This award was established by Dr. Franklin Cook during his time as AIS president in 1947 and was originally known as the President’s Cup. Then in 1952, it was renamed the Franklin Cook Memorial Cup. From 1947 through 1965, there were no restrictions concerning the geographical origination of irises eligible for the Franklin Cook Memorial Cup until 1966 when the current President’s Cup was established and first awarded.

From the July 1963 AIS Bulletin, page 50.
COOK MEMORIAL CUP AWARDED TO DR. LOOMIS
At the Denver convention, the Franklin Cook Memorial Cup was awarded to the veteran iris breeder, Dr. Philip A. Loomis, Colorado Springs, Colorado, for his deep yellow iris, ASPENGLOW. This iris was named on the ballots of 142 of the 273 members who voted for the awarding of the cup. Originally known as the President's Cup when it was established by Dr. Franklin Cook during his service as AIS president (1947-48), it was renamed the Franklin Cook Memorial Award in 1952. Dr. Loomis, now 88, has been breeding irises since 1912 and has originated some outstanding varieties. His interest in breeding for pink yielded the pink blend, MOROCCO ROSE, introduced in 1937, which David Hall is credited (in Half Century of Iris, page 188) with saying it was on both sides of the family tree that produced the first true pinks with tangerine beards in 1942. Dr. Loomis's ELMOHR was the Dykes Medalist in 1945. Included among the first eight in this year's voting for the Cook Memorial Award, in which by custom irises originated in the Region in which the convention is held are favored, are the following: WAYWARD VVIND (0. T. Baker, Denver), 38 votes; COOING DOVE (0. T. Baker), 21 votes; ORANCE PARADE (Mrs. J. R. Hamblen, Roy, Utah), 14 votes; WINTER OLYMPICS (Mrs. Tom Brown, Walla Walla, Washington), 13 votes; WILD GINGER (J. M. Gibson, Porterville, Califomia), 10 votes; LIGHT OF LOVE (0. T. Baker) and LYNN REID (Dr. John R. Durrance, Denver), each 8 votes.

The Franklin Cook Memorial Cup originated in 1947 as the President’s Cup and was awarded as the President's Cup from 1947 thru 1955. Following the death of Dr. Cook, the AIS Board Of Directors changed the name of the award from the President’s Cup to the Franklin Cook Memorial Cup.