Barney was born and raised in Hico, Texas and grew up in Stephenville, Texas.  He earned both a Batchelors degree and Masters Degree at Texas A&M University. 

He served his country during WWII and landed just after DDay on the Normandy beaches and fought under General George S. Patton and in the Battle of the Bulge.  After liberating France and Belgium, he stayed in the Army in Germany to guard captured SS troops and rebuild Europe.

He was the first Aggie to score a rushing touchdown in Austin at the War Memorial Stadium and served as the long time director of Intramurals at A&M. He was the only person in the Southwest Conference to be a football player, coach and official. 

He was a top Southwest Conference referee for 30 years and ran the clock at Kyle Field for over 15 years. 

Barney's ability to love others was his greatest character trait.  Barney nursed his first wife for many years until her passing. He remarried, Pauline Martin Welch, in what became the greatest love story of all.  They were inseparable and demonstrated true, unconditional love thru 18 years of marriage and his last two years in the hospice.