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After accident, Missoula man finds time to make his inventions a reality – Mazdog Archery

Back in 1999, Rory Minjares thought he had his life all mapped out.

He had a great-paying job with Montana Power Co. doing field work he liked, and he was married to his best friend, Theresa. The pair talked about raising a family.

That year he and Theresa met with a financial planner to make their dreams possible. The planner was so impressed with the couple’s fiscal organization, he told Minjares and his wife that if they maintained their course, they could have children and still retire at age 50.
"Life was set," said Minjares, 36. "We knew where we were going."

Fate, however, had other things in mind. Little did Minjares know that nearly one year later a misstep in a work-related accident would turn his life upside down.

His left leg would be so crushed and painful, Minjares would opt for amputation below the knee. Recovery would be so slow and frustrating, he couldn’t return to his job. The Big Sky High School graduate and former Army soldier would become a stay-at-home father to his newborn son, then take a gamble on finding new skills at the University of Montana’s College of Technology http://www.cte.umt.edu/ .

Throughout all the turmoil, his wife, his baby boy and his extended family would give him so much hope and love, his life would become more wonderful than he could imagine.

"This horrible accident," Minjares said, "became a blessing."

Out of crisis comes opportunity, and Minjares found himself free to think about creating and developing inventions; to do the things he always dreamed about but never dared to do in his previous, planned life.

Under the guidance and encouragement of COT instructors, Minjares signed up for a two-year program in business management and entrepreneurship.

By the time he graduates in May, his visions will be reality.

These days, his first invention, the "Rippod," is patent pending. Minjares expects the lightweight monopod for compound-bow hunters will be sold at regional archery stores as early as midsummer and across the West by fall.

Rory T. Minjares

Mazdog Archery – http://mazdog.com/

Cell # 406-360-4857

[email protected]

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2005/03/14/news/local/news02.txt

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