Name: Artie Cosby
Alma Mater: Mississippi State University
Sport: Football
Position: Placekicker
Years Played: 1983-1986
Highlights: No. 2 all-time scoring leader at MSU – 211 points, kicked an MSU-record 54-yard game-winning field goal on the last play of the Memphis State game in 1985
Business: CEMCO Inc. (manufacturer and publisher), Starkville, Miss. |
Cosby graduated from MSU in 1987 with a degree in industrial engineering and started working as a manufacturing engineer for an electric trolling motor manufacturer. In 1988, at age 25, he started CEMCO Inc. As his business has grown, it has evolved into four different business units:
- CEMCO Screw Machine Products – a manufacturer/importer of custom screws and fasteners for companies such as Caterpillar and MotorGuide
- Top Brass Tackle – manufacturer/importer of fishing tackle and related items
- Outdoor Youth Adventures – publisher of youth-related outdoor products
- Cypress Knees Publishing – publisher of outdoor-related products
In the Starkville community, Cosby is a youth baseball and soccer coach and currently coaches the Starkville 9-year-old All-Star baseball team. As a former athlete now running a small business, Cosby sees many parallels between competing as an SEC athlete and small business ownership.
"I think both require a high level of dedication and hard work to be successful," says Cosby. "There are frequently challenges in both endeavors that you must overcome to be successful."
"I think fear of failure is one of the greatest motivators — both for businessmen and athletes. "