The Definitive 1000

We are going to be counting down the Definitive 1000 things. Why are they Definitive? Because The Friendly Friends have deemed them as such.

#975 - Randall "Tex" Cobb



Why include Randall “Tex” Cobb in the list of the Definitive 1000 things?

It’s not enough that he’s awesome?

So you need more?

Well how about his acting roles?

He is the king of all “That Guys.” This is obvious when you peruse his characters’ names:

Sailor, Wolf, Big Guy in Gas Station, Burglar, Gruff Man, Big Hairy Con, Skull.

He has been in more movies and TV shows than I can list here.

Of course, his best role is undoubtedly as Leonard Smalls in “Raising Arizona.” He was a tracker extraordinaire. He displayed uncommon logic telling Nathan Arizona: “You want to find an outlaw, hire an outlaw. You want to find a Dunkin' Donuts, call a cop.” He was bought on the black market for $30,000 and that was 1954 dollars. And of course, he got blowed up good.

How about his record as a boxer? 43-7-1 with 36 wins by KO?

Still not enough?

Then how about this:

Yesterday, at age 54, after careers as a boxer and as an actor, Tex Cobb graduated from college. With honors. From Temple University.

That’s correct. Randall “Tex” Cobb is a graduate of Temple U. And it wasn’t easy:

Cobb has been working at a construction job, then taking SEPTA to Temple's campus. During the most recent SEPTA strike, he walked to class from Southwest Philly.

For those not familiar with the geography of Philly, Temple is in north Philly. This is on a good day an 8 mile walk from one of Philly’s worst neighborhoods into another not so nice one. And he did it after swinging a 12 pound hammer at a construction site.



And for these reasons, Friendly Friends, Randall “Tex” Cobb deserves a spot in the Definitive 1000.

Many thanks to IMDB.com for Mr. Cobb's roles.