Legendary country hitmaker George Strait took to social media to pay his respects to longtime friend Roy Cooper. The Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer died in a fire at his home in North Texas on Tuesday (April 29), according to a statement from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He was 69 years old.
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Referring to Cooper as “my hero,” the “Amarillo By Morning” crooner wrote, “He’s with our Lord And Savior Jesus Christ now. God please be with the Cooper family and friends. We’ll miss you amigo. I’ll come find you one day. — gs”
We lost our good friend and my hero Roy Cooper yesterday. He’s with our Lord And Savior Jesus Christ now. God please be with the Cooper family and friends. We’ll miss you amigo. I’ll come find you one day. — gs
— George Strait (@GeorgeStrait) April 30, 2025
According to the Wise County Messenger, authorities received reports of a fire in the 600 block of County Road 3051 near Decatur at about 7 p.m. Tuesday (April 29.) Flames had engulfed the large one-story home by the time Wise County EMS and Decatur Fire Department crews arrived on scene. Cooper was found dead inside.
His cause of death had not been released Wednesday (April 30) as investigations into the fire continued.
The rodeo pro’s son, Tuf Cooper, remembered his father in a heartfelt Facebook post. “It is with great sadness that our family shares the passing of our Dad, The Super Looper, Roy Cooper,” he wrote. “We’re all in shock and at a loss for words from this tragedy at the moment.”
Roy Cooper Called George Strait “One of My Very Best Friends”
Growing up in Hobbs, New Mexico, Roy Cooper captured the PRCA calf-roping world championship in 1976, his rookie season. Winning four consecutive PRCA calf-roping titles from 1980-1984, he nabbed the all-around world championship in 1983.
In a March 2023 interview, Roy Cooper revealed he had been wearing his all-around belt buckle ever since. He would remove it for only one person—George Strait. “I would because he’s one of my very best friends,” the rodeo cowboy said.
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Dubbed “Super Looper” for his calf-roping prowess, Cooper became a member of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979. The PRCA Hall of Fame website hails him as “one of the most dominant ropers in the history of the sport.”
In a February interview with the Let’s Freakin’ Rodeo podcast, the “Super Looper” opened up on his friendship with the King of Country. The pair met in 1983 at the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City.
“Me and him sat there and talked for two hours before he had to play. We just connected,” Cooper said. “”He’s one of the best friends I could’ve ever had.”
Featured image by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
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