From Deseret News archives:
Rodeo pro is honored at 'Day of the Cowboy'
The "Day of the Cowboy" took place July 22 at the Ogden stadium.
Gary L. Cooper of Utah County was honored.
Cooper is a lifelong resident of Lehi and has been a pioneering influence on rodeo in the state's rodeo heritage.
Rodeo has been a part of Cooper's life for more than 50 years, and his accomplishments include three Rocky Mountain Rodeo Association Bareback Riding championships in 1969 through 1971. His son Cam was also an accomplished bareback rider for many years.
Gary served as the Utah State High School Rodeo director for six years and was also on the RMRA board of directors for five years during his rodeo career, which dates from 1948 to 1976.
He served as rodeo coach for what is now known as Utah Valley State College and also competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association during that time.
Cooper was always an energetic, enthusiastic participant in all that he was involved in, which included entertaining rodeo crowds as a clown and bullfighter. He judged the rough stock events at many rodeos around the state and was known for his competitive nature and toughness in and out of the arena.
His granddaughter Loni Johnston-Ekins was the 1995 National High School Rodeo queen and is an accomplished rodeo announcer. His grandson Cody is also a professional team roper and horse trainer.
Gary Cooper has spent his life breaking, training and raising quarter horses, which he continues to do today.
Comments
- Tigers vs. Miners by the numbers 2:32 a.m.
- Springville vs. Dixie by the numbers 2:25 a.m.
- Wasatch vs. Juan Diego numbers 2:22 a.m.
- Mustangs vs. Tbirds by the numbers 2:02 a.m.
- Nuggets win after clock review 1:41 a.m.
- Robbery ends poorly for one suspect 1:20 a.m.
- Wednesday on TV 12:59 a.m.
- Integration is possible on TV 12:59 a.m.
- Herbert talks land issues in D.C. 12:59 a.m.
- Developer looking to buy RSL share 12:58 a.m.
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- Jazz blow big lead, hang on
- Utes get extra motivation
- Senators want food tax restored
- Hair-pulling raises more questions
- Lobo land like home for BYU lineman
- BYU soccer incident still popular
- U. hopes to keep clicking
- House passes health care bill
265 - TCU showdown has big implications
188 - Lobo suspended
185 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Senators want food tax restored
152 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
105 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
104 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants nationwide will honor...
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former presidential candidate John...
Glad that he's finally going to be scouting how to beat TCU. Seems to...
Too anyone who whines about people who EARN high salaries; when was the last...
Don't know bout all that "Texas" stuff, but I'm here to tell you people, that...
Gorbachev was a brilliant leader and single most important individual in...
It buys votes from every irresponsible, lazy American in order to keep the...
My fear is the damage to the economy adding trillions of dollars to the...
I don't know, Ak can be horrible too, there are those times when he only...
Utah 24, TCU 21
You are so right about the BS of these 3 radio clowns!
And some of you out there could care less if we give up our freedoms as long...




You can be the first to comment on this story.