Roy J. Cootes was born on December 3, 1932, at the old San Pedro Hospital in California. He spent his childhood in San Pedro, where his father worked as a shop superintendent for the Atlas-Imperial Diesel Engine Company, and his mother was a homemaker. Cootes attended local schools, graduating from San Pedro High School in 1950, and later obtained a certificate in internal combustion engine technology from Los Angeles Harbor College. In 1953, he pursued a brief career in professional baseball, signing with the San Francisco Seals. His baseball career was interrupted by military service during the Korean War, after which he returned to play briefly before ending his baseball pursuits due to injury. Cootes then worked in his father's shop, gaining significant experience in diesel engine technology. He subsequently worked as chief engineer on a tuna clipper, fishing off the coast of Mexico. In 1959, Cootes joined the Port of Los Angeles as a machinist, eventually becoming a supervisor and later the director of port construction and maintenance. He oversaw the maintenance and repair of the port's machinery, floating equipment, and infrastructure, playing a key role in the transition to containerized shipping. Cootes retired in July 1992 after a long and impactful career at the port.

Scope and Content Note 
The oral history interview with Roy J. Cootes, conducted as part of the Port of Los Angeles Centennial Oral History Project, covers his life and career extensively. Cootes shares his early memories of San Pedro, highlighting significant events such as the 1947 explosion of the tanker Markay. He discusses his family background, detailing his father's role in the Atlas-Imperial Diesel Engine Company and the multicultural environment of Fish Harbor during his childhood. Cootes recounts his experiences in the professional baseball world, his service in the Korean War, and his eventual return to San Pedro, where he transitioned to working at his father's machine shop. The interview provides insight into the evolution of the fishing industry, particularly advancements in tuna fishing technology and the daily life on a tuna clipper. His career at the Port of Los Angeles is thoroughly documented, emphasizing his contributions to the maintenance and advancement of port infrastructure. Cootes details the challenges of maintaining warehouse doors, the introduction of container cranes, and significant events such as the Sansinena explosion in 1976.