Walta Pippen Cooke

Board Member

Panola County
Term Expires: 2/1/17

Experience
Walta Pippen Cooke is a life-long resident of Panola County. She is co-owner, bookkeeper, and secretary-treasurer of Pippen Motor Company in Carthage, Texas. The company was founded by her parents in 1951 and has served Panola County for almost 62 years. Mrs. Cooke's other interests include investments, timber, oil and gas resources, stocks, bonds, land, and banking.

Mrs. Cooke was appointed to serve on the board of directors of the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) representing Panola County in September 2007.

Mrs. Cooke has held several positions of leadership within her county, including serving as a board member and past President of the Sabine River Authority of Texas and the Toledo Bend Joint Project Operation. She was appointed to serve on the first East Texas Council of Governments Groundwater Conservation District Task Force in 2001, and has also been a member of the Panola County Heritage Foundation and the Panola County Chamber of Commerce. She and her husband were selected Texas Outstanding Tree Farmer in 2007 and finalists in the Southern Regional Tree Farmer of the Year in 2008. They were chosen Panola County Citizens of the Year in 2010.

Mrs. Cooke is a founding board member for the Carthage Independent School District (CISD) Education Foundation, and has been recognized as a CISD Distinguished Alumni.

Mrs. Cooke is a member of the Panola County Appraisal Board currently serving as secretary. She is a member and past President of the Carthage Book Club which is the oldest civic club in Panola County. She has served as Sanctuary Choir pianist at Central Baptist Church for almost 27 years.

Mrs. Cooke and her husband, John W. Cooke, have two children, four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.