Made the first public cellular phone call on April 3, 1973 on Sixth Avenue, in front of the New York Hilton Midtown, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, where there is a plaque to commemorate the event.
Is a member of MENSA.
Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) awarded Cooper an honorary doctorate degree in 2004. He continues to serve on the University's Board of Trustees as a Life Trustee as of 2013.
Earned his Master's degree in electrical engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in 1957.
Graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in 1950.
Awarded the 2013 Marconi Prize, on October 2, 2013, for his "pioneering contributions to the handheld cellphone and its associated technology and commercialism.".
Awarded, along with Joel S. Engel, Richard H. Frenkiel, Thomas Haug, and Yoshihisa Okumura, the 2013 Charles Stark Draper Prize from the National Academy of Engineering on February 19, 2013.
Inducted into the Engineering and Science Hall of Fame in 2013 for his invention of the personal cellular phone.
Invented the cellphone along with John Francis Mitchell.