ProRodeo Sports News - March 31, 2023

Forty years later, Cooper relishes Triple Crown run Still the King

BY ALEX RILEY Special to ProRodeo Sports News O ver the course of three-plus decades, Roy Cooper amassed a rodeo resume most would be jealous of. The ProRodeo Hall of Famer was Rookie of the Year in 1976 and won seven individual event world championships while dominating the competition, particularly throughout the 1980s. Even with all that success, there is one moment that stands out – winning the PRCA All-Around World Title in 1983, along with capturing the tie down roping and steer roping championships. That made him one of 10 cowboys to ever secure rodeo’s elusive Triple Crown – three world titles in the same year. And for 40 years, that All-Around buckle has remained proudly on display. “It’s the only one I wear. Since I won it, I’ve never taken it off,” Cooper said with a laugh. There is a caveat though – Cooper would remove the buckle, but only to loan it to another legendary cowboy. “Actually, I would give it to George Strait if he would wear it. I would because he’s one of my very best friends,” he added. Cooper and Strait met just before Cooper’s Triple Crown run in 1983.

mattered most, he flipped the switch. “I caught (Allen) on a bad day or put pressure on him and he couldn’t handle it. All I can say is I got lucky,” Cooper said. “It was an accident winning the steer

roping (in 1983). I ain’t supposed to beat Guy Allen. He’s the greatest in the world. He and Trevor Brazile are the greatest steer ropers that ever walked. You ain’t supposed to beat them.” That championship, along with a title in tie-down roping, put Cooper in rare air. Only nine other cowboys have been able to win Triple Crown honors in pro rodeo history – Clay Carr, Leonard Ward, Everett Bowman, Louis Brooks, Bill Linderman, Casey Tibbs, Harry Tompkins, Jim Shoulders and Brazile. “That was very special and a hard act to follow,” Cooper said. While his days pursuing gold buckles are over, Cooper stays close to the sport he loves. For the last 40 years, he’s hosted a junior world roping championship during the July 4 weekend. Last year, the event drew in more than 500 competitors from 20 different states. He also hits the road routinely, especially for trips to Calgary and Cheyenne, to see Tuf Cooper, his son, compete in tie-down events. And if he happens to run into some old rodeo buddies, or King George, that’s an added bonus. “I’ve got the life man,” Cooper joked.

After finishing a calf roping run in Oklahoma City, Cooper was greeted outside the arena by Strait’s road manager. He asked Cooper if he’d like to meet Strait, which resulted in a resounding yes. After being escorted through a mob of more than 100 people waiting near the tour bus, Cooper walked in to find Strait by himself. The rest, as they say, is history. “Me and him sat there and talked for two hours before he had to play. We just connected,” Cooper said, noting the duo have gone all over the country together for events since. “He’s one of the best friends I could’ve ever had.” Being buddies with a country music legend definitely became one of many added perks in Cooper’s legendary career, which was defined by continued success. He burst onto the scene in 1976 with a PRCA Tie Down Roping World Title in his first full year as a pro, while also nabbing the PRCA Rookie of the Year honor. He followed that up with a trio of tie-down roping titles in 1980-82. That set the stage for 1983, as Cooper had sights on adding something bigger to his trophy case. Despite being close in previous years, the all-around honor had eluded him. “All-Around – I wanted that baby one time,” he said. Fortunately, this time he had a little luck on his side. Steer roping legend Guy Allen was at a similar place in his career, as both he and Cooper turned pro in 1976. Allen had secured steer roping world titles in 1977, 1980 and 1982, and would go on to win 15 more over the course of his career. While Cooper took part in steer roping, he acknowledged it was his weakest event. But when it

“It was an accident winning the steer roping (in 1983). I ain’t supposed to beat Guy Allen. He’s the greatest in the world.” – ROY COOPER

Susan Lambeth photo Country music legend George Strait, left, and Roy Cooper have been good friends for more than 40 years.

ProRodeo Sports News 3/31/2023

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