JOHN D. LOPER
Arizona, The Youngest State, 1913, pg 638

Professor John D. Loper is superintendent of the city schools 
of Phoenix and in this connection is giving the benefit of his 
broad knowledge and ability to his chosen field of labor, 
winning for himself recognition as one of the foremost 
representatives of educational interests of Arizona. He was 
born in Belmont County, Ohio in 1870 and is a son of Benjamin 
M. and Eleanor (Davies) Loper.  His father was engaged in 
farming.

Professor Loper acquired his early education in the country 
schools of Ohio and there also took his high school course. 
He later attended the northern University of Ohio and followed 
this engaged in teaching for some time.  He afterward worked 
in a drug store for a short period and then, in January, 1896 
came to Arizona.  In the fall of that year he located in Mesa 
where for thirteen years he engaged in educational work, 
spending the last eleven years as superintendent of the Mesa 
schools. In July 1909 he came to Phoenix and was made 
superintendent of the city schools here, serving since that 
time in an efficient and capable manner in that position. 
He has taught consecutively longer than any other man in 
Arizona and as superintendent has introduced many important 
changes in methods of teaching.  The University of Arizona 
conferred upon him the Master Degree in 1915.

In 1898 Professor Loper married Miss Agnes Dobbie, who was 
born in California but has lived the greater part of her 
life in Mesa.  They have three children: John D., Jr., 
Margaret E. and Andrew Benjamin.