You could say that Dr. Keith Cooper’s story is the ultimate hometown success story. It’s a success story that is 50 years in the making.

The Robertsdale native opened his local practice 50 years ago and has been operating in the Hub City ever since. It is currently known as Chiropractic Associates P.C. with modest offices located on Highway 59 South in Robertsdale.

A graduate of Robertsdale High School, Cooper spent some time traveling before joining the Air Force.

“I became familiar with chiropractic care while in the Air Force and liked it,” he said. But after his discharge from the Air Force in 1954, chiropractic care wasn’t his first choice.

“I was going to study dentistry, but there was a long waiting list to get into dental school,” he said. “But the waiting list for chripractic school wasn’t as long so I chose that.”

So Cooper enrolled into Palmer College of Chropractic in Davenport, Iowa, getting his associates degree in two years. He spent a brief period in Georgia before opening up his practice in Robertsdale in 1957.

“I am licensed to practice in Georgia, Alabama and Florida, but I’ve really only ever practiced here in Alabama,” he said.

And through five decades and thousands of patients, Cooper has enjoyed every minute of it.

“Chiropractic is a very hands-on profession and I enjoy being able to help people that way,” he said. “I enjoy helping people and everybody is different. I have some of the best patients in the world and wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

At age 75, Cooper has no plans of slowing down either.

“My parents died at a young age because they didn’t take care of themselves,” he said. “Because of that I have dedicated my life to doing everything possible to prolong my life.”

The secret to staying healthy he says is as simple as knowing how to take care of oneself, whether it be taking care of one’s body with diet and exercise, or taking care of the mind by staying away from stress.

Through promotion of a healthy lifestyle, Cooper has also found a way to give back to the community.

Through the Baldwin County Chiropractic Society, of which Cooper is a founding member and served as its first president, he has been involved in several road races over the years, including hundreds of 5 and 10K races, the annual Sandman Triathlon in Gulf Shores, along with other triathlons and biathlons through the years.

He has also been involved in sponsoring several golf tournaments through the years, raising thousands of dollars for the Association for Retarded Citizens of Baldwin County.

Through many of these events, his son, Lyle Cooper, has been by his side. The younger Cooper has been partnered with his father in the chiropractic business for 25 years, now operating the office out of Gulf Shores. And with Lyle’s eldest son also interested in chripractic, Cooper is looking forward to seeing a third generation practicing in Baldwin County soon.

Next year, Cooper will celebrate 50 years of service to the Robertsdale Rotary Club. He has also served on Robertsdale Industrial Board for 23 years, serving as president for 10 years. He also recently retired after 35 years with the South Baldwin Community Theater following his role as Daddy Warbucks in the stage production of Annie.

With his wife Margaret by his side, serving as office manager for the business, Cooper plans to continue operating his practice for years to come.

“She keeps everything organized,” Cooper said. “It would be a lot harder without her.”

The couple have one daughter, Kara, 18, who is a freshman at the University of South Alabama. In addition to Lyle, Cooper also has three sons, Mark, Todd and Drew, and two daughters, Dana and Lori, from a previous marriage. He also has 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

On Friday, Baldwin Chiropratic will host an open house from 4 to 8 p.m. as a way to say thank you to all of his patients through the years by serving light refreshments.

Cooper also wanted to say thank you to his office staff, Sue Cummins and Sharon Watson.