Obituary
Ralph Louis Hey
Born January 9th, 1943 in Okeene, OK to Carl Mark and Alice Hey, passed away April 10, 2025 in Casa Grande, AZ. Ralph spent his earliest years in Okeene, OK, until his parents purchased the Lodge at Lake San Isabel, CO, in 1952 and the Heys moved to this location. He attended school in Rye, CO, graduating 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, CO, and played fast pitch softball, American Legion baseball and went on to be a two-time Cañon City Champion in Singles and Doubles competing in Tennis. 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, CA 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, CO. The following year the neighboring school in Seibert, CO, 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, CO, to teach and coach for the next 26 years. From 1972-1974 the Boys Basketball teams placed at the state tournament and set many state records, while some are still standing. He started Girls Basketball at Custer County in 1974. Some of Coach Hey’s career accolades are coaching High School Basketball for 8 years with a record of 140-39 with 6 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 Jr. High Basketball accounting for a record of 1,067 wins with only 188 loses during this time. While coaching the Jr. 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. Mr. 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 Head Finish Judge and 8 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 7 State Football Playoff games, 17 District and 11 Regional Basketball Tournaments, 6 Regional Wrestling Tournaments, and 6 District and 3 Regional Volleyball Tournaments.
Mr. Hey 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 original founders and board members of The Valley Park Recreation and Youth Center in Westcliffe, CO. 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.
Coach Hey attended many big-time sporting events such as 6 Super Bowls, 3 Final Fours, 1 World Series, 1 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 Northern New Mexico Senior Men’s Golf Association for 8 years and was President in 2007. The Association gave 11 scholarships to Custer County High School seniors in a 7-year span. His annual Pig and Putt Golf Tournament in Walsenburg, CO, 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 Casa 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, 2025, in Westcliffe, CO. It will be held in the Town of Ula at 403 County Road 175 from 12-3 p.m.
