Moore County Scouting America has announced that Aaron Cooper is this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Award, a major local honor recognizing individuals who reflect the values of the Boy Scout Oath through leadership, integrity, and service.
Dinner and Awards Ceremony Set for February 27
A dinner and ceremony honoring Cooper will be held on Friday, February 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst.
Recognizing Community Leadership and Service
The Distinguished Citizen Award is given annually to a Moore County resident who exemplifies the Boy Scout Oath:
“On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”
A Career Built in the Automotive Industry
Cooper is the owner and operator of Cooper Ford in Carthage and brings more than 35 years of retail automotive experience. In 2016, Cooper and his wife, Shelley, purchased Phillips Ford and created Cooper Ford, growing and expanding the business over the last nine years.
Cooper is a five-time winner of Ford Motor Company’s President’s Award, and Cooper Ford is a six-time winner for Best Automotive Dealership in Moore County in Best of the Pines.
In 2019, Cooper also launched AutoChoice Rental Car, providing rental services in Moore and Lee counties, including at the Moore County Airport and the Raleigh Executive Jetport in Sanford.
Deep Roots in Community Involvement
Cooper has served on the board of directors for the Moore County Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club of the Sandhills. He currently serves on the board for Adult & Teen Challenge of the Sandhills and on the Moore County Airport Authority Business Advisory Committee.
He and his wife also served as foster parents in Moore County for three years, fostering three children during that time.
Background and Family
Cooper was born at Ft. Wolters U.S. Army Base in Mineral Wells, Texas, and grew up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1991 with a degree in Finance and worked in automotive leadership roles in Oklahoma, Texas, and North Carolina.
The Coopers moved to Moore County in 2003 and currently live in Pinehurst. They have been active members of Grace Church in Southern Pines for more than two decades, with Cooper serving on multiple church committees including the financial committee.
Aaron and Shelley have four daughters — Channing Cooper, Savannah Weber (Gabe), Madison Cooper, and Bailey Jensen (Jeffrey) — and a grandson, Jonah Weber. The family continues to support schools and students throughout Moore County.
About the Distinguished Citizen Award
Initiated in 2003, the Distinguished Citizen Award is the hallmark recognition event for Scouting in Moore County and has honored many notable community leaders over the years.
How to Get Tickets
Advance tickets for the February 27 event can be purchased by calling:
- Frank McNeill Jr. (Dinner Co-Chair) at (910) 315-4766
- Shane English (Co-Chair) at (910) 944-2955