There is a long line of cowboys whose hero was Roy Cooper. One of those cowboys was World Champion Tie-Down Roper Shane Hanchey. This loss hits home for Hanchey as one of his best friends growing up, and to this day, is Tuf Cooper.
“Not only was Roy an eight-time World Champion and all this, but he was also my best friend’s dad. There were just so many nights that me and Tuf would be out there roping in the covered arena. [Roy] would be out there in his gold cart just helping us, wanting us to be the best,” Hanchey said.
Those are just a few of the memories that Hanchey holds on to. From growing up in the practice pen to winning one of the few rodeos Cooper did not, Hanchey’s stories of the Super Looper go on.
“That’s what’s been great, is going on social media and seeing everybody that he touched, because there’s no doubt about it, how big of a heart he had. He loved the Lord, he loved his family and he loved roping,” he said.