CHEYENNE — Friends and fellow Cheyenne City Council members say they are still reeling from the news Friday of the death of longtime Councilman Scott Roybal.
Councilman Jeff White told Cowboy State Daily he will forever remember Roybal as someone who loved his community.
“I came to think of him not only as a colleague but as a mentor and a friend,” he said about Roybal. “He was just a passionate advocate for downtown and for recreational opportunities out at Belvoir Ranch, which are finally coming to fruition.”
Roybal was the longest-tenured member of the council, first elected to a four-year term in 1996 and served until 2000. He returned to city government in 2015 and continued to serve until his death.
Mayor Collins confirmed to Cowboy State Daily that the Cheyenne Police Department responded to Roybal’s home Friday morning after receiving reports of an unresponsive male. They identified that person as Roybal and declared him deceased on the scene.
“To my knowledge, there is nothing suspicious about what happened,” Collins said. “It’s just an unfortunate death.”
The mayor on Friday directed flags at city facilities to be lowered to half-staff in Roybal’s honor.
Councilman Pete Laybourn served with Roybal for 13 years and said they spent “many, many” hours together. He said the news of Roybal’s passing left him “flabbergasted."
“He seemed to be in perfect health Monday night at the council meeting,” he said. “This is just staggering."
White said he was in shock when he learned of Roybal’s unexpected passing, adding that Roybal was always in a good mood no matter how tense their work became.
“I never remember him being angry at any individual,” White said. “I always remember him being kind and funny and always in a good mood.
“Even in times we’ve disagreed, and those times were few, they were never personal and we were able to go out and get a beer afterward."
Belvoir Ranch Legacy
Roybal was a key proponent of the public trail through the Belvoir Ranch property west of Cheyenne. The project was one of his key issues since first joining the council.
White served with Roybal on the council for nine years and told Cowboy State Daily he is devastated to know Roybal won’t be able to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony for the trail.
“I’m just sad that he won’t be there when we do the ribbon cutting and open those trails out there because that was something that he worked on for years,” he added.
Collins echoed that sentiment, adding that the trail opening will be made more special knowing how hard Roybal worked to achieve it.
“The fact that Scott didn’t live to see those trails open, to see Belvoir opened to the public, he has worked a couple of decades to get that done, and I’m really saddened that he is not going to be there when we cut the ribbon,” he said.
“It’s part of his legacy though,” Collins added. “I’m really proud of the work that he did to make sure that we’re going to have access to that.”
Collins also said he would like to see a tribute to Roybal placed at the ranch.
“I don’t know how we’re going to do it, but I hope we will do it,” Collins said. “He’s been serving the community for years and I hope we’ll be able to find a meaningful way to honor Scott.”
Laybourn acknowledged the city is nearly “at the door” of opening the ranch with the restrooms nearing completion and the paths under construction.
The ranch will feature an “all-use path,” which he said will be inclusive for those with physical disabilities.
“That was his passion, that was his effort for many years,” Laybourn said. “And Scott will never get to see it or use it. Service on the council is grinding. It is not fun, but I’m sure he was really looking forward to cutting that ribbon."
Council Vacancy
Collins said the last time Cheyenne had to fill a vacancy on the council was in 2015 with the death of Councilman Jimmy Valdez.
He said the council will officially declare Roybal’s seat vacant before the other Ward I councilmen, White and Laybourn, conduct interviews of applicants for the vacancy.
After Ward I issues a recommendation to the council, the body will vote on a replacement. That person will serve out the remainder of Roybal’s term, which lasts until the end of 2026.
Laybourn said he views the opening as an opportunity to invite a younger generation to join the council.
“It’s really time we got some young blood on that council,” he said. “I think we all enjoy working with someone from a younger generation."
Laybourn said he hopes to act as a mentor whomever is selected
“Politics is so rough today,” he said. “Whomever is chosen, it will be challenging and I would certainly like to help whoever it is and really make sure that the trajectory we are on continues."
Cowboy State Daily Executive Editor Jimmy Orr knew Roybal for 35 years and said he will remember the councilman for his endearing sense of humor.
“He saw the lighter side in everything,” he said. "He was genuinely funny.”
One of Orr’s earliest memories of Roybal is of him buying Ho Hos from a vending machine.
“But he clarified that they were diet Ho Hos,” Orr said. “Everything was funny to him. Everything had an upside. He took his job seriously and genuinely liked what he did. And he did everything with joy.
"Cheyenne lost a great man.”
Jackson Walker can be reached at walker@cowboystatedaily.com.
