R.E. Josey is no stranger to the Marshall area. He and his wife Martha are members of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. For 48 years, they’ve put on clinics where they teach and coach barrel racing and calf roping.
Josey has passed down some of his success to his son, Randy Josey, who coaches high school football and baseball and has seven state championship rings.
“He gave me one of his state championship rings. They’re getting bigger and bigger every year. Next year it’ll probably be as big as this,” R.E. said as he pointed to his watch.
Randy said he always enjoyed calf roping but football and baseball were his passion.
“Coaching was just something I always wanted to do,” he said. “I roped and everything when I was a kid but It’s one of those deals where you have to practice. I was playing baseball and doing other things and I didn’t put in the time to practice roping. I loved it but I didn’t see dad miss a calf until I was somewhere between 16 and 20. It kind of added pressure that I kind of put on myself, saying there was no way I was going to be nearly that good.”
“The last time I’ve seen him rope one, he tied one right out here many years ago and then he just quit on me,” R.E. said jokingly. “He never did enjoy the roping the way he did the football and baseball. They really don’t pay you to rope. You’ve got to win it.”
Randy’s passion to be around football and baseball only increased, as did his desire to part of the sports in one way or another.
“I wanted to play baseball,” Randy said. “It was kind of one of those deals where you wanted to play for the Texas Rangers. I tried out but I was too slow and my arm wasn’t strong enough so I figured since I couldn’t play, maybe I’d coach. So that’s what I did, and I was able to coach both football and baseball.”
He eventually became the defensive line coach at Midland Lee before moving to Midland Christian where he coaches both sports.
R.E. put no pressure on his son but instead supported him along the way.
“Dad was always supportive,” Randy added. “He bought me a batting machine and a cage out here for a few years. He’s always real supportive. He tries to come to some of our games. When I was at Midland Lee, he came to our state championship games.
“As a matter fact, there was one year where we were at the old Texas Stadium before the game, and I look out and I see dad coming out of the tunnel, right down the field,” Randy said. “I said, ‘How did you get in?’ and he said, ‘I just found the gate and came on in.’ I said, ‘They’re supposed to have security and you just walked right in.’ He stood on the sideline during the game. I gave him a hard time because it’s supposed to be secured and all that stuff but here he was walking right down the middle.”
“I really enjoy going to their games,” R.E. said. “I generally get to go to most of the games in the Dallas Ft. Worth area. It’s a lot closer than going out to Midland. It’s only about three hours there. I generally get to go to the state games too but I didn’t get to go this year.”
One of Randy’s biggest joys in coaching is watching the kids improve.
“Some of them aren’t very good early and it’s fun to see them progress,” Randy said. “There was a kid who couldn’t throw the ball over the plate last year and this year he grew up and he was my best pitcher and next year he’ll be the varsity pitcher.”
He went on to say he wouldn’t have the success he’s had if it weren’t for watching his father.
“Seeing how they work with kids here, the caring atmosphere and how they demand things to be done right and practice right. I’ve heard her (Martha Josey) say to have a perfect practice. If you’re practicing wrong, you’re going to do it wrong. It’s been years since I’ve roped, about 25 or so at least. I’ve watched him and how he treats kids and teaching them how to do things, and patience. I’m pretty laid back and calm most the time and I think a lot of that comes from watching him and how he handles himself. This text I just got from this lady, her son was wants to come to the school. He has nothing to do with horses but she just wanted him around these coaches and that says a lot.”
Perhaps that shouldn’t come as a suprise considering how many people look up to R.E.
“He’s like a father figure to many people,” Martha said. “He’s gotten several fathers day cards from people who really look up to him.”
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