The late John Dean “Jeff” Cooper was recognized as the father of what is commonly known as “the Modern Technique” of handgun shooting, and was considered to be one of the 20th century’s foremost international experts on the use and history of small arms.
Born John Dean Cooper, but known to his friends as “Jeff”, Cooper was a Marine Lieutenant Colonel who served in both World War II and the Korean War resigning his commission in 1956.[citation needed] He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Stanford University and, in the mid-1960s, a master’s degree in history from the University of California, Riverside.
In 1976, Cooper founded the American Pistol Institute (API) in Paulden, Arizona (later the Gunsite Training Center). Cooper also began teaching shotgun and rifle classes to law enforcement and military personnel as well as civilians and did on-site training for individuals and groups around the Free World. He sold the firm in 1992 but continued living on the Paulden ranch. He was known for his advocacy of large caliber handguns, especially the Colt 1911 and the .45 ACP cartridge.
This video is from the 15th Annual Meeting of the Doctors for Disaster Preparedness held in San Diego, California; June 1997, but contains timeless advice.