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"Noted Notables"


category : Famous People
Mangum was the boyhood home of Wilbanks Smith, an outstanding football player and wrestler. He and Mangum High School classmate, Dale Holderman, competed at the collegiate level for Oklahoma A&M, a school known today as Oklahoma State University.

As a wrestler, Wilbanks helped teammate, Gene Nicks, earn the NCAA heavyweight Championship. In football, he earned notoriety as the perpetrator of the "Johnny Bright Incident." This event, with its overtones of racism and poor sportsmanship, was the subject of the 1952 Pulitzer Prize winner in photojournalism. His actions were, presumably, directed by the coaching staff, but Wilbanks Smith courageously accepted full responsibility. After graduation, he embarked upon a successful career in engineering and community service.


Come visit us in Mangum, Oklahoma

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Old Pioneer Hall of Fame

On the grounds of the Museum is the Old Pioneer Hall of Fame to honor the Pioneers who were in this area before 1907. Their picture and history are carved in Pink Granite stone and is unique, as there is none other like it in this country. By 1986, there were 160

Mangum, OK Halls of Fame



Mangum Library & Genealogy Center - WPA

The Native stone building was built in 1936 and was a WPA project. The stone was dug from the ground and hauled in by teams and wagons, each piece of stone was cut by hand by the laborers and put into place.

Mangum, OK Historic Buildings


Things to do Famous People near Mangum, OK

"Noted Notables"

Mangum was the boyhood home of Wilbanks Smith, an outstanding football player and wrestler. He and Mangum High School ...