The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) named Cooper its Rookie of the Year in 1976.
He was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979.
He also earned spots in the National Rodeo Hall of Fame, the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame.
A Legacy Passed to His Sons
Cooper’s passion for rodeo continued through his family. After moving to Childress, Texas in 1990, he mentored young ropers and hosted a junior world roping championship each Fourth of July weekend.
In 2010, Cooper experienced a proud father’s dream.
“One of my greatest memories is when Tuf, Clint, and Clif all qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in the same year,” Cooper said. “That was the triple crown for me.”
His son Tuf Cooper is a four-time PRCA World Champion, holding three tie-down roping titles and an all-around title from 2017.
Tributes from Family and Friends
Tuf confirmed his father’s death in a heartfelt post:
“It is with great sadness that our family shares the passing of our dad, The Super Looper, Roy Cooper,” he said. “We’re all in shock and at a loss for words from this tragedy at the moment.”
