State Rep. Dan Cooper, R-Anderson, has been named the winner of the David Wilkins Award for Excellence in Legislative Leadership. Sponsored by the Riley Institute at Furman University, the award recognizes a state leader who "embodies the highest principles of leadership based on integrity, compassion, vision, civility and courage."

Cooper will be presented the award at a dinner Jan. 11, in conjunction with the start of the next legislative session. The dinner usually draws a crowd of between 700 and 800 attendees from politicians to businessmen from all over the state, Cooper said.

"I'm very grateful for the award," Cooper said. "I am honored that they consider me a statesman. That is certainly much better than being called a politician."

The first Republican elected to the Statehouse from Anderson County, Cooper has been in the Legislature since 1990. He was elected chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee in 2005. In that role he manages the House version of the state budget and is the only member from the Upstate on the South Carolina Budget and Control Board.

He also serves on the Joint Bond Review Committee in the state and previously served on the special Joint Tax Study Committee.

A graduate of Wren High School and Clemson University, Cooper is the son of the late Milford J. "Dolly" Cooper and succeeded his father in the Legislature.