The Cooper Aerobics Center

Dr. Kenneth Cooper founded The Cooper Aerobics Center in 1970, and he remains the president and CEO of the center.  Dr. Cooper was a flight surgeon in the Air Force in the 1960s and was stationed in San Antonio.  He began to take an interest in the benefits of exercise and recruited his associates to participate in exercise studies.  Dr. Cooper devised an “aerobic exercise” points system through these studies: the more aerobic the activity, the more points obtained.  The goal was 30 points a week for good fitness.  Dr. Cooper published his research and Aerobics Point System in his bestseller Aerobics written in 1968.  He coined the term “Aerobics” by adding an “s” to the word “aerobic.” He is known worldwide as the “Father of Aerobics” and is credited with starting the modern fitness movement.  He is also known as a pioneer of preventive medicine.  Dr. Cooper has written 18 books and continues to practice medicine, travel, and lecture to 150 groups a year, and jog or walk daily.