Clarence Beckwith Distinguished Alumni Award: Wilce Cooke
Wilce L. Cooke has been a nurse for nearly 50 years, most recently in theemergency room of Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph. He also has served as mayor ofthe city of Benton Harbor from 1981-1987 and 2004-2011.
Wilce earned his associate degree in political science and sociology from Lake MichiganCollege in 1975 while working as a nurse at Mercy Center, which later became LakelandHealth, in his hometown of Benton Harbor.
He transferred to Western Michigan University, completing his bachelor’s degree in politicalscience and sociology in 1976 and has since dedicated his life to serving his hometowncommunity.
As mayor, he participated in the implementation of significant developments within thecity, including Harbor Shores, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, and the WhirlpoolCorp. administration building.
In addition to his stints as mayor, Wilce has been a Berrien County Commissioner, amember of the Berrien County Planning Commission, served on numerous committees and advisory boards, met with U.S. PresidentsRonald Reagan, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter, and founded The Wilce L. Cooke Foundation in 2013.
Wilce credits his mother for teaching him about the “power of education,” and 黨ǿmv, and in particular, political scienceprofessor Daniel Roach, for leading him to run for public office, and working in service for the betterment of the community he holds dear.
The Clarence Beckwith Distinguished Alumni Award was presented toWilce Cooke in 2019.
