PAFRA: Tim Vaughn

PAFRA

Tim Vaughn

This page was last updated on: 21 June, 2008

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Hometown: Iola, KS

Branch of Service: U. S. Air Force

Duty Status: Active Duty Spouse

Home of Record: Edgewood, NM

Timothy (Tim) James Vaughn was born July 16, 1972 in Creve Coure, MO. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to a small farm just outside of Iola, Kansas where he was raised. He grew up riding and roping and became a proficient heeler. He was a member of 4-H, the FFA, and the NHSRA and graduated from Iola Senior High School in May of 1990. Sadly, this marked the end of his roping career for several years.

After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U. S. Air Force in October of that same year. He attended Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. Following basic training, he attended Technical Training School at Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Illinois, to become an Aircraft Electrical and Environmental Systems Technician. After that training, he was stationed at Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where he worked on F-15’s.

Seven years after completing his Air Force commitment, he was in Wichita, Kansas, when he met the love of his life, 1st Lieutenant (at the time) Korey Beth Watkins. She was stationed there in Wichita at McConnell AFB. They were married on September 14, 2001… just three days after the tragedies of September 11.

In 2002, they moved to Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada. That November, Tim was in a serious head-on car collision. He shattered and dislocated his right elbow, broke his nose, cracked several ribs, and still has bone chips floating around in his right ankle. While in rehabilitation for his elbow, his father, Russ, suggested that swinging a rope would promote good range of motion therapy. Since his high school graduation twelve years earlier, Tim had rarely ridden a horse, much less swung a rope! Using a rope during therapy reminded Tim how much he loved team roping. After many years of being away from rodeo, twirling the rope allowed Tim to return to his roots. He has been roping ever since!

In 2004, Tim and Korey were stationed at McGuire AFB in Wrightstown, New Jersey. It is odd to think that New Jersey would be a place to stimulate a team roping career. However, consistent practice, a lot of jackpot experience, and even some East Coast (First Frontier Circuit) PRCA rodeos got his roping career moving again. He finally discovered and joined PAFRA for the 2007 season.

In the Fall of 2007, Tim followed Korey to her station at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Once there, they decided to live outside of the city in the small town of Edgewood, New Mexico. Tim was so eager to be back “out West” that he found a roping arena before they had even settled on a house! He is now working at a local feed and tack shop called Western Mercantile. He certainly has “roping fever” and has managed to arrange his work schedule to ensure he can get off of work and to the roping pen before it gets too dark! He is very excited to be roping in New Mexico where the various jackpots truly make it a Land of Enchantment.

Events: Team Roping: Heading & Heeling, Chute Doggin'