LaSalle Parish has had many great patriarchs throughout its history, but there was never one so devoted to God and Country as James David “Cowboy” Robertson. He was a man’s man, a proud American, a distinguished military veteran and a mentor to so many in this area who will be deeply missed.
Cowboy passed away last week and immediately there was a void in our parish that will not soon be filled. From hard-core veterans to sweet and innocent children, anyone who ever had any contact with Cowboy fell in love with him and was immediately considered a friend. They loved him because he loved them. It’s just who he was.
From the time I began working at his newspaper as a young man in high school, Cowboy was a fixture in the veteran community, and it didn’t take long in covering patriotic events that I met him and we became instant friends.
He and my daddy, Sammy Franklin, would have long visits at The Jena Times office or at public events, where the topic of God and Country was always at the center of the conversation. He made sure those who died while serving our nation, endured the suffering as a Prisoner of War or those who were Killed in Action, always received the recognition and honor they rightfully deserved.
After my daddy died in 2022 and especially after we bought the newspaper in 2023, I had the privilege of taking over my daddy’s place with those periodic visits and long conversations with Cowboy. No matter how busy or hectic things were around the office, I always made sure I stopped whatever I was doing to make time for this dear friend.
Cowboy was a hard-core conservative who stood against those who would destroy America with any of their communist theology. He told me once when a national election was occurring that he would never vote for a “socialist Democrat!” I agreed 100 percent.
During the Biden reign, he constantly lamented about the policies that Biden’s administration was enacting, and he hated the way the military was being treated under Biden’s presidency.
Although Cowboy was the kindest, gentleness soul you’d meet, he reached his limit of patience with anyone who would dishonor the military, the United States or the flag. When some in the NFL began kneeling during the National Anthem back in 2016, it was enough to make his blood boil. He never forgot that, just as he never forgot about Hanoi Jane.
Here was a man, who during the last few years of his life, battled severe pain from back injuries he acquired while serving in wars and COPD, but would still make his body stand up straight when the American Flag was presented. Even when he was limited to his scooter, he would still dismount to stand up when the Colors were placed. To him, that Flag deserved the utmost respect because he’d witnessed the sacrifice many of his friends gave for it and to keep America free.
Just about everyone in LaSalle Parish knew about Cowboy’s love for America, the military and veterans, but those that got the chance to visit with him a little more personally also knew of his love for God. He was a praying man and would call me every so often to get me to join with him in praying for certain situations. It was one of my greatest privileges.
Another thing some didn’t know about Cowboy was his love for the Jena Giants – especially the football team. Long before the first football game was ever held, Cowboy would begin calling me in what became a weekly ritual where he would get updates about the team.
As the summer ended, he would call to find out “how we were looking” and what to expect from this year’s Jena Giants. When I was being blasted on social media for an editorial I’d written about the Union Farmers, he was one of the few who called to stand with me. I never forgot that.
During football season I would expect a call on Thursday or Friday to give him a weekly update about that Friday night’s game, the opponent and all the details I could give him. He attended every game he could and was so disappointed when his health began to fail him and he couldn’t make as many away games. Nothing brought him greater pride that the Jena Giants making it to the state championship game last December. He couldn’t wait until this next season when he was certain the Giants would win it all.
It seems this parish continues to lose some of its greatest members and without a doubt, Cowboy Robertson is at the top of that list. It was an honor to call him my friend, and he will be greatly missed by me and many others.
One quote that comes to mind when I think about remembering Cowboy that has been attributed to various individuals throughout history is this one: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.
Perhaps the greatest way we can truly remember and honor Cowboy Robertson is to simply do as he did: Love God. Love our country. And love our families.
He taught us all three on a daily basis and all of our lives are better because of it.
