My HS coach, Robert Copley, and LOOOONG time Rockets clock operator passed away today. He was the clock operator for about 50 years. Thats him on the left. Rest easy coach. You helped a ton of boys grow into men and helped good men become better men.
I always wondered who that was in the telecasts. RIP, and thanks for not cheating like a Utah Jazz timekeeper.
Copley has been the timekeeper since January of 1981, when Chip Nila, the late father of Rockets equipment manager Tony Nila, first invited him to run stats to media members at a Rockets game at The Summit. At Copley’s third game, the Rockets’ regular game clock operator was a no-show and Copley was deployed as a substitute. He never left. “Chip said, ‘Sit down,’ so I sat down, and I’ve been sitting down ever since,” Copley said. What a great story by Danielle Learner. Mr. Copley had a great seat from which to watch a truly staggering amount of Rockets history. Rest in peace, Robert. You've certainly earned it, and you don't have to keep the time.
Coach Chip Nila was one of my coaches also. Both really good men even though I hated those bear crawls at the time. Need more men leading boys like those two.
