The pilot who died in an airplane crash near the Ruston Regional Airport Tuesday has been identified.
Jackson Parish Sheriff Andy Brown confirmed Rodney Cooper, 64, of Huntsville, Texas, was traveling from Huntsville to the Ruston Regional Airport at the time of the crash.
Cooper was executive director at LaSalle Corrections which is headquartered in Ruston. The plane involved is owned by LaSalle.
Cooper retired from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)—the state’s corrections agency—in 2009 after three decades of service. At the time of his retirement, he served as the Correctional Institutions Deputy Division Director for Prison and Jail Operations for Texas.
Soon after retiring, he joined LaSalle Corrections of Ruston. LaSalle develops and operates correctional facilities in Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia. It provides a wide range of services to law enforcement agencies, including facility development, financing, management, security, and inmate programs. LaSalle Corrections manages 18 correctional facilities, including the Jackson Parish Correctional Center, the Natchitoches Parish Correctional Center, and other facilities in the area.
According to TDCJ, Cooper is survived by his wife Gayle, his daughters Amanda and Kalyn, and several grandchildren. In a statement, TDCJ said, “Rodney was a truly remarkable man who touched so many lives with his kindness and warmth. He was a man of great character and compassion, and a dear friend to many.”
Sheriff Brown said investigation of the crash is being handled by the National Transportation Safety Board. An autopsy will be performed to determine if a medical episode played a role in the crash, Brown said.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
