With great sadness, Chicago said goodbye to its native son Warren Cooper at his Memorial services held Saturday, March 28, 2026, at New Life Covenant Church, The Tabernacle, in Chicago.
Cooper died in January from complications of heart disease. He was 72 years old. To his credit Warren Cooper, founded the nation's first Black-owned forensic drug testing laboratory and was the first African American air traffic controller assigned to the FAA's O'Hare Tower. If you knew Warren, his accomplishments are not a surprise but rather expected.
In 1973, Cooper was a proud graduate of Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Cooper attended the University of St. Louis Law School from 1976 to 1978 before launching his second groundbreaking career.
Cooper broke barriers early in his career when he joined the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic control specialist at O'Hare International Airport in 1980. At the time, O'Hare was the world's busiest airport. During that moment in history Cooper became the first African American controller certified for OHare. He served as an air traffic control specialist from 1980 to 1983, then as an air traffic control supervisor from 1983 to 1992, earning the FAA's Exceptional Employee Award. Most people are unaware of the importance and demand of detail and focus that the job requires carrying a huge responsibility.
In 1993, he founded ACCU-Lab Medical Testing, Inc., establishing the nation's first and only Black-owned forensic drug testing laboratory. He first made national headlines in 1993 when he warned consumers that a popular herbal arthritis remedy was causing false positive drug test results that were costing people their jobs.
That same year, Cooper testified before Congress about federal guidelines that effectively barred minority-owned laboratories from obtaining SAMHSA certification required by DOT-regulated industries.
Though the racism continued to prevent certain groups from advancing in particular fields, and despite being shut out of that lucrative market, Cooper built ACCU-Lab Medical Testing into a nationally respected provider of forensic drug testing services. Coopers companys results stood up in court and went on to serve many years. ACCU-Lab was respected throughout the medical testing community and was the preferred provider of forensic drug testing for the Cook County Adult Probation program.
A vocal crusader for educating individuals subject to drug testing, Cooper became a nationally sought-after consultant on drug testing issues. He co-authored a chapter on measuring Impairment that has been included in the Colorado, Michigan and Wisconsin editions of Medicolegal Aspects of Marijuana. As instant drug test cups gained widespread use, Cooper soundedthe alarm again in the interest of the public, warning consumers that instant tests often failed to meet forensic standards while returning a higher percentage of false positives. Cooper operated ACCU-Lab until 2019 as a fierce leader.
After closing the laboratory, he joined the board of the 1700 E. 56th Street Condominium Association, serving first as a director and later as vice president. No matter where Cooper landed, he took his integrity with him. His sharp business and financial acumen earned him the nickname Mr. 1700 because his oversight saved owners hundreds of thousands of dollars by carefully reviewing proposed purchases.
Throughout his career, Coopers public service earned recognition including selection to Who's Who in Executives and Professionals, the Ground Breaker Award from the Cosmopolitan Chamber of Commerce, a Minority Business Opportunity Council Appreciation Award, and the Minority New Innovative Business Award from Minority Enterprise Development. His advocacy on behalf of consumers won him an Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Effort from the Midwest Community