Cyndi Loza

The Rev. Onie Cooper was taken to the hospital Saturday during an event that paid tribute to the accomplishments of the longtime Reno activist.

Cooper was taken to Renown Medical Center at about 9:30 p.m. during a reception Saturday at the Second Baptist Church.

“He’s in good condition,” wife Mary Cooper said Monday. “He’s just here for testing and observation basically.”

Cooper did not want to disclose the reason he was taken to the hospital.

Friends, family and admirers of Cooper gathered at the church on 1265 Montello St. to honor Cooper through the event, “This is Your Life,” which included songs, an award, speeches and a PowerPoint presentation of his life.

“If it had not been for (Cooper), a lot of things that he has accomplished would not be available to our community,” said Tracey Pearson, 44, of Reno, who served as mistress of ceremonies.

Cooper is noted for his work in the community as a former president of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and chairperson of the state’s Martin Luther King Day commission.

“There’s an old saying: ‘If you want something done do it yourself,’” said Cooper, who’s lived in Reno since 1969. “So I figured I should get in there and do my part.”

One of the most memorable accomplishments, Cooper said, was helping name a 27-mile portion of U.S. 395 after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1998. He said it was notable to him because it took more than three years to convince Reno officials to name a street after the late civil rights leader, which took patience and perseverance.

Cooper’s sister, Maggie Cooper, said her brother always was eager to fight for people and social justice, even if he had to do it alone.

“It’s a very special thing to him to be able to reach out and touch people,” said Maggie Cooper, 65, of Oakland, Calif. “He feels somebody should always have somebody to go to bat for them.”

Because many people admire Cooper, he is the type of person that inspires people to do better, Sparks resident Marsheilah Lyons said.

“He’s the kind of people that expects you to do better than you think you can do, so you have no choice but to rise to the challenge,” said Lyons, 36, a policy analyst for state legislature who’s known Cooper for more than 11 years.