Roy Cooper

Tie-Down Roping • Inducted 1979

Roy Cooper jumped out of the box, winning the world tie-down roping championship and Rookie of the Year honors the first year he became a full-time professional in 1976. Born Nov. 13, 1955, in Hobbs, N.M., Cooper was severely afflicted with asthma as a child, which gave him little promise of becoming a professional roper. By the time he entered high school, however, he had overcome his asthma and dedicated himself to incessant practice of all elements of tie-down roping. He developed into one of the most dominant ropers in the history of the sport, earning the nickname “Super Looper.” He was the first PRCA cowboy to surpass $2 million in career earnings and has won eight world championships, six in tie-down roping, one in steer roping and one world all-around crown.

World Championships: 8

All-Around: 1983

Tie-Down Roping: 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984

Steer Roping: 1983

National Finals Rodeo Average Champion

All-Around: 1983

Tie-Down Roping: 1976, 1979, 1983, 1995

Steer Roping: 1984, 1985, 1993, 1996

Rookie of the Year

Overall: 1976

RAM Circuit Year-End Champion

Prairie Circuit:

All-Around: 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988

Tie-Down Roping: 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987

Steer Roping: 1987, 1988

Texas Circuit:

Tie-Down Roping: 1992

Born: November 13, 1955 in Hobbs, New Mexico

Joined PRCA: 1976

Buffalo Bill Rodeo / North Platte, NE
Tie-Down Roping: 1982

California Rodeo Salinas / Salinas, CA
Tie-Down Roping: 1993

Cheyenne Frontier Days / Cheyenne, WY
All-Around: 1989, 1993
Tie-Down Roping: 1978
Steer Roping: 1988, 1993

Cody Stampede / Cody, WY
Tie-Down Roping: 1981

Dodge City Roundup / Dodge City, KS
All-Around: 1983, 1993
Steer Roping: 1986, 1998
Tie-Down Roping: 1983

Ellensburg Rodeo / Ellensburg, WA
Tie-Down Roping: 1978

Grand National Stock Show & Rodeo / San Francisco, CA
Tie-Down Roping: 1980

Greeley Stampede / Greeley, CO
Tie-Down Roping: 1977, 1984

Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo / Guymon, OK
Tie-Down Roping: 1978, 1981
Steer Roping: 1996

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Rodeo / Tucson, AZ
Tie-Down Roping: 1982

Pendleton Round-Up / Pendleton, OR
All-Around: 1982, 1984
Tie-Down Roping: 1978

Reno Rodeo / Reno, NV
Tie-Down Roping: 1981

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo / San Antonio, TX
Tie-Down Roping: 1978, 1995

Snake River Stampede / Nampa, ID
All-Around: 1976
Tie-Down Roping: 1976

World’s Oldest Rodeo Prescott Frontier Days / Prescott, AZ
Tie-Down Roping: 1981, 1993