Remembering R.E. Josey and the Legacy He Left Behind Him

Over the years of producing and hosting clinics, the two have seen over 300,000 students go through their program. From barrel racing to calf roping, Josey never missed an opportunity to help you improve. The couple boasts many world champions and NFR qualifying students along with lasting friendships that turned into family over the years. 

Generation upon generation trust the Josey crew to help perfect their skill, and you could always find Josey in the outdoor arena helping the barrel racers, in the calf lane with the ropers, or in his golf cart cruising around! Although he played a huge role in the success of competitors inside of the arena, most credit him for what he taught them outside of the arena. 

Kincade Henry is a two-time NFR qualifier from Mount Pleasant, Texas. He grew up on the ranch where his father was an instructor, and he eventually became an instructor himself for the roping clinics. He credits Josey most for teaching him how to live right, how to treat people, and how he passed on his love for the sport of calf roping to his students. 

Henry played baseball as a young child and only roped once a year for the Josey Roping School, but the Josey’s never missed a ball game or an opportunity to support Henry in all of his endeavors. 

Most who spent their childhood at the ranch can agree with Henry when he says that the Joseys were like another set of grandparents to them. It was much more than a clinic, barrel race, or roping once they crossed the cattle guards at the entrance. 

At the age of 7 years old, a little girl with pigtails in her hair and a paint horse who barely knew the barrels showed up for a week-long clinic, and she never really left. That little girl just so happened to be me, and although my permanent address was about 10 miles from the Josey Ranch, I will always call it home. 

It wasn’t until I was about 9 years old that Josey and I formed a close bond, and it was in the most unorthodox way possible. Josey’s favorite place to coach the barrel racers was at the first barrel in the outdoor arena, and it was my turn to lope through the pattern when Josey said, “You’re gonna have to get closer to it if you want to win, don’t be scared!” 

Ultimately, Josey decided that the only way to get me closer to the barrel was to stand in the exact spot he wanted me to turn. Around and around, we went, with each turn him saying, “Get closer!” until we got just a little bit too close. 

This resulted in me crying and everyone else laughing, Josey included. He got up, picked the barrel up, and said, “Well, baby girl, you did exactly what I told you to do. I’ll just get out of the way next time!” Even though I’ll never hear the end of it, that moment gave me the friendship of a lifetime.

Josey never called me by my name, and no matter how old I had gotten, I never outgrew being his “baby girl.” Whether it was barrel racing, showing livestock, or anything in between, the Joseys were there for it all. He was the first person to my side when I lost a great horse and the first on the scene when my trailer was hit in a road accident leaving the ranch. No matter what, Josey was always there, and not many people believed in me like he did.

To know R.E. Josey was to love him, and to be loved by him was the greatest honor. To learn from him in any sense was just the same. Josey never knew a stranger and had a way of making every kid feel included and loved up until the very end. 

It has been two years to the day that the world lost an incredible Cowboy. The impact that Josey left behind is nothing short of remarkable, and although he is no longer present on Earth, his legacy lives on in the hearts of thousands of cowboys and cowgirls.