A journey from MSU Texas to Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and beyond

Andy Newberry
22 February 2024

Science and Technology Student Life Culture and Society General

Full of cheer, MSU Texas grad has succeeded in real estate

Andy Newberry
22 February 2024
3 min read

Marion Cooper Napoleon, a native of Wichita Falls, is a Midwestern State University alumna who has found great success in life by turning lemons into lemonade and pain into purpose. Marion earned an associate degree from MSU Texas in 1984 and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with a major in Computer Science in 1985.

In her childhood, the Northside Girls Club paved the way for Marion’s success, offering her employment while still in high school and college and opening many doors to entertainment, speaking, teaching, dancing, and singing. Marion also loved serving at her local church and says she dedicated her life to God at a very early age.

“My first-time church choir experiences set the stage for all that I do now,” she said. “It certainly gave me the confidence that I have today. I felt like a local superstar.”

As a teen at Hirschi High School, Marion was on the cheerleading team and starred on the track team, setting a state record in the triple jump. She was an all-American cheerleader who held many pageant titles and trained others in the area. Marion earned a full scholarship to study voice and opera.

At MSU, Marion remembers spending mornings and evenings in the computer science lab. “We did not have the fancy laptops and virtual access to everything back then,” she said. And she remembers Cherry Baker, a computer sciences lab specialist, who was helpful to her. “Who could forget that beautiful red lipstick!”

Arion and Marion Cooper — Marion Cooper Napoleon and her twin brother, Arion, enjoy singing and spending time together.

Since graduating from MSU Texas, Marion has been an active alumna, joining her twin brother Arion Cooper in returning to campus as the entertainment for many events. They enjoy performing together as old-school R&B and gospel vocalists. One of Marion’s all-time favorite songs to perform is “Up Where We Belong.”

A stage has not ever been too big for Marion. She spent one season as a Dallas Cowboys’ Cheerleader in 1986, and she remains an active alumni of the DCC. “My boys grew up around the DCC and the alumni, and surprisingly they got burned out about everything about cheerleaders, but they still love the Cowboys,” Marion said.

She enjoyed her career in computer systems, but Marion gained a love for the real estate business in 2002.

“I started purchasing real estate right after college, and it became a passion as an investor and later to help others experience the dream of home ownership,” Marion said. “Purchasing a home is one of the largest assets you will acquire over your life. It will always hold its value and is a liquidable asset that can be quickly converted into cash if needed.” It brings her joy to help others “experience the dream of home ownership.”

Marion is the proud mom of two sons, Chase and Cameron; a daughter-in-law, Kennedy; and she has two granddaughters, Eden and Penelope. “My grandbabies keep me young and energized,” she said.

And her twin brother is everything to her as well. “You always have someone that will listen to you, and we also have that telepathic gateway of communication … lol! He’s my main MAN!”