Interview re Gene Cooper, mobile home salesman near Pendleton, Oregon

FD-302 (REV. 3-10-82)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

- 1 - Date of transcription 10/12/88

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[REDACTED], residing [REDACTED], Pendleton, Oregon, advised that [REDACTED] GENE COOPER at Arrow Chevrolet in Pendleton, Oregon, prior to it being called Harvester Chevrolet. At that time, [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] of Boise, Idaho, [REDACTED] recalled COOPER as a mobile home salesman who lived with an older lady, residing just off Highway 84, by the Butter Creek turnoff, in a pumice block house. The residence belonged to the lady he was married to, who was in her late sixties or early seventies.

Regarding the painting "Final Resting," which COOPER had given [REDACTED] advised COOPER actually gave him the painting. [REDACTED] described COOPER as follows:

Name GENE COOPER Race White Sex Male Age Early forties Height 5'10" to 5'11" Weight 165 pounds Hair Light, receding hairline Eyes Light

[REDACTED] advised he recalled on one occasion in the early 1970s, COOPER came into work all banged up and said he had run his car off the road. He advised he had been going to the Veteran's Administration Hospital, in Walla Walla, Washington, for treatment. That time frame covered approximately six to eight months. [REDACTED] advised this may have been in 1973. [REDACTED] further advised [REDACTED]

with GENE COOPER.

[REDACTED] advised that COOPER always came up with a lot of silver dollars and sold them for three times the face value. [REDACTED] characterized COOPER as a "boozer."

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Investigation on 3/7/88 at Pendleton, Oregon File # PD 164A-41-1972

by SA SAMUEL A. MC PHETERS SAM: Date dictated 3/7/88

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

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DB Cooper-43709

FD-302a (Rev. 11-15-83)

PD 164A-41 Continuation of FD-302 of [REDACTED], On 3/7/88, Page - 2 -

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[REDACTED] advised that on one occasion COOPER and his wife came out to see him, and he loaned him money for booze.

[REDACTED] advised that COOPER was always without money but he did come up with silver dollars from time to time.

[REDACTED] characterized the marriage COOPER had with the elderly lady as a situation more like an older person taking care of a wayward son.

[REDACTED] advised he recalled that when COOPER gave him the painting "Final Resting," the woman who he lived with or was married to, said that COOPER liked [REDACTED] and wanted them to have the painting.

[REDACTED] advised that COOPER had said that the woman he was living with, or married to, [REDACTED] in Oklahoma with money, that they were coming out to see them and that they were very good looking. [REDACTED] characterized COOPER as being "kind of goofy." [REDACTED] advised that COOPER had never mentioned being a pilot although [REDACTED]

[REDACTED] advised he recalled COOPER leaving for a period of time, about one to two weeks, and when he came back, he was limping and hurting in the middle. He was banged up and said he had run his car off the road.

[REDACTED] advised that COOPER used to hang out at Jessie James Tavern, in Stanfield, Oregon.

[REDACTED] advised that somewhere along the line, he heard that COOPER had died.

On March 14, 1988, [REDACTED] advised that after further recollection, he concurred that COOPER came to Pendleton, Oregon, around the first part of 1972. However, he seemed somewhat uncertain of this date. [REDACTED] advised he recalled a conversation about COOPER being hurt. He advised that in 1972, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Pendleton, Oregon. He advised that COOPER brought them the portrait "Final Resting," after he started working at Arrow Chevrolet in 1972, in Pendleton, Oregon. [REDACTED] advised there were no comments made about him being called D.B. COOPER at the time nor was there any kidding. Eventually, however, the name D.B. COOPER just showed up on the back of the portrait.

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DB Cooper-43710