Inducted 2005

A local boy, Carl was born in San Jose but moved to Salinas where he and his future wife, Sharon, grew up. They moved back to San Jose so that Carl could complete his Bachelor degree in Business Administration from San Jose State. And Sharon and Carl stayed in San Jose to raise their four children - 3 daughters and 1 son.

Carl Cookson's career in the land title business started in 1957 when he became Assistant Vice President of Valley Title Company. In 1967, Carl moved to First American Title Guaranty Company as Vice President and Division Manager. By 1976, Carl was anxious to direct his experience into starting his own land title company, so established Santa Clara Land Title as Owner and Chairperson. He sold his company in 1997 to Alliance Title where Carl was Vice Chairman until 2002 - though he says he retired 9 years ago. From the start of his career through today, he has maintained his connections to many aspects of the real estate business. He has been a member and sometimes Officer of The American Land Title and California Land Title Associations, and Santa Clara Valley and California Escrow Associations. He is a Founding Member of the Silicon Valley Capital Club and a Founding Board Member of Cupertino National Bank.

But this is still only part of Carl Cookson's story. Besides his family, community involvement has always been his real passion. Throughout his life, he has been active in virtually all aspects of our community. Now that he has "slowed down" in retirement, Carl is only active in the Rotary Club of San Jose and is on the Board of the History Museum, Silicon Valley Symphony Association, City Lights Theater, Citizens Against Legal Abuse, King Library, San Jose Beautiful, San Jose Chamber of Commerce, Beethoven Studies (at San Jose State), among other organizations. In the past, he was on Boards of Junior Achievement, Central YMCA, Arts Council, Community Foundation, etc., etc., etc.

While Carl likes to work behind the scenes, our community has thanked him for his good works over the years. For example, Carl Cookson was the 1998 San Jose State Business Alumnus, the 1993 Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen of the Year, the 1990 Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year, and the 1980 Optimist Club Citizen of the Year.

Nowadays, working for nonprofits is one of Carl's main hobbies, besides golf, photography, and collecting frogs and clowns. And of course, his wife, Sharon, orchestrates many visits among their close-knit family which now includes 7 grandsons and almost 2 granddaughters. So congratulations to the quiet powerhouse and non-retired retiree, Carl Cookson, on his being a 2005 Laureate.