FORT COLLINS, CO—OCTOBER 20, 2020—Longtime horseman Vaughn Myron Cook passed away October 19 at his home peacefully, after a long and hard-fought battle with cancer. He is remembered as a loving husband, father, pepaw, and friend to many. 

Vaughn was born May 3, 1950, in Walsh, Colorado, to Neil and Erma Cook, where he grew up helping on the family farm. He graduated from Walsh High School in 1968, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from Colorado State University in 1972. 

After graduating, he immediately went to work for Dr. B.W. Pickett at CSU’s Equine Reproduction Laboratory, eventually working on the lab’s landmark research projects in equine reproduction and embryo transfer. 

Vaughn joined the consulting service formed by Dr. Pickett and James L. Voss, where he had the opportunity to travel across the country handling top stallions from all breeds. Simultaneously, he managed the lab’s clinical embryo transfer services, building it into national merit. 

In 1990, he retired from CSU, and with his wife, Jill Cook D.V.M., established Royal Vista Equine, which gained prominence on the national stage as a premier embryo transfer facility. In 2000, they expanded the business to Oklahoma by starting Royal Vista Southwest LLC and Royal Vista Ranches LLC. Royal Vista Ranches’ stallion line up has included great horses such as Wave Carver, Ivory James, Good Reason SA, One Fabulous Eagle and many others. It is also home to their own race broodmares and foals, where they have enjoyed selling and racing quality American Quarter Horses. 

In addition to his successful business operations, Vaughn has been involved professionally in the horse industry at the state and national level with the American Quarter Horse Association and Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association. His accomplishments were abundant over the years, but one of his greatest accomplishments was winning the Champions of Champions (G1) with Wave Carver in 2006, who that year was world champion for the partnership ownership. 

Vaughn’s contributions to the Quarter Horse industry and to the areas of equine reproduction are immeasurable and his passing will be felt by so many whose lives he touched. He was an AQHA racing committee member and director at large, and served on the studbook and registration committee, public policy committee and research committee. 

Vaughn and Jill are members of the Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame and were honored by Colorado State University as 2016 Livestock Leaders. Vaughn was recognized as the 2010 Colorado Horse Council’s Horseman of the Year in 2010 and in 2012 received the Industry Partner Award from the CSU Animal Science Department. Vaughn served as a RMQHA race director for more than a quarter century, and was a director with the Colorado Horseman’s Association. 

Vaughn was preceded in death by his parents, Neil and Erma Cook; mother and father-in-law, Sandy and Nona Thayer; sister-in-law, Gayle Cook. Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Dr. Jill Cook; daughters, Brandi Herndon and husband Bart of Bristow, Oklahoma; Shannon Cook of Stillwater, Oklahoma; Bailey Cook of Aurora, Colorado; Jamie Cook of Superior, Colorado; grandchildren, Brynna and Bria Herndon; brother Erroll Cook of Walsh, Colorado. 

A Celebration of Life will be held during the Fall Mixed Sale at Heritage Place, October 30, 2020, at approximately 7 p.m. or immediately following the sale. A Memorial Service will be held in Fort Collins, Colorado, on November 7, 2020. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association Foundation, 39553 Rangeview Drive, Severance, CO 80610.