Happy Trails With Dawni O'Bryan: My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys

Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Chris LeDoux all sang a version of the song, “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys.” The lyrics say, “I grew up a-dreamin’ of bein’ a cowboy, Lovin’ the cowboy ways, Pursuin’ the life of my high-ridin’ heroes, I burned up my childhood days.” It makes one ponder what the cowboy ways really are. The cowboy ways align pretty close with the code of the West. These ten usually find themselves on a sign displayed in a western-decor home:

• Live each day with courage
• Take pride in your work
• Always finish what you start
• Do what has to be done
• Be tough but fair
• When you make a promise, keep it
• Ride for the brand
• Talk less and say more
• Remember that some things aren’t for sale
• Know where to draw the line

Some things that cowboys do that make them heroes are simply following their gut instincts and stepping up to help. There was a time on an airplane where a situation became volatile. Delta flight 4620 from Helena to Salt Lake City had an unruly passenger creating problems. Deranged Matthew Kleindorfer claimed that he was a space alien and wanted to fly the plane and was trying to force his way into the cockpit. Two cowboys were also on board after conducting a roping school in Helena, MT. Team ropers, Clay O’Brien Cooper, and his partner, Jake Barnes, were passengers watching the situation unfold. The flight crew was looking around for some help and one attendant approached Cooper for assistance. The six foot cowboy got up and subdued Kleindorfer from behind and grabbed both of his arms and forced him to sit down and stay seated. The plane was diverted and air marshals were waiting to arrest Kleindorfer and everyone celebrated that the cowboy saved the day. A tidbit to remember is that Clay O’Brien Cooper played in the movie, “The Cowboys” as a child actor, which also starred John Wayne. The Billings Gazette didn’t mention if he was approached after the incident to sign an autograph.