story by Rayne Sherman
Tom Mangus and his wife, Heather
– Courtesy of the family
Tom Mangus of Marengo, Ohio, is the new Tie-Down Roping Director for the Mid States Rodeo Association (MSRA). This is his first year to serve on the association’s board. One of Tom’s goals as director is to see more uniformity in the calves at the rodeos. “I know cattle prices are high right now, but I’d like to get the cattle the best we can because that’s our only fair shot at competing,” said Tom.
Tom grew up in Leetonia which is in eastern Ohio. His mother, Kay, grew up with horses and involved her children, Tom, Jason and Kathaleen, in 4H. They showed western pleasure and progressed to the speed events when they were older. The family attended the annual Fourth of July rodeo at Hoppel’s Arena in Lisbon, Ohio, and it was through the Hoppel family that Tom first learned about rodeo. Tom and Jason were both four year members of the Ohio High School Rodeo Association. Tom competed in tie-down roping and team roping. After high school Jason quit rodeoing, but Tom continued in the sport as a member of the MSRA and the International Professional Rodeo Association. Tom now focuses on tie-down roping, though he still occasion-
ally competes as a header in team roping. He tried steer wrestling, but after sustaining a couple of injuries including a broken arm, he decided it was not the event for him. Since joining the MSRA, Tom has qualified for the Mid States Finals Rodeo three times. He was also a member of the Central States Rodeo Association and qualified for its finals where he won the tie-down roping average.
Tom competes on an 11-year-old gelding named Joe that he purchased last summer. “Joe is a little green, he needs seasoning, but he’s going to finish out to be a pretty nice horse. He’s quiet, easy to rope on, stops hard, pulls and works a lot of rope. Occasionally the crowd gets to him and he doesn’t work as well,” said Tom.
This past September Tom and his wife, Heather, celebrated their first anniversary. The couple met at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, five years ago. Heather competes in barrel racing and the couple is hoping to get to as many rodeos as they can this year. Tom attended the Oklahoma State Horse Shoeing School and was a full time farrier for 13 years. Two years ago Tom took a job as a used car salesman and continues to shoe horses part time.
