8 Time World Champion Roy Cooper Inducted into Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame

When I met Roy Cooper for the first time he was introduced to me by Howard Council. I walked into Howard’s shop one day just to say hi and Mr. Cooper was in the back room talking with Howard. Howard called me back and said “Do you know who this is?” I smiled and said “Yes Howard, I know who that is!” He looked at me and said “No!” and turned to Roy asking him “Do you know who this is?” He was talking about me! He introduced me to Roy Cooper as his favorite DJ! That made me giggle, a little.  I shook Mr. Coopers hand and noticed how soft his hands were.  I was standing in front of an 8 time world champion rodeo cowboy!

Last night, Roy Cooper was among 6 icons that were inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. From KFOR: Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame Inducts 6

From NewsOK: Roy Cooper, 58, was born in Hobbs, N.M., but always had Oklahoma blood running through his veins. His mother, Betty Rose Cooper (or Granny Rose as Tuf calls her) grew up just outside of Lawton.

Cooper grew up on a ranch and his father, Tuffy Cooper, was a livestock inspector and champion roper in college. Both his parents and his siblings were ropers so Roy thought that it was what he should do, too.

By the time he was 12 years old, Roy Cooper knew he wanted to be a rodeo cowboy. He won a high school national championship and a junior college national championship.

He then joined the rodeo team for Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, helping to lead the team to two national titles.

He would live in Durant for 12 years, and it was during his time in Oklahoma that he would have his most success in the PRCA.

Of Cooper’s eight world championships, six were in tie-down roping, one in steer roping and one all-around. He won the coveted Triple Crown (tie-down roping, steer roping and all-around titles in the same season) in 1983.

Cooper, who now lives in Decatur, Texas, qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 20 times. He made 13 trips to the National Finals Steer Roping.

If you look real close you will see that Roy rides high and proud in a Howard Council saddle. Howard's shop is here in Lawton and he is proud to say that most of the National Finals ropers own one of his saddles! He told me one day that Roy's oldest son Clint wasn't even born yet and he had already ordered a saddle from Howard. Clint was 9 years old when Howard finally got around to making his saddle.

To learn more about Roy Cooper visit his website: Roy Cooper Super Looper