Ralph Louis Hey was born January 9, 1943, in Okeene, Oklahoma, to Carl Mark and Alice Hey, and he passed away on April 10 in Casa Grande, AZ. Ralph spent his earliest years in Okeene, Oklahoma, until his parents purchased the Lodge at Lake San Isabel in 1952, and the Heys moved to this location. He attended school in Rye and graduated in 1961. He was a freshman on the 1958 State Champion Basketball team, scored the first touchdown for the newly established Rye High School Football team, was a member of the 1960 State Champion Baseball team, and set the career scoring record for the basketball team.
In 1961, Ralph moved to Cañon City, where he played fast-pitch softball and American Legion baseball. He went on to be a two-time Cañon City tennis Champion in singles and doubles. He accomplished both the Tennis Championships again in 1969. He decided to attend Adams State College and compete in basketball, baseball, and tennis. Ralph graduated from ASC in 1966 and moved to Los Angeles, California in 1967. Later in life, he continued his education at the University of Southern California, Western State College, and the University of Northern Colorado.
In 1969, he began teaching and coaching at Vona Public Schools in Vona, Colorado. The following year, the neighboring school in Seibert burnt down, causing the schools to consolidate. Mr. Hey was asked to assist with the newly established school by naming it Hi-Plains, making the mascot the Patriots, and the colors red, white, and blue. He also started and coached the football program in 1970. Coach Hey was very proud to be the Guest of Honor at the 40th Anniversary of Hi-Plains High School in 2010.
In 1972, Coach Hey relocated to Custer County High School in Westcliffe to teach and coach for the next 26 years. From 1972 to 1974, the boys’ basketball teams were placed at the state tournament, and many state records were set, some of which are still standing. He started girls’ basketball at Custer County in 1974. Some of Coach Hey’s career accolades include coaching high school basketball for eight years, with a record of 140-39, with six League/District Championships and 4 Regional Championships. In basketball, he coached 16 All-State Players and 3 All-American Players. His junior high football record was 186-43 over 25 seasons. For 29 years, he coached junior high basketball, accounting for a record of 1,067 wins, with only 188 losses during this time. While coaching the junior high track and field team for 26 years, his boys’ teams won the West Central League 24 of those years. Coach Hey became the first Athletic Director for Custer County High School and held that capacity for 20 years; in 1993, he was named the State Athletic Director of the year.
Coach Hey influenced thousands of student-athletes over the course of his career.
Ralph served 14 years on the CHSAA Board of Control, many tournament committees for basketball/volleyball, and has been honored for contributions in football, basketball, and track at the state level. He was the Meet Director for 19 regional track meets and was a State Track Official for 41 years (21 years as Head Finish Judge and eight years on the Games Committee and Jury of Appeals). In 2002, he was honored as a member of the Colorado Football Association. Coach Hey oversaw seven state football playoff games, 17 district and 11 regional basketball tournaments, six regional wrestling tournaments, and six district and three regional volleyball tournaments.
Ralph held a license as a Colorado Guide and Outfitter. He was hired out by multiple movie crews to take them fishing, and tour mines, in the Custer County area during filming of local movies. He even was an extra in a few throughout the years. He loved hunting and fishing; he fished in 50 of the 53 lakes in the Sangre de Cristo Range and climbed a few 14ers.
In 1975, he was one of the four founders and board members of The Valley Park Recreation and Youth Center in Westcliffe. He helped organize the beginning of the adult softball program in 1979 and was one of the original owners of Shadow Ridge sub-division, established in 2003.
Ralph attended many big-time sporting events, such as six Super Bowls, three Final Fours, one World Series, and one Stanley Cup, and worked as a Marshall at the 1985 U.S. Open Golf Tournament. He was a season ticket holder for the Denver Broncos and the Colorado Rockies throughout the years. He always loved the University of Oklahoma because his father played football and basketball there.
Ralph was an avid golfer and won multiple tournaments in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. He also served as a board member for the Northern New Mexico Senior Men’s Golf Association for eight years and was President in 2007. The Association gave 11 scholarships to Custer County High School seniors in a seven-year span. His annual Pig and Putt Golf Tournament in Walsenburg carried on for 19 years.
After retirement from Custer County School District, Ralph and his wife Donna moved to Casa Grande, AZ. He spent almost every day of the week playing golf at the area courses.
When he wasn’t golfing, he was busy making fresh lemonade from his lemon trees and watching sports on TV. He always looked forward to visits from friends. Grandpa Ralph cherished every time his or Donna’s grandchildren came to Arizona.
Ralph Hey is survived by his loving wife, Donna Paschall of Case Grande, AZ; sister Cathy Hey (Bruce Olson) of Sioux Falls, SD; son Grady Camper of Walden, CO, son Tanner (Lindsey) Camper of Westcliffe, CO, Donna’s daughter Anne (Evan) Miller of Lampe, MO; Donna’s son Nathan (Susan) Ruhl of Seattle, WA; grandchildren Sawyer and Savanna Camper of Walden, CO, Caroline and Harvey Camper of Westcliffe, CO; Donna’s grandchildren Taylor (Gage) Luketich and family of Wasilla, AK, Travis and Trey Leiker of Aurora, CO, and Asha Ruhl of Seattle, WA.
There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday, June 21, in Westcliffe, CO. It will be held in the Town
