Junior Lee Coffey Junior Coffey (6’ 1" 200) with 10.2* speed, was one of the finest running backs and defensive linebackers in Texas High School football during the 1960s. As a senior in 1960, Coffey, a strong, difficult to tackle and punishing runner, rushed for 1562 yards in 11 games to lead the Dimmitt, Texas

Dimmitt, Texas

Dimmitt is a city in Castro County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,375 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Castro County. It is located on the old Ozark Trail, a road system from St. Louis, Missouri, to El Paso, Texas...

 Bobcat offense.

Although Coffey enjoyed numerous memorable moments on the field, in a bi-district playoff game against Olton during the 1960 season, he posted particularly impressive numbers in a losing effort. Coffey carried the ball 34 times for 253 yards and scored both Dimmitt touchdowns despite leg cramps as the Bobcats fell 15-12 to Olton.

Coffey became an all-state performer for the Bobcats in football and basketball in the 1960-61 school year. In the 1959-60 season, Coffey became the first black athlete ever to play in a Texas UIL state basketball tournament.

As a junior during the 1959 football season, Coffey led the Dimmitt Bobcat offense with 1294 rushing yards on 165 carries and also led the defense with 185 tackles at linebacker.

Coffey attended the University of Washington

University of Washington

University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...

. With the Huskies, he was a three time all-conference selection and was tabbed Honorable Mention All-American all three seasons. He finished his career as the second leading ground gainer in school history. Coffey was drafted by the Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...

 in the seventh round of the 1965 NFL draft, and he played on the Packers' championship team of '65. He also played with the Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

 1966-69 where he averaged 4.0 yards per carry. He finished his career with the New York Giants

New York Giants

The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

 in 1971, compiling career totals of 2,037 rushing yards on 500 carries, 487 receiving yards on 64 receptions and 15 touchdowns.
After leaving football, Junior Coffey eventually became a Thoroughbred

Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...

 racehorse

Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...

 trainer

Horse trainer

In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...

. His colt, Raise the Bluff, was the favorite going into the 2007 Longacres Mile Handicap

Longacres Mile Handicap

The Longacres Mile Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in August at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington. The race is open to horses three years of age and older and is run on dirt over a distance of one mile...

 at Emerald Downs

Emerald Downs

Emerald Downs is a thoroughbred racetrack in Auburn, Washington, located a half mile east of Highway 167. It is named after Seattle, the Emerald City.-History:...

 in Auburn, Washington

Auburn, Washington

-Parks:Auburn has an extensive system of parks, open space and urban trails comprising 29 developed parks, 5 undeveloped sites under planning, 2 skate parks, 2 water roatary parks, and over of trails , and almost of open space for passive and active recreation.-Environmental Park:The Auburn...

, but placed second.