Myers Y. Cooper was born in 1873 in St. Louisville, Ohio, and attended National Normal University in Lebanon. He began his career in real estate and homebuilding with his brothers in Cincinnati, later expanding his business interests to include lumber, building supplies, and banking. Cooper's professional expertise was marked by significant infrastructure initiatives, such as authorizing the construction of the State Office Building in 1929. His leadership roles and business acumen were further evidenced by his association with South Florida real estate developer George E. Merrick.

Myers Y. Cooper's political identity is marked by a blend of fiscal urgency and infrastructural foresight. Advocating for accelerated public works spending during the Great Depression, Cooper's economic strategy diverged from the cautious approach typical of the era. His decision to increase the state gas tax to fund road and bridge work in 1929 reveals an ideologically agile approach to economic challenges. Cooper's support for consolidating state agencies by authorizing the State Office Building's construction in 1929 underscores a forward-thinking stance on infrastructure. Additionally, his backing of legislative efforts to address prison overcrowding and establish a state parole board following the tragic Ohio Penitentiary fire in 1930 highlights a calculated approach to criminal justice reform.