LOVINGTON, N.M. – The last words Clay Tom Cooper heard from his older brother involved a statement he already knew, but they brought to life the relationship the two have shared for a lifetime.

“He told me, ‘I love you, and I respect you for always being honest with me,’ ” Clay Tom Cooper said. “So, I laughed. Even when we was fighting, he knew I was honest.

“That was our last conversation. He loved me for being honest and told me he loved me. That’s as good a closure as a guy could have.”

Roy Cooper died April 29, 2025, in a house fire at his home near Decatur, Texas. He leaves behind his brother; and three sons, Clint, Clif and Tuf, all of whom roped calves at the National Finals Rodeo; other family members; and a host of friends and fans that simply referred to him as the “Super Looper.”

Born at Hobbs, New Mexico, in 1955, Roy Cooper was raised on rodeo and roping, just as his siblings were. His roots run deep in southeast New Mexico, which is why the Lea County Fair and Rodeo will honor him during a special memorial on the final night of the exposition, Saturday, Aug. 9.

“After his passing, we had a little meeting about it and said we wanted to have something for him,” said Kyle Johnston, a member of the Lea County Fair Board and the chairman of the rodeo committee. “It will be Saturday night before the tie-down roping.”

It’s a fitting time in a fitting place for a rodeo legend who began roping as a toddler and stayed with it his entire life. He was the oldest son of Dale “Tuffy” and Betty Rose Cooper, who met at a college rodeo more than a half century ago. They raised three children near Monument, New Mexico. Jake McClure Arena on the Lea County Fairgrounds was like a second home.

“We grew up in that arena,” Clay Tom Cooper said.

Roy Cooper was an intercollegiate champion while attending Southeastern Oklahoma State College, then showed his talents on the sport’s biggest stages in the PRCA. He was an eight-time world titlist with six gold buckles in tie-down roping and one each in steer roping and the all-around. He’s been inducted into the ProRodeo, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum’s Rodeo Historical Society and several other halls of fame.

“Roy brought a flavor with him in everything he did,” his brother said. “I remember the three of us would get off the school bus, go through the house, change clothes and hit the arena because the horses were saddled and the calves were loaded. We’d rope until it was time for supper. What made Roy so tough was that he’d go down at night after we’d eat supper and practice tying by himself until somebody would come down and tell him to go to bed.

“You put in your time, God’s going to reward you.”

The Cooper family legacy in Lea County is strong. This is home to rodeo greatness, and the region will celebrate it and the life of Roy Cooper on a special August night.