‘He’s still with us in spirit’: Tributes flow for rodeo great Roy Cooper
Summary
Roy Cooper — known as the “Super Looper” — died on 29 April in a house fire in Decatur, Texas. One of the sport’s most celebrated calf ropers, Cooper earned the Triple Crown in 1983, won six tie‑down roping world titles and the 1983 all‑around world championship. He qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 19 times, was an inaugural ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee and in 2000 became the first cowboy to surpass $2 million in career earnings.
His memorial at the Fort Worth Stockyards drew friends, family and country music stars George Strait and Tanya Tucker. Cooper’s three sons — Tuf, Clint and Clif — carried on his legacy (notably when all three qualified for the 2010 NFR), and his son Tuf sums him up simply: “He was a cowboy.”
Key Points
- Roy Cooper, nicknamed the “Super Looper”, died on 29 April 2025 at age 69 in a house fire in Decatur, Texas.
- He won the Triple Crown (1983), six tie‑down roping world titles and the 1983 all‑around world championship.
- Cooper qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 19 times and was part of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame’s inaugural class.
- He became the first cowboy to top $2 million in career earnings (2000), a milestone that underscored his impact on the sport.
- High‑profile tributes at his memorial included George Strait, Tanya Tucker and accolades from peers such as Ty Murray and Trevor Brazile.
- Family legacy: all three sons (Tuf, Clint and Clif) qualified for the 2010 NFR — the first time three siblings competed in the same event at the Finals.
- Tuf Cooper says his father loved the lifestyle, the stories and the competition — “He’s still with us in spirit.”
Why should I read this?
Because this isn’t just an obituary — it’s the highlight reel for a bloke who changed calf‑roping. If you follow rodeo, care about sports legends or enjoy a proper family‑and‑legacy story, this sums up the wins, the wild anecdotes (yes, he once tried to rope Stevie Nicks) and why Roy Cooper mattered at the NFR and beyond. Short, sharp and worth your time.
