Harry P. Cooper Cooper Iii

Often called the voice of the Arabian horse, Harry P. Cooper III was born and reared in Indianapolis, IN. Graduated from Broad Ripple high school in 1955, he attended Indiana University, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, and graduated with a B.S. degree in Business Marketing in 1959. Post Graduate work was done at Butler University. Harry married Sue Spivey Cooper in the summer of 1960, and the couple had a wonderful son, Scott Cooper, in 1965. During the early years of their marriage, Harry worked at Indiana Farmers Insurance Agency, and then owned and operated Wills Insurance Agency in Sheridan, IN. However, married to a lifelong horsewoman, Harry soon joined Sue in the horse business, leading to a very successful full-time career announcing horse shows all across the U.S., as well as Canada and Australia. For many years, Harry's announcing schedule included as many as twenty-five shows a year plus a dozen or more sales as well as open houses, seminars and presentations. His travel would occupy over 250 days per year. Harry's outstanding career was documented in a Sports Illustrated article in 1986, in which Harry was referred to as "the Don Pardo of the Arabian world." He served two terms as President of the Indiana Half Arabian Club, was Director of the International Arabian Horse Association for two years, Chairman of the Half Arabian/Anglo Arabian Registry Board for four years and served on numerous committees of IAHA. Additionally, he managed the Arabian Horse Fair and was Vice Chairman of the United States Arabian and Half Arabian National Championship Horse Show. He also served as President of the Sheridan JC's and President of the Sheridan Merchants Association, and was a member of the Bridgewater Country Club. For nearly twenty-five years, Harry also assisted Sue with the operation of their horse farm and training stable as Cooper-trained horses won more than a dozen National awards. With the creation of their family video business, Seehorse Video, Sue retired from training to assist son Scott and Harry in that venture. Harry is survived by his wife Sue Spivey Cooper, son Scott Cooper, sisters Carol Cooper Miles and Linda Cooper Etherton, and all the thousands whose lives he touched over his lifetime. Services will be held on Saturday, November 27, 2010, at Hartley Funeral Home, 209 W. Jackson Street, Cicero, IN 46034, with calling from 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM and funeral following at 2:00 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to Salem Children's Home in Flanagan, Illinois or to the Arabian Horseman's Distress Fund and sent c/o Hartley Funeral Homes, PO Box 407, Cicero, IN 46034. Online condolences may be sent to www.hartleyfuneralhomes.com or emailed directly to harryc@seehorsevideo.com. Visitation
November 27, 2010
11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Hartley Funeral Home Cicero Chapel 209 W. Jackson St
Cicero, IN
(317) 984-3614 Funeral Service
November 27, 2010
2:00 PM
Hartley Funeral Home Cicero Chapel 209 W. Jackson St
Cicero, IN
(317) 984-3614