A day after losing his grandmother, Tuf Cooper delivered an emotional victory in the calf roping at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, fulfilling a promise to his family and honoring his beloved “Meme” in the best way he knew how.

The four-time world champion posted a 7.2-second run in the finals, edging out Seth Hall, John Douch, and Shad Mayfield by mere tenths of a second to earn $15,252. The win carried extra weight, coming just hours after Cooper and his family gathered in their hometown of Childress, Texas, to say goodbye to Meme.

“It meant so much to me and my entire family,” Cooper said. “It was as good as winning a world championship, to be honest.”

Meme’s Influence

Judy Smith, known as “Meme” to her grandkids, was a lifelong rodeo fan and a constant source of support for Cooper. Married to two-time NFR qualifying calf roper, Clifton Smith, she spent more than 74 years watching calf roping and never missed one of Cooper’s runs since The Cowboy Channel began broadcasting rodeos in 2017.

“My horse isn’t even loosened off yet, and sometimes I’d have Meme on the phone, telling me what happened in my run,” Cooper laughed. “She wanted to coach right away, whether it was a good job or something I could do better.”

Judy and Clifton built a rodeo legacy, raising five children, 12 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. Cooper credits Meme for shaping his career, her passion for the sport fueling his own.

A Win with a Higher Purpose

The night before the final round, Cooper traveled back to Childress to watch his niece Style’s basketball playoff game. That same night, Meme was hospitalized. When the family gathered at her bedside, his grandfather, Clifton, urged him to return to San Antonio and “bring back that buckle.”

“It was the best mission I’ve ever been on,” Cooper said. “The most proud, the most happy—just knowing that God was in control the entire time.”

The win provided comfort to Cooper and his family, reinforcing their faith in the Lord’s timing.

“Saturday night, when we won the rodeo, it was such a big sign that God’s in control and that Meme’s up there in heaven with Him,” Cooper said. “She had the best seat in the house.”

Chasing Records, Cherishing Family

The win gives Cooper a strong start in the top 15 race, though he acknowledges calf roping is more competitive than ever.

“These young guys are winning a lot of money everywhere,” he said. “You have to win big ones, small ones—you have to win, win, win if you want to keep up.”

While he continues chasing records—including surpassing Mike Johnson’s 23 NFR qualifications—Cooper’s priorities are shifting as he embraces life as a father.

“As long as my family can stay on the road with me and God blesses me with the ability and health to keep rodeoing, I’ll keep working at it,” he said.

Cooper’s outlook on draw positions has evolved throughout his career. He once saw being first out as a disadvantage, but now he welcomes it.

“I was first out at San Antonio, and I loved it,” Cooper said. “I want to be a gunner, start the show, set the pace. Any kid reading this—if you see yourself first out, don’t think it’s a disadvantage. It’s usually a blessing. You don’t have to worry about what everyone else has done, how fast you need to be or anything. You get to just go make your run and set the pace.”

For Cooper, this win was more than another buckle or check—it was a deeply personal tribute his Meme, who has supported him every step of the way.