If you asked anyone about Mansfield, Texas in the 60s, 70s or 80s, they would have mentioned the Kow Bell Indoor Rodeo. Mansfield, a small rural community southeast of Ft.Worth, was a popular stopping place for cowboys and cowgirls. The land on former U.S. Highway 287, now Business 287, was the place to go for an indoor rodeo experience.
William H. (Bill) Hogg
William H. (Bill) Hogg, a lifetime resident of Mansfield, opened the Kow Bell Indoor Rodeo in 1959. Rodeos were held each Saturday night, year-round. The Arena was built originally with an open roof and a canvas top that could be lowered for shelter during inclement weather.
Bill Hogg died in 1961. In the following years, January Hogg (Bill's widow) married Jack Ratjen and they added a permanent roof to the arena and continued operating the Rodeo.
Closure & Property Sale
The Kow Bell Rodeo closed and the property was sold to the Mansfield Independent School District (MISD) in 2004. Because of Mansfield's fast population growth, MISD administrators purchased the historic location to build the district's fourth high school. After clearing land and deciding on blueprints, newly hired principal, David Wright, formed a committee to create the school's name and mascot. Legacy fit perfectly. Broncos fit even better. In June of 2006, committee members chose red and black as the colors. Legacy High School was turned over to MISD in June of 2007 by the builder and school started, with over 2,100 students, on August 27, 2007.
