Bert Cooper, the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association's (NIAA) first full-time executive director, died earlier this month. He was 87. He led the NIAA from1974 to 1989.
From the Reno Gazette Journal:
Bert Cooper is remembered as being funny, classy, extremely knowledgeable about the state of Nevada and not afraid to jump in and help out wherever needed.
Cooper led the high school athletic association for 16 years, mostly as a one-man office, while working out of the Nevada State Education offices in Carson City, from 1974 to 1989.
There have been four executive directors in the history of the NIAA. Cooper was followed by Jerry Hughes, Eddie Bonine and current director Bart Thompson.
Cooper had been in hospice and suffered a stroke on Friday.
Hughes said Cooper had a great sense of humor, to go along with extensive knowledge about seemingly every person in the state.
