Local television personality Jamie Cooper was honored Monday by the Limestone County Commission for his efforts in publicizing local stories, people and places for the last 44 years.

Commission Chairman Mark Yarbrough presented a proclamation to Cooper thanking him for his years of service “covering everything in Limestone County.”

Cooper began his career April 1, 1974, as a film editor with Huntsville Education Television. From 1977 to 1992, Cooper worked at WAAY-31 in Huntsville and began shooting his “Country Rover” series. He and his wife Gloria have owned and operated ZTV in Athens since 2003.

“I’ve covered so many stories in Limestone County, it’s unreal,” Cooper said, before taking credit for what he called “a few firsts.”

Cooper claims to be the first man to ever take a “selfie” while flying 700 mph in a Thunderbird jet. Cooper claims he did that in 1977 with a silent 16mm film camera shortly before vomiting in the cockpit.

He also said he was the first person to visit a nudist camp in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and be completely nude, except for his tennis shoes. Lastly, Cooper claims to be the first man to wrestle a bear on television and live to tell about it.

Lastly, Cooper claimed to be the first man married to the first woman to appear on a Republican ballot in Limestone County. Cooper’s wife and “Cooper and Company” co-host, Gloria Cooper, is seeking the office of Limestone County license commissioner. She faces Republican challengers Joseph Cannon and Terry Persell in the June 5 primary.