Authorities have identified the man killed in a small plane crash south of the Ruston Regional Airport as 64-year-old Rodney Cooper.
Officials say Cooper was piloting the single-engine aircraft when it went down Tuesday morning. He was the only person on board.
A friend and former colleague described Cooper as “an amazing leader and respected by all who knew him,” adding, “He was such a great guy.”
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Cooper served as the Executive Director for LaSalle and the Private Jail Representative for the Texas Jail Association.
In a statement, the department offered condolences to his family, saying Cooper “was a truly remarkable man who touched so many lives with his kindness and warmth” and that “he will be greatly missed.”
Cooper is survived by his wife, Gayle; daughters, Amanda and Kalyn; and several grandchildren.
LaSalle Corrections, which operates a facility on the north side of Ruston, confirmed the aircraft was registered to the company.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash. No additional details have been released.