Earl Cooper changed the energy in a room. His graciousness pervaded his actions and his interest in others led him toward friendship and ease and peace.  Conversations provided Earl great pleasure – coffee was a conduit – or wine, particularly pinot grigio. He had a rare ability to pull someone in and make that person feel safe to talk and share while giving comfort and assurance.

Earl showed up (usually late) any place he went, groomed & spiffy in splendid shirts and pressed jeans (preferably a dark navy color), and without fail he impressed animals, babies, grownups, - they all liked Earl best. Beaches, Starbucks, movie theaters, restaurants and wine cellars, horse barns, roping arenas, brew pubs and family dinner tables – these were Earl’s gathering places – he loved the human connection.

HORSES made Earl happy! He’d grown up with them and felt at home with even the biggest, meanest and most erratic horse and was convinced that, in spite of occasional minor weirdness, horses made good sense –their responses, abilities, steadiness and horsey intuition.  “Mr. Bill” and “Mr. T”- his two favorite horses over the years -were big-hipped quarter horses trained to rope steers but who defected to puppy-like behavior by following Earl around. At the boarding place for his own horses, others in nearby stalls vied noisily for Earl’s attention.

Dennis Reis, Dale Woodard, Pat Parelli, George Eros, Buck Brannaman  – they all worked with or influenced Earl who made being a student a life-long pursuit by asking questions, traveling miles, sometimes over state lines, to out-of-the-way arenas, watching DVDs galore, interviewing anyone who seemed to know more about horses than he did.

Earl’s centeredness made him a pivot point, a leading man. He often took veterans and students to work with his horses, brush them, observe them. Through the horses, Earl created a sense of balance and love and acceptance for anyone who needed it. This scholarship honors Earl’s essence. His focus and passion and deeply held beliefs are passed to every recipient with his conviction and blessing.