Love to Last a Lifetime

Randy Cooper (BBA '71) remembers running onto the Baylor Stadium football field as a kid in the mid-1950s. One of the players handed him a game-used chinstrap - a thrill for any little boy.

That moment helped solidify what became a lifelong love of Baylor.

A decade later, Randy was an official Baylor Bear, recruited by football coach John Bridgers and offered a scholarship in 1967. He played fullback and linebacker.

"That's when you could do that and weigh 210 pounds!" Randy said from his home in Kansas City, Mo.

The Bears struggled on the gridiron during the late 1960s, winning only a handful of games, but Randy fondly remembers the camaraderie of the team. "My class of recruits had a 4-1 record as freshmen, and we have retained a strong bond among ourselves."

A Baylor family

Randy's biggest success came when he met his future wife, Carla Francis Cooper (BA '71) while they were students at the University.

"It took me about five different phone calls to track her down," Randy remembered with a laugh. "I had to stand in line." But he won the day.

The couple was active on campus. While Randy played football, Carla was involved in Atheneans (now Kappa Kappa Gamma) and a member of Dr. Euell Porter's choir. They enjoyed their time at Baylor.

"You don't go to college primarily to be a pro athlete," Randy said. "You want to be around a place where you can get a great education and enjoy yourself." Between Carla's side of the family and his, Randy said there are a total of 25 Baylor graduates spanning two generations.

Sadly, Carla passed away in 2011 after battling cancer, leaving behind Randy and their three children, Corrie, Callie and Collin.

Making a difference

After Carla's death, Randy decided to make a commitment to their alma mater ' choosing to establish a planned gift through his life insurance policy in support of the Baylor University Athletic Scholarship Endowment.

"I love Baylor University, and I've always wanted to do something that was of value," Randy said. "I don't have the great legacy of resources that others do to make million-dollar gifts. Using a life insurance policy is a way I could make a meaningful gift of more than just a few hundred dollars here and there."

He chose to invest in the Athletic Scholarship Endowment to attract outstanding student athletes to the University, he said. The gift is also a reflection of his love of football and his belief in the importance of athletic success to campus life and the college experience.

"It provides a fun environment for all of our students," he said. "It's part of what college is all about."