Country music icon George Strait held back tears as he said goodbye to one of his closest friends and true cowboy legends — Roy Cooper, known to many as the “Super Looper.”
Roy Cooper wasn’t just a big name in the rodeo world. He was the rodeo. A seven-time world champion and Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer, Roy’s quiet strength and unmatched talent made him a hero to many. But to George Strait, he was more than a legend — he was family.
When Roy tragically passed away in a house fire on April 29 in Decatur, Texas, it shook the cowboy world and left George devastated. Their bond wasn’t built on fame or showbiz — it was built on years of friendship, shared memories, and a cowboy’s code of loyalty.
At Roy’s memorial, held at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, George stood before a crowd of cowboys, family, and friends — his voice filled with emotion.
“He was my hero,” George said, his voice cracking. “We shared a lot of good and bad times together. He didn’t hang out with me. I hung out with him.”
Their friendship ran deep. Roy once said he’d give his prized All-Around World Champion belt buckle to George — a sign of the trust and bond they shared. That kind of loyalty is rare, and it was clear in every word George spoke.
He even tried to lighten the mood, sharing a funny story from a Kentucky Derby party years ago — when Roy tried to rope Stevie Nicks. George laughed, recalling how Stevie still remembered it: “Where’s that crazy cowboy that tried to rope me?” she once asked.
But the laughter quickly gave way to tears.
“Boy, did he love his family, and he loved the Lord,” George added softly. “If the good Lord chooses me to go to Paradise sometime, where I know Roy is, I’m just gonna say, throw a saddle on one for me, brother, and let’s race.”
There were no flashing lights or grand production — just one cowboy saying farewell to another, with raw emotion and deep respect.
Roy Cooper was more than a champion — he was a man of honor, a proud father, and a true friend. And George Strait reminded us of that in the most heartfelt way possible. He didn’t just say goodbye — he honored a legacy.
Rest easy, Super Looper. The arena, and the hearts you touched, won’t be the same without you.
