Lost a great Tiger

RIP

RIP Mr. Mickey. :(

RIP

Mickey

Hopefully he and Nelson Stokely (passed in June) will be honored this Saturday.

Mick was a close friend. I do not know of any other person I have ever met in my life that was more likeable or had more integrity. Mickey was LSU's first academic All American. Mickey had Louisiana roots but grew up in Maryland. After graduating from high school he had scholarhip offers at Dartmouth, the Naval Academy and Rice. He chose instead to come to LSU as a walk on. In his sophmore year he started on the White team and LSU won the national championship. He caught the 9 yard pass thrown by Billy Cannon in the 1959 Sugar Bowl to defeat Clemson 7-0.
He went on to student coach at LSU after receiving his degree in Petroleum engineering and later graduated from LSU law school. He was a successful oil and gas lawyer in Lafayette and served as President of the Tiger Athletic Foundation. He was intrumental in establishing the non athletic schlorship program funded by the athletic department. The Tiger Nation has lost a great and faithful servant. I have lost a good friend and mentor. This in indeed a sad day for the Tiger Nation.

My first game in Tiger Stadium was the 1959 Haloween Game. That is when I became a Tiger Fan. Many years later while working for a Houston Texas pipeline company I had the occasion to visit Mickey Mangum at his office. He gave me his personal four tickets for a LSU-Texas A&M Football Game. (Upper Deck 50 yard line actually). He also gave me his parking tickets which were "sweet". (Three spaces down from the Governors parking space.)

Mickey was one of my true heroes. I recall that as I shook his hand I noticed his college ring and on the side of it was "1958 National Champions". When I noticed it I remember getting chills all over realizing that I was in the presence of a true legend. I learned later that some of my relatives were also relatives of his back in Choushatta. A year or so later my mother and brother were killed in an auto accident. When my father and I attended the funeral we noticed a large bouquet of flowers sent from Mickey's law firm. But what I shall remember the most was that Mickey himself was present as well.

I must admit as I set here tonight, I am actually crying. Thank you and Rest in Peace Mickey

Tom

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RIP Mr. Mickey. :(

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Remembering Dad and his friends talking about him. RIP.