Long-time Odessa coach, teacher honored by North Texas

[Harry]

Jim Cooper grew up in the hardscrabble town of Colorado City during the height of the Depression, and football every Friday night in the fall was one way for everyone to forget about the nation’s woes for awhile.

Cooper was a standout for the Wolves, earning 6-A all-district honors as a guard in 1940, the same season the team won the district crown.

He had a dream to play college football, but World War II changed that path. Like many of the patriotic citizens of West Texas, Cooper did his part by joining in the Air Force during the conflict.

It was an enlistment cut short by injury and Cooper returned to his home state where he began a journey that included stays in Odessa as a coach and teacher.

In 1944, he accomplished his goal of playing football at the next level when he starred for TCU.

Cooper lettered in football as a freshman and sophomore at center and linebacker, was an All-Southwest Conference pick as a freshman in 1944 along with being the school’s MVP that season. He capped that season as the school’s MVP in the 1945 Cotton Bowl.

But it wasn’t easy.

“He was at TCU, but never had a full scholarship and had to work in the cafeteria and help clean the gym,” said Helen Cooper of her husband, who passed away in 2010 at age 86.

“Football players had to carry a full load of classes, too, so it was struggle for him. That’s why he was willing to leave when North Texas called him.”

Reviving a North Texas program that went dormant during World War II, Coach Odus Mitchell persuaded Cooper to make the move to Denton from Fort Worth with the promise of a full scholarship.

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