Billy R. Cooper was born on February 12, 1930, and grew up in Crowell, Texas. He began his studies at Texas Tech University in 1947, graduating with a Bachelor's of Arts in Government in 1951. While at Tech he was a member of Kemas, the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, and Saddle Tramps. He also played intramural sports participating in basketball, softball, and flag football. He was in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 and was a major in the Air Force. He served at MACV Headquarters as a recon andintelligence staff officer working in Saigon, Cholon, the Tan Son Nhut Airbase, Nha Trang, and Bien Hoa. While in Vietnam he earned the Bronze Star, a Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Vietnam Service Medal. He retired from the Air Force as a colonel and is married to Anne F. Cooper and has two children: Mary Cooper Johnson and Carolyn Cooper Mustin.