Moving Forward ... FAST

Business owner and rancher, Joe Gay, enjoys supporting kids, developing Downtown Texarkana, and investing in local businesses

by LINDSEY MCMILLAN

On October 3, Joe rode Wilson, the water buffalo, down Broad Street.

Joe faces off with his Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian Mastiff), Tico, who was imported from Argentina.  He flew there, picked up the pet, and flew him back to Texarkana.

If you wander into Downtown Texarkana these days, it’s likely you will run into Joe Gay, business owner and rancher who stays busy going from one of his establishments to the next.  He has been hard at work on a mission to revitalize downtown into a bustling entertainment venue. Joe and his partners were renovating one of them during the start of the pandemic and opened it over the summer.  Crossties Event and Wedding Venue of Texarkana is a multi-purpose venue of 37,000 square feet on Broad Street across from Zapata’s. The three buildings which comprise the venue date back to 1899.  Moores Furniture Company had occupied the main building since 1962, and Joe and his partners became interested in the property in October 2019, and closed on it in January 2020. Completing the work by themselves, they incorporated the original wood as witnessed by lovely exposed overhead beams throughout.  The adjacent green space beside the building is perfect for gathering outdoors with their Frozen Rail train car serving frozen adult beverages each weekend, along with jump houses and other entertainment available for families.  Movies are shown during the summer and other seasonal fanfare always present to bring Texarkana residents back into downtown to socialize.  Joe’s passion for helping downtown goes back to his longtime love of his hometown, one he never anticipates leaving.

Joe grew up in Texarkana, Arkansas, with five siblings and attended Liberty-Eylau schools graduating in 2003.  Joe makes his work a family affair. Three of his brothers work closely with him on his businesses in town while his father, Thomas Olson, assists him with their ranch just outside of town.  The Turkey Creek Ranch has been in the Olson family for several generations, and now the 1,200 acres is home to roughly 350 water buffalo, the largest privately owned herd in the United States.  In fact, one of them, named Wilson, makes appearances downtown on occasion for rides up and down Broad Street.

During the flash flood in Texarkana this past August, Joe helped local fire and police departments evacuate children from their homes.

Joe’s brother, Justin Jones, is one of his business partners, as well as good friend, Les Munn. Younger brothers, Scott and Shannon Michael, help at Crossties as well as working with both Joe and Justin’s FedEx franchise which they have owned and managed for over 13 years. When he’s not downtown, Joe is usually at the ranch, working with various business associates, or spending time with his 14-year-old daughter, Joy. Thankful for friends and family, Joe recalls feeling blessed to have so many opportunities seeing as his upbringing was far from ideal.  He credits his mother, Shannon, and dad, Tom, with the support he has needed to succeed. Joe says, “He (Tom) is one of my biggest supporters and the man who has taught me some of the most useful things in my life.  My mother even at my age of 35 keeps me in line.”

Since Joe didn’t have many comforts growing up, he finds a passion for helping other children in need.  His charity, Hold Onto Your Britches, is in its fourth year and gives disadvantaged local children the opportunity to attend the Four States Fair every year.  With proceeds raised, the number of youth attending each year has gone up.  In 2019, 318 children were able to go enjoy the fair wholeheartedly and free of charge with local businessmen and women helping as chaperones. 

This, in fact, is how he got to know his friend and business partner, Les Munn. An officer with the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department, Les had gotten to know Joe while helping him with his charity.  Les says, “Joe has a heart for kids that goes above anything I have ever seen.” Les’s knowledge about downtown and issues regarding city government put him in the perfect spot for collaboration with Joe when their vision came into reality.  “It was an idea to jump start a renovation of downtown and get people involved,” Les says. “Joe has this special grin he gets on his face when he gets ready to do something and when he says, ‘hold on to your britches,’ that’s exactly what he means.”

Joy and Joe on the balcony of Crossties on August 7.

Joe has also been a generous donor for various FFA scholarships to local agriculture students, having offered 13 with full-ride attendance to local colleges and universities.  Joe personally has mentored countless ag students with their 4-H activities by providing feeding, housing, and paying entry fees for those unable to afford it.  He makes it a priority to give to others in need, especially disadvantaged youth. Les remarks how his friend has the strongest work ethic due to his upbringing and experience. “Fortunately for us, Joe has an education unlike anyone I have ever seen.  He could put most engineers and construction folks scratching their heads. It’s often referred to by people who know him as the South Stateline street education.  Joe grew up working for every breath he took and every penny he earned.” 

Self-taught in construction, Joe was the primary builder and developer for the Hatridge subdivision in Nash and such skills came in handy as he, Justin, and Les worked tirelessly on the Crossties complex last spring. His enthusiasm and vision are unparalleled.  “Joe has a very unique and brilliant imagination that I can’t explain,” Les remarks.  “We would discuss projects inside the building, and I couldn’t see his vision for a while, but Joe would say, ‘Just sit back and watch.’  I would come in the next day, and he would have spent all night working a project.  The results the next day were just astonishing and beyond anything expected.”

Joe (third from left) and Les (third from right) purchased Crossties last January.  With them are Joe’s parents, Tom and Shannon Olson; Les’ wife and son, Allison and Brodie Munn; and Joe’s sister-in-law and brother, Lanie and Justin Jones.

Les also refers to Joe and Justin as his brothers and talks about the impression Joe has made on his young son. “He took to my son like his own, and my 8-year-old considers him his Uncle Joe.  I am definitely thankful to both of my brothers, Justin Jones and Joe Gay.  There is no person alive like the Mayor of Downtown, Joe Gay.”

Joe is also an amateur sport enthusiast, enjoying alligator hunting as one of his hobbies.  He looks forward to yearly alligator and python hunts in Florida and South Louisiana, as well as mudding and showing his daughter how to run the ranch.  Spending time with Joy and being her father is the most important thing in his life.  “My daughter brings out my happiest side when we are goofing off together and singing,” he admits. “She loves being a part of downtown as well when she is able.”

Joe says his profession is a mixture of rancher, mechanic, delivery driver, construction worker, veterinarian, politician, and psychologist. “I’m a fixer of all problems, big and small.  All of my family and friends know that I can and will fix most anything at all.  I pride myself on being that person people can depend on.”  Of his brother and partner, Justin, Joe says that he is the one person who knows how to keep his crazy ideas in check.  Joe definitely has a big vision when it comes to his hometown and developing the most of downtown.  In addition to all that is going on with Crossties, Joe and associates also own B&J’s Diner, 1873 Bar, and have purchased more property with exciting work in progress.  “We are 100% invested in the growth and success of downtown,” he concludes.  “Our investments have boosted other local businesses as well, and that is what I had hoped for.” When asked how he sees his own future Joe simply replies that he sees a vision of retiring on the ranch and watching the grass grow from his porch.  That sounds like a good plan for this Texarkanian who right now is moving forward fast with great things for his hometown.