Michael Ray "Mickey" Mangham

Michael Ray "Mickey" Mangham died at his home in Lafayette, on Thursday, September 16, 2010.
He is survived by his wife, Melinda Waller Mangham, his daughter, Elizabeth Morgan Mangham of Baton Rouge, his sister, Molly Mangham Douglass, and her husband, George Douglass, of Slidell, his brother in law, Father Stephen J. Waller of Dallas, Texas, his nieces Molly D. Hadden and her husband, Corky, of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Melissa D. Steiner and her husband, Jerry, of Metairie, and Michelle D. Tyler and her husband, Doug, of New Orleans, and great-nieces Margaret Hadden, Jordan and Hannah Tyler, great-nephews John and William Hadden and Jake Tyler, and his caregiver, Annie Belle Shelvin. He considered so many close friends as family and cherished them. You know who you are.
Mickey was preceded in death by his parents, Francis Ray and Louise Ratliff Mangham, his in-laws, Morgan Howard and Elizabeth Bowen Waller, his aunt, Doris "Tottie" Ratliff and his canine companions, Boy, Harvey and The Judge.
A distinguished oil and gas attorney and community leader, Mickey, first earned region wide recognition as an Academic All American end on the LSU Tigers 1958 National Championship Team. Forever known as the "man who caught the pass" in the 1959 Sugar Bowl, Mickey, in a state famous for its political and business divisions, carved out a successful career that cut across those divisions.
Having turned down scholarships to Dartmouth, Rice University, and the Naval Academy to attend LSU's Petroleum Engineering School, Mickey was an unlikely legend as a walk-on for the football team. A founding member and former president of the Tiger Athletic Foundation and an inductee in the LSU Hall of Distinction, Mickey took great pride in the Purple and Gold. While at LSU, he served as Assistant Law Librarian at the Hebert Law Center and as a LSU Graduate Assistance Football Coach from 1963-1965. As a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, he received the special designation of LifeLoyal Sig. Earning degrees from the College of Engineering and the Paul M Hebert Law Center, Mickey served with distinction on various professional organizations throughout his life. Cutting his political teeth as a Jaycee, Mickey involved himself in countless elections from local school boards to races for US Senate and the White House. With an unyielding belief in democracy, he was a true patriot.
Mickey was selected to play in the Blue Gray Game (1961); Hula Bowl (1961); to All-American Scholastic Football Teams (1958, 1959, 1960); served on LSU Student Government as Representative of College of Engineering (1960-61); was a member of the Governing Board, Student Bar Association and Moot Court Program (1063-65); served as President of Omicron Delta Kappa (1963-65); named Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities; served on Shreveport Bar Association Board of Directors and chaired the Judicial Relations Committee; served on the Louisiana State Bar Association House of Delegates (1978-1980); served on Board of United Fund Shreveport (1976-80); served on Shreve Memorial Library Board of Trustees (1970-80); served on LSU Athletic Council (1978-1981); was a member of the Rotary Club of Shreveport and the Rotary Club of Lafayette; served on the Academy of the Sacred Heart, Grand Coteau, LA, Advisory Board of Trustees; was a regular speaker at LSU Mineral Institute; served on Board of Directors for the Shreveport and Lafayette Chambers of Commerce; was a member of Advisory Board of LSU Junior Division; served as member and team leader for American Inns of Court, Acadiana Chapter; served as Chairman of the Lafayette Tollway Commission; and represented most of the major pipeline companies in the United States and most of the intra-state pipelines in Louisiana.
Never a man to turn a blind eye or a deaf ear, rarely did he utter a harsh word (unless against Ole Miss or Tulane). Mickey encompassed all that is good and right with human nature. He was everybody's All-American. He may be a legend on the football field, but he is forever in our hearts and memories as one of the good guys. A prince of a man.
Visitation in Lafayette was observed at Martin & Castille's DOWNTOWN Lafayette location on Friday, September 17, 2010, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and will continue today, Saturday, September 18, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. until time of services. Services will be at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 18, 2010 with visiting afterward at the Mangham home.
Pallbearers are Frank Akin, Bill Braniff, Bill Brown, George Douglass, Ronnie Foreman, David Hardy, Vic Marcello, and Frank Miller. Honorary Pall Bearers are Coach Paul Dietzel and the 1058 LSU National Championship Team.
Visitation in Shreveport will be on Sunday, September 19, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and will continue on Monday, September 20, 2010, from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at Osborne Funeral Home. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. at Church of the Holy Cross Episcopal at 875 Cotton Street.
Pallbearers are Jimmy Allen, Don Kelly, Bubba Rasberry, Fred Sexton, Bill Townsend, and Don Walter.
In lieu of flowers, the Mangham family requests donations to the Tiger Athletic Foundation Academic Scholarship in honor of Mickey Mangham, PO Box 711, Baton Rouge, LA, 70821; LSU Foundation/Honors College, LSU, 205 French House, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803; Academy of the Sacred Heart, PO Box 310, Grand Coteau, LA, 70541, or a charity of your choice.
View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com
Martin & Castille-DOWNTOWN, 330 St. Landry St., Lafayette, LA 70506, 337-234-2311