Roy Cooper, the ProRodeo Hall of Famer known as the “Super Looper,” tragically died at age 69 when his North Texas home was engulfed in flames on Tuesday evening.
The fire occurred near Decatur, Texas, with the Wise County Fire Marshal confirming details the following day.
“Wise County EMS Rescue-1 and Decatur Fire Department arrived on the scene approximately seven minutes [later] and observed a single-family residence heavily involved in fire,” said Wise County Fire Marshal Jeff Doughty in a press release.
“They immediately started to extinguish the fire and were notified that a victim may still be inside the residence.”
Cooper’s body was discovered after firefighters put out the flames. The Tarrant County Arson Task Force and Texas Rangers are currently investigating the fire’s cause. No other injuries were reported.
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Roy Cooper: A Career of Rodeo Greatness
Cooper’s rodeo career was legendary. He burst onto the scene by qualifying for his first National Finals Rodeo as a rookie and quickly became a world champion.
- Eight World Championships, including:
- Six tie-down roping titles
- One steer-roping title
- One all-around championship (1983)
In 1983, Cooper achieved the rare “triple crown” of professional rodeo by winning three gold buckles in a single year—a feat accomplished by only 10 athletes.
