JUNIOR ARTERBURN, just shy of 90, passed away
on May 31, 2019.
He was born in McAlester, OK on June 15, 1929. Junior
played multiple sports in high school & played football
for Ranger College. Junior transferred to Tech to play
quarterback and set passing and rushing records on his
way to leading Tech to their first bowl win in the Sun
Bowl his senior year. He acquired an undergraduate degree
in business administration and later finished a master's
degree in education.
Junior married Joyce Ann Davis in June of 1955. They
celebrate their 64 years of marriage with their 3 children
and their spouses, 8 grandchildren, and 3 great grand-
children. He is survived by David (Lori) Arterburn -
Dayton, Griffin, & Halston, Don (LouAnna) Arterburn -
Isaac, Andy, & Zane. Diana (Kelby) Mullins and Whitney
(Trevor) Colm - Ella, & Hailey ( Kyle) Bickham - Cohen
& Jude.
He went into the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Great
Lakes, where he also played football and coached boxing.
Junior was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals and, after
a few years, started coaching at Oklahoma State University.
He coached football at Texas Tech for six years before
working for frontier stamps. He was a great grill master
and cooked thousands of "Jr burgers" for high riders, lady
raiders and students in his Bible College classes. He also
made all kinds of homemade candy and his own sweet and
salty popcorn to put in goody bags for the Lady Raiders
and those of us lucky enough to partake. Junior worked
for Frontier Stamps and their redemption centers when he
transitioned out of coaching at Tech. Soon he worked back
at Tech in undergraduate recruitment and admissions and
eventually became the Director of Graduate Admissions. He
was the chairman of the deacons at First Baptist Church
where he was a member for 64 years. He served the cause
of Christ around the world with tremendous generosity.
Joyce and Junior were known as Mr. & Ms. Art to thousands
of Texas Tech students through the college ministry at
First Baptist. Joyce was the founding sponsor of the
women's spirit organization "High Riders" who eventually
made Junior an Honorary Member.
He was inducted into the Texas Tech Hall of Honor and years
later when Joyce was inducted they became the only married
couple to both be given this distinction.
Junior had a passion for his family and enjoyed hunting quail
with Dan Law, taking his grandsons to shoot ducks at Kirk-
patrick's, and winning tennis tournaments with his doubles
partner E.C. Leslie. He also shot his age and better on the
golf course and played cards and dominos with anyone who
wanted to play.
He is preceded in death by his parents E.F. & Oma Arterburn
and four brothers Ernest Arterburn (RHS-1940), D.C. Arterburn
(RHS-1940), Walter Arterburn (RHS-1942) and Leonard Arterburn
(RHS-1945).