To be successful in any business an owner has to surround themselves with trusting people.

Kendall Cogburn learned that from his father, Ray – a former coach and educator – and through his rise as a head basketball coach with stops Happy, Bushland and recently coming off a run leading the West Plains Wolves to a historic UIL Class 4A Division I state semifinal run.

During the summer, Cogburn doesn’t slow down.

For nearly two decades, Cogburn has carried on a family tradition of owning and running a firework stand during the July 4th Holiday. Cogburn, with the help of his wife Kelly and his children, Kollier, Karoline and Klaire, have made their business, Cogburn Fireworks, become a household name around the Amarillo-area with Cogburn starting his business in Bushland.

From one firework stand in 2012, to three firework stands last summer, Cogburn has progressed seeing his company expand to five stands this year.

“I think we’ve been able to grow because we have great people that are able to work the firework stands and we have people that have allowed us to put stands on their locations,” Cogburn said. “I think it’s exciting but it’s happening because we want to do what’s best for our customers and do what’s best for them. We just want to make it fun.”

To be able to make this expansion possible, Cogburn knew he had to enlist people he could believe in.

As a coach, Cogburn has built great programs through putting great coaches around him and he has done that with his firework business. Cogburn first brought on West Plains offensive line coach Graden Long four years ago, then former West Plains assistant basketball coach and current Ropes head basketball coach Cameron Copley last year. This summer, he’s added West Plains junior high girls basketball coach Baylee Baker and his current assistant Jake Ebeling.

Long has the most experience under Cogburn. Long, who has been coaching for 11 years, is running the Canyon location and has enjoyed every second of being a part of his summer project.

“I enjoy the customers but I really enjoy the time with my family and getting to spend the time with my kids,” Long said. “That’s something I’ll never get back. I also get to teach them the benefit of hard work. We’re only out here 10 days, but over that time, it’s hot, it’s long hours, but they get to learn how to run a business and life lessons.

Seeing Kendall’s expansion has been awesome. Kendall is seeing what he wants his business to be about. He wanted coaches he knew to be involved to help get them some extra money, and people he worked with that he could trust. There is a natural bond with coaches. We’re together all the time and we all go through a lot. The expansion part is great because you get to see more coaches involved.”

Copley, who has built a strong relationship with Cogburn over the years, came on last summer with the opportunity to go to his hometown of Canadian and run that location. Copley immediately took to running the firework stand along with Canadian assistant coach Jeff Isom. The two have even put a small TV in the trailer to watch the World Cup this summer and are appreciative of the conversation from the customers.

“The coaching world is a fraternity,” said Copley, who won two UIL state football championships and two UIL state basketball championships for the Canadian Wildcats. “We’ll do anything to help other coaches, especially guys like Kendall. This is also a nice little stretch to get away from sports for a week and for me, It’s a chance to come to my hometown and catch up with a lot of folks I never get to see anymore. But, working for Kendall is awesome. He’s helped me make a little extra money and I’ve learned a lot about this firework business I didn’t know two years ago.”

Baker, a former Farwell head girls track coach, just completed her second year as the West Plains junior varsity girls basketball coach. Baker is a workhorse and was looking or an opportunity to stay busy this summer, so Cogburn awarded her with the Bushland stand. Baker is not only running that stand but has helped bring more organization to the business.

“The thing I love most at West Plains is the people I work with,” said Baker, who has been in coaching and education for eight years. “That’s who Kendall has working these firework stands. There is a lot of similar minds. We all like to work hard and likes to grind. Whether that’s sports or fireworks. We all like to help and make a difference. Kendall is a great guy. We all share an office at the school and it’s been a fun year getting to know him. He’s a hard worker and I’ve learned a lot from him in basketball and a great mind for business.

I have also enjoyed putting the stand together and making it all look organized. I made the price tags and some graphics, that’s what I really enjoy. I also enjoy getting to see the people come up and enjoy buying the fireworks.”

Cogburn brought on Ebeling to run the Dimmitt stand which was a great move. Ebeling, Cogburn’s assistant coach at West Plains, is a Dimmitt graduate, and this is giving him the opportunity to learn a new process and visit his home community.

“This is something I wanted to and I dove all the way in,” said Ebeling, who has head basketball coaching stops at Friona and Ralls. “It makes most sense to be in Dimmitt, and helping Kendall was a no brainer for me. We help each other for a living and we all have the same mentality. He has put a great coaching staff together to build his business and that’s the kind of person he is. I’m just glad this all worked out where I could run a stand and do it in my hometown.”

Cogburn is grateful that he’s been able to build such strong support. He knows very well that five firework stands aren’t possible without these coaches’ sacrifice.

“I can’t thank these coaches enough for the help and the great job they are doing,” Cogburn said. “If you notice, every one of these coaches had a tie to West Plains at one point or are still on the staff. Every one of them are great people and a great for our customers. Anyone that has run a firework stand loves and wants to continue to do it and I hope they all will also. These are memories they can share with their families and friends and I’m just very thankful to have them helping us.”

For more information

To check out more information about Cogburn Fireworks, and where to visit all locations, please visit https://www.cogburnfireworks.com/