Randall High sat in his office, his hands clasped together, a smile on his face.
Around him, every detail told a story. Framed photos, military coins and gleaming awards carried the weight of decades of service. Even the desk lamp, fashioned from a bullet shell, had meaning.
For High, service never required a reason.
“That’s just something we do,” High said. “Life services are part of our family.”
High retired as a master sergeant after a storied 23-year career in the U.S. Army. He wore many hats in uniform: tank platoon sergeant, tank commander, armor crewman, instructor and master gunner for both the M60 and M1A1 tanks. Deployments took him overseas, from Kuwait and Taiwan to Somalia, where he worked with Pakistani United Nations forces in a tense, semi-hostile environment.
Stories of Honor is a Fort Worth Report weekly series spotlighting 12 Tarrant County veterans who are serving beyond the uniform.
We also are highlighting nonprofits recommended by the veterans.
In November, the veterans will gather for a luncheon where the Report will honor their service at the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington.
The military shaped him. His father fought in World War II, and his son later became a third-generation soldier. He himself became one of the youngest tank commanders in the 2nd Armored Division and completed the grueling master gunner course, a milestone that transformed his leadership and expertise.
But his story didn’t end when he hung up his uniform. Retirement redirected his mission from leading soldiers to lifting those who needed a second chance.
High began working with Pathfinders, a Fort Worth nonprofit dedicated to helping families and veterans achieve self-sufficiency. He started as a job developer and rose to mentor coordinator, shaping the organization’s culture for over two decades.
His focus often falls on people facing the steepest challenges: poverty, incarceration and criminal records.
At Tarrant County’s Green Bay Jail, he leads classes for incarcerated veterans and helps them develop employability skills. His employability report tool reframes tough conversations with employers, encouraging veterans to be up front about their past while focusing on their readiness to move forward.
In one session, he recalled, 17 of 20 veterans with criminal records found jobs within two weeks.
“It’s a game changer,” High said.
Randall High shows off his helmet in his office at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8235 on Aug. 15, 2025, in southwest Fort Worth. (Mary Abby Goss | Fort Worth Report)
High also helped write Pathfinders’ mentor training handbook, standardizing tools like resume packets and interview strategies. Whether volunteers are seasoned professionals or former mentees returning to give back, his goal has been to ensure they lead with both empathy and practicality.
Those who work alongside High describe him as tireless.
Pathfinders volunteer Gina Hurd has seen it firsthand for more than a decade.
“It’s not a job for him,” Hurd said. “He cares about people. He goes above and beyond to make sure the community is taken care of.”
Hurd called him a father figure to some and a model of patience and respect to all. Watching his impact, she said, has encouraged her to keep mentoring.
“Working with Randall and watching how he impacts people encourages me to continue to be a mentor,” she said.
Pathfinders CEO Kathryn Arnold met High over 20 years ago.
“I was struck by his compassion, his care for people in need,” Arnold said. “He has a heart of gold.”
Randall High shows a coin gifted to him in his office at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8235 on Aug. 15, 2025, in southwest Fort Worth. (Mary Abby Goss | Fort Worth Report)
Arnold said High has worked closely with single mothers transitioning out of the welfare system, helping them believe in themselves and create brighter futures for their children.
“It’s heartwarming to watch those relationships bloom and the encouragement that he provides those women who are working hard to create a better future for themselves and their families,” Arnold said.
Randall High
Age: 67
Military service: U.S. Army
Occupation: Mentor coordinator at Pathfinders and post commander
Education: Graduated from Central Texas College
Family: One son, Kirk High
Most important lesson learned in the military: “Training propels individuals beyond their perceived limits, forging mental resilience and composure under pressure. These strengths prove vital in both combat and challenges in civilian life.”
The program pairs each client with a mentor. High recruits and trains volunteers. Together, staff, mentor and client build action plans that foster long-term independence.
“He has changed so many lives in Tarrant County,” Arnold said. “Not just the parents he works with, but their kids. Their futures are now brighter because of the changes their parents are making.”
Arnold added that she might not be where she is today without him. It was High who first told her about the Pathfinders CEO opening two decades ago.
“I’m so grateful that Randall introduced me to Pathfinders, because it’s been one of the greatest pleasures of my life to serve in this role,” she said.
Beyond Pathfinders, High serves as commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8235, where he fosters camaraderie among veterans of all ages and backgrounds.
For him, the accolades and awards matter less than the human transformations he witnesses, moments when someone once lost begins to believe in themselves again.
“I just want to help people move forward,” High said. “That’s the mission.”
Orlando Torres is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report.
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