Bud Cooper
December 7, 1936 – November 22, 2024
1971 Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby Champions
Stewart Ranch Outfit
Back Row (L-R): Outriders Bud Cooper, Tom Glass, Dallas Dorchester Clarence Peters
Front Row (L-R): Driver Tom Dorchester, Outfit Sponsor Jim Stewart
Inset Photo: The iconic “Muddy Cigar” Photo Of Bud Cooper (1969)
Photos Courtesy of Billy Melville Collection
The World Professional Chuckwagon Association was saddened by the passing of former outrider Bud Cooper on Friday, November 22, 2024, at the age of 87.
Bryan “Bud” Thomas Cooper was born in Huxley, Alberta on December 7, 1936, and grew up in that part of South Central Alberta. He was very close with the famous Lauder family from the area who had been extremely successful in the chuckwagon business since its early beginning. As a teenager Bud competed in the Boys Steer Riding and in numerous equine events at local gymkhanas, fairs, race meets and picnics where he had a tremendous amount of success winning several ribbons in various different races and contests. Quite often he would ride horses in these events for Tom Lauder – one of the most famous early day chuckwagon drivers.
At the time the Red Deer and Kneehill Counties of Central Alberta were a hotbed of chuckwagon drivers and outriders, and it was only a matter of time before Bud would follow in the footsteps of many others in his area. In 1955 at the age of 18, Bud began to compete in the chuckwagon races as an outrider for the likes of Jack Lauder and Ronnie Glass, and competed in his first Calgary Stampede that year. Soon thereafter, Bud became well respected and in-demand outrider, and was not only outriding in nearly every heat, but for many other of the top chuckwagon drivers of the day such as Tom Dorchester, Ralph Buzzard, and Ralph Vigen to name a few. He was also among the early outriders to make the trip down to Cheyenne, Wyoming to compete at the Cheyenne Frontier Days.
In 1959, Bud moved up to the Peace River country to work for Bob Lauder, but continued to outride and compete in various different rodeo events, most notably the Wild Horse Race, Wild Cow Milking, Tie Down Roping and Steer Wrestling. In 1960, he outrode for future chuckwagon legend Bobby Cosgrave’s first win as a chuckwagon driver at the Lethbridge and District Exhibition, where Cosgrave’s Cliffcrest outfit beat out chuckwagon greats Hally Walgenbach and Dale Flett.
On opening night of the 1969 Calgary Stampede, horrendous weather conditions plagued the chuckwagon races with mud as deep as six inches on the racetrack. During one of his few heats off, Bud took off his muddy shirt just in time for Calgary Herald staff photographer John D. Colville to snap a photo of him absolutely coated in mud with the exception of the clean white shirt he had on after peeling off the muddy one and a cigar in his mouth. The iconic photograph was featured on the front page of the Calgary Herald, and in several other Canadian newspapers from coast to coast, and even made some newspapers in the United States.
Although he had been a part of serval show championship wins over the years, it was in the twilight of his outriding career that Bud Cooper reached the pinnacle of chuckwagon racing when he won his first Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby Championship in 1970 as a member of the Jack Sheckter chuckwagon outfit with driver Tom Dorchester. He won again the following year in 1971 as an outrider for the Stewart Ranch chuckwagon outfit, again with driver Tom Dorchester, and would help Tom Dorchester win a record tying four World Chuckwagon Championships in 1966, 1969, 1970 and 1971. Bud continued to outride for another couple of years before retiring, but continued to compete in select rodeo events. In 2006, Bud resumed his chuckwagon career as a judge with the World Professional Chuckwagon Association. Bud would judge for six years until 2011 when he put a cap on his chuckwagon career.
Bud Cooper played an active role as a competitor and as an official in chuckwagon racing for 25 years, and was one of the pioneers when chuckwagon racing was emerging as a professional sport throughout Western Canada. Even after he retired, Bud remained very passionate about the chuckwagon races, attending the Battle of the North in Dawson Creek and occasionally the Grande Prairie Stompede. When he could not attend, Bud would follow the chuckwagons on radio and television and remained a true chuckwagon racing fan right to the time of his passing, and will will be remembered as one of the top outriders of his time.
Bud will be dearly missed by Faye and their children: Jim (Patti) of Stettler, Alberta, Gene (Lauralee) and Dale of Dawson Creek, B.C. His memory will be cherished by his grandchildren: Richelle (Chris) LePine, Rayel (Clint) Ethier, Lyndsay (Bryce) McMillan, Brooke Cooper, and Beau Cooper, and six great-grandchildren.
A Celebration Of Life for Bud Cooper will be held on Thursday, November 28, 2024 at 1:00PM at Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium, 1300 102 Avenue in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Bud Cooper to a charity of your choice.
Bud will be missed by all in the WPCA, and we extend our sincere condolences to the Cooper family.
Billy Melville
