Building a bypass, contributing to community
JIMMY COOPER SHOWS OFF THE ORIGINAL 1997 DUNCAN BYPASS DRAWING CREATED BY THE LATE M. J.“ MUTT” LEWIS. WORK AT THE ELK AVE., DUNCAN BYPASS CONTINUES IN THE BACKGROUND IN LATE MAY 2026.
Jimmy Cooper reflects on Duncan Bypass creation as 24 year anniversary approaches
STORY AND PHOTOS BY TONI HOPPER
Few residents think about how a community is built, or even know those who helped in the process. Jimmy Cooper is one of those people who has been instrumental behind the scenes of Duncan and Stephens County.
Cooper was born July 18, 1941, just a few months before the United States joined World War II, Dec. 7. Now at age 85, he still attends a few major events and has a mind that works better than any recording device.
He served on many boards: Duncan Regional Hospital( 10 years), Duncan Area Economic Development( 19), Simmons Center( 2-3), The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center( 10) and Security National Bank. He worked at Halliburton for 34 years as an accountant. Cooper was instrumental in connecting the right people to create the State Highway 7 Duncan Bypass. A discussion with Tom McCasland Jr. about a statue, and casual conversations with other notable leaders led from one thing to another.
Cooper was in talks with Mutt Lewis and one of McCasland’ s bankers about a highway on the west side of town. Cooper said McCasland mentioned it might divert traffic from coming through Duncan.
“ I said, well, it’ ll be an industrial bypass and the traffic will still be pretty strong going up and down 81, we think.” He remembers McCasland saying he’ d work on his statue idea for the time being. That statue is the“ On The Chisholm Trail Monument at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center.”
“ Mutt Lewis and Terrence Cooksey, and newly-elected Duncan Mayor Harold Howard had some conversations.” Cooper and Howard worked for Halliburton. Howard had built offices for Cooper in Houston, Dallas, Duncan and in Scotland. Cooper retired from Halliburton in December 1996. These men were eager to make the Bypass project happen.
“ M. J.” Mutt Lewis rendered a drawing for the Bypass, then Cooper and Lewis took it to Bob Rose, a Chief Engineer with the Department of Transportation. Rose was critical to the project, but they needed money.
10 DUNCAN MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026