1. Have a longstanding promotion of the science and art of plumbing and the promotion of persons responsible for the interpretation of plumbing and mechanical laws.
   
   
2. Continuously strive for both the advancement and adoption of the Uniform Codes around the world.
   
   
3. Champion legislation improving existing plumbing and mechanical laws and regulations in order to improve the health and welfare of communities throughout the world.
   
   
4. Display a lifelong promotion of goodwill within the plumbing industry.
   
   
5. Are responsible for the education of the public in the value and need for approved plumbing and mechanical standards; improve the stature of the plumbing industry throughout society.
   
   
6. Are responsible for fostering cooperation between plumbers, mechanical contractors, governmental officials, builders, and contractors involved in the installation and operation of plumbing and mechanical equipment.

Marty Cooper
FOSTER CITY, CA., BUILDING INSPECTOR (RETIRED)

Marty Cooper is obviously a familiar face in the IAPMO world — and not simply because of all the honors he received at conference. He seems to be unwittingly making up for lost time because he was supposed receive a different award last year but was unable to attend the conference in San Antonio. So, he received two more awards in Las Vegas.

One of the unique and quirky characteristics of IAPMO members, especially those who serve on our committees, is that they live a bit of a double life. Not in a nefarious or mysterious manner, but meaning their day job back home and their IAPMO job don’t often cross paths — even though they are, of course, connected intrinsically. Sure, they bring all of their knowledge and expertise to their committees, and the committees produce work that impacts their job back home, but the individuals themselves have one identity to folks at their day jobs and another to all their colleagues with IAPMO.

The most wonderful aspect of this is that very often when they retire from their primary job, they go right on working for IAPMO. Sometimes taking on additional responsibilities now that they’re no longer encumbered by their 9-to-5.

Cooper is one such individual.

A 40-year veteran of the trades, he graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in business administration before beginning an apprenticeship with UA Local 38 in San Francisco. Cooper established his own plumbing company and operated it for 10 years before moving to the public sector as a building inspector for Foster City, California, a position he held for nearly 30 years before retiring in 2023. 

During the past 20-plus years of that time, he has dutifully served on numerous IAPMO committees, as well as in chapter leadership with the Central California chapter and on the IAPMO Board of Directors. He began his committee participation as an alternate member of the UMC and UPC technical committees, frequently finding his way to the audience microphone to propose code language or add his thoughts to the discussion. He later served on the since disbanded Certification Committee, and was an IAPMO Board member from 2012-2019, serving as secretary/treasurer at the end of his tenure.

Despite his retirement from Foster City, Cooper remains chair of the Mechanical Answers and Analysis and Publication Development committee, as well as serving on the Evaluation Services Committee. And he chairs the IAPMO Standards Council.

On top of all that, he also serves as technical advisor to Official magazine, reviewing content for accuracy prior to publication along with another well-known double-lifer, Rex Crawford. 

You know, the typical retiree.

The  winner of the 2012 Government Person of the Year and recipient of last year’s Committee Member of the Year, which he also received in Las Vegas, Cooper has gone above and beyond on behalf of IAPMO for two-plus decades, and for that we are thrilled to honor him with the 2023 Committee Member of the Year and 2024 George Kauffman Lifetime Achievement awards.

“I’m really overwhelmed by this,” he said. “I’d like to thank President Steve Panelli, the Board of Directors, and all of IAPMO. It has been my honor and privilege to be able to work with you all these years.

“I’ve gotten so much more out of it than any time I have put in. My daughter always joked that I was flying down to Ontario to be with my other family — and you are my other family. I am just honored to receive these two awards. Thank you very much.”