Members of the David Cofrin Family named this professorship in 1989 in honor of David's brother, John P. Cofrin, who was treated with radiation and surgery by Dr. Rodney Million and Dr. Nicholas Cassisi at the University of Florida.

John graduated from Princeton University with honors in economics and went on to attend law school. He and his father, Austin, were pioneers in the development of recycling after World War II. In 1960, John became CEO of the family business, Fort Howard Paper Co., where he served until he passed away in 1974. He and his wife, Barbara Hauxhurst Cofrin, had six children.