Cooper, Kenneth H.

Cooper, Kenneth H. (Hardy) (1931–  ) physician, author; born in Oklahoma City, Okla. He designed pioneering aerobics programs for astronauts and pilots as a U.S. Air Force doctor (1960–70); his Aerobics (1968) helped launch the 1970s fitness craze. (In some countries outside the U.S.A. the term "to cooper" actually came to refer to aerobics.) Founder of the Aerobics Center, Dallas, Texas (1970), in later years he turned to promoting preventive medicine.