Kendall Cogburn, the head basketball coach at West Plains, has turned a modest summer hobby into a five‑stand fireworks operation that now dots the Texas landscape.
From Court‑Side Strategy to Pyrotechnic Planning
What began with a single stand in 2012 has ballooned into a small empire, each location carefully chosen and staffed by coaches who bring more than just basketball know‑how to the fireworks business.
Cogburn credits the expansion to a simple belief: great people make great ventures. He surrounds himself with trusted assistants who share his work ethic and his love of community.
Meet the Coaches Turning Sparks into Success
Graden Long, who has been helping Cogburn Fireworks for four years, runs the stand in Canyon and often uses the experience to teach his own family about hard work and responsibility.
Cameron Copley, in his second year at the Canadian stand, appreciates the chance to work in his hometown while learning the intricacies of the trade from Cogburn himself.
Baylee Baker, a newcomer this summer, has brought a fresh sense of organization to the operation, juggling logistics while enjoying the camaraderie of the West Plains crew.
Jake Ebeling, a Dimmitt graduate, rounds out the team with his own hometown pride, seeing the stand as a way to give back to the community that raised him.
Beyond the numbers, Cogburn values the memories forged with his family and the coaches, noting that the business is as much about shared moments as it is about sales.
As the stands light up the evenings across the Panhandle, the coach hopes the tradition will continue to grow, fueled by the same trust that built his basketball program.