and Denton counties on regional smog planning. He was also counsel for the environmental law firm of Guida, Slavich & Flores in Dallas. He was seen as continuing to play an absolutely pivotal role in North Texas air quality.
Gregg was born and raised in Abilene, where his passion for the environment began as a child.
He was an Eagle Scout, an honored high school band member and yearbook photographer.
Gregg earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Baylor University, where he graduated cum laude in 1977. He earned a master of foreign affairs degree from the University of Virginia in 1979 and a law degree from Baylor in 1982.
Gregg served on the executive staff for Texas Governor, Mark White before beginning his law practice in Dallas with Geary, Stahl and Spencer, where he became a partner. He then joined Texas Attorney General Dan Morales’s office, where he served as Chief of the Natural Resources Protection and Energy Division and was the state’s North American Free Trade Agreement environmental liaison. He also served as the Texas General Counsel for the Border Environmental Corporation Commission in Jufirez, before becoming a partner with the firm of Haynes and Boone in Austin.
In 1998, President Bill Clinton appointed Gregg to head the EPA in Dallas and continued serving after President Bush took office until the end of 2002. It was a testament to his excellence as a leader and his integrity and his ability to work with divergent interests for the public good that he was the last Clinton EPA appointee at the agency when he left office.
Both elected officials and environmental watchdogs admired Gregg, and we know that he left an enormous void in the fight for the public health and the environment.
In his personal life, Gregg enjoyed travel with his wife, Melanie, and his daughter, Clara, with whom he also enjoyed Indian Princess activities. Gregg was a member of First United Methodist Church in Dallas, where he was in the choir. He also served on the board of directors for the Texas Lyceum and the Shakespeare Festival of Dallas.
In addition to his wife, Melanie, and his daughter, Clara, Gregg is survived by his parents June and Horace Cooke of Abilene, and two brothers, David Cooke of Boston and Raymond "Rusty" Cooke of E1 Paso.
Gregg’s unexpected death last September leaves us all with a sense of loss with which we are still trying to come to grips. Gregg will be long remembered by all for his love for his family, his dear Texas, and the environment.
Friends of the Cooke family have established a college savings fund for Clara Cooke, Gregg’s 13-year-old daughter. If you would like to contribute to the fund, please make your check payable to the "American Funds," noting that it is for Clara Cooke and mail it to Nancy K. Phillips, CPA, 5910 N. Central Expressway, Suite 1710, Dallas, Texas 75206. If you have any questions, please call 214-361-2444.
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