Calf Roping, Team Roping
Raymond “R.E.” Josey was born October 8, 1930 and was raised near Post, Texas, where he learned to rope goats and calves. He began roping in amateur rodeos until he began to win consistently; then, in 1950, he joined the RCA. In 1965 he quit his oil company job and began to rodeo full time, traveling with Ronny Sewalt. Josey met Martha Arthur and her horse, CeBe Reed, at a Hillsboro, Texas, barrel race. Being a horseman, he jokingly admitted he was attracted to both of them. He and Martha married in 1966 and, a year later, at their home in Marshall, Texas, they began conducting calf roping and barrel racing clinics where, over the years, they taught more than 300,000 students. Josey became a mentor and tutor to many who attended, and he also won the AQHA calf roping in 1970, 1972 and 1974, and qualified for the Texas Circuit Finals several years. Although he loved to compete, he dedicated his life to making others become champions, and the students love him. One NFR qualifier who attended Josey’s clinics since age 5 said, “R.E. made me believe in myself.” Josey passed away in February 2022.
