Recognizing and Informing the Volunteers and Supporters of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
A salute to the living past presidents of the Show…and the impact they’ve had on today’s success.
MAGAZINE
August 1995—Vol III, No. 3
Magazine CommitteeOfficer in Charge
Bill T. Teague
ChairmanPeter A. Ruman
Vice Chairmen/Committee Editors
Bill BarrettBill Booher
Copy EditorNancy Leverett
Editorial BoardRoy Elledge Jr.Suzanne EppsGrover KelleyJohn Murphy
Marshall R. Smith IIIStephen Stepinoff
ReportersSamuel N. Allen
Nancy BurchYahsmine Catli-Cowan
Deborah DahlkeCheryl Dorsett
Amy GlassFreeman GregoryWhitney Horton
Ann JacobsBeth JohnsonMark Jones
Charlotte KirkLarry Levy
Pamela MaloneMelissa ManningElise Oppmann
Beverly RosenbaumSundra Spears
Design/LayoutPegasus Design, Inc.
PhotographerSam Pierson
Magazine StaffManagement Coordinator
Leroy Shafer
Production EditorJohnnie Hendon
Staff Coordinator/EditorTeresa Padgett
PhotographerFrank Martin, D.V.M.
Cover Photo Sam Pierson
Houston Livestock Show and RodeoExecutive Committee
Joseph T. Ainsworth, M.D. Jim Bloodworth Allen H. CarruthDick Graves Hal Hillman Don D. JordanH. Stuart Lang Jr. Louis M. Pearce Jr. John O. SmithClayton Underwood Tommie Vaughn P. Michael Wells
James M. Windham Jr.
Lifetime Member - Executive CommitteeDouglas B. Marshall
Chairman of the BoardDick Graves
PresidentDon D. Jordan
First Vice PresidentJim Bloodworth
OfficersJerry Johnston Andrew John T. Cook George A. DeMontrond IIIC.R. “Bob” Devine Wayne Hollis Jr. Jim JankeJohn J. Montalbano Kenneth C. Moursund David E. Mouton, M.D.Tom R. Northrup Paul G. Somerville Lodie Stapleton
Bill T. Teague
General ManagerDan A. Gattis
Volume III, Issue 3, is published by the HoustonLivestock Show and Rodeo, Copyright 1995. Letters and
comments should be sent to: Marketing Department, Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo, P.O. Box 20070, Houston, Texas 77225-0070.
TABLE OF CONTENTSA Message From Our Chairman and President ———————1Features
1995 Financial Report ——————————————— 2Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’ ——————————————— 4Ferris Wheels and Fun Bring Success————————— 6Success From A Long Line of Leaders ———————— 8Rodeo Secretary… And a Whole Lot More —————— 10Strait to the Top—————————————————— 11Saying Good-Bye ————————————————— 12The “First” Ever—————————————————— 13A Look at the New Vice Presidents ————————— 14
Committee SpotlightsAg Education Tour Guide Committee ———————— 16Corporate Development Committee ————————— 17Jr. Commercial Steer Feeding and Management Contest Committee ———————————————— 18Safety Committee ————————————————— 19
Executive Committee PortraitDouglas B. Marshall ———————————————— 20
Staff ProfileMarketing and Presentations Department——————— 21
Calendar of Events —————————————— Back Cover
MAGAZINE,
he headline hasn’t changed much from last year:“Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Experiences BestYear Ever!”. The auditors are finished with the books
and the story is still a great one. The Show’s revenues, rev-enues over expenses, total contributions and educationalsupport are up. It doesn’t sound that much different from1994. Or 1993.
What the headlines can’t say is that our revenues of $33million represent an increasing support from all segmentsof the community. Go Tejano Day was, once again, our mosthighly attended performance, and Black Heritage Day drewlarge crowds. Urban and rural patrons alike enjoyed theextra attractions we added this year: the World of CattleExhibit, the Country Music Midway, the improved carni-val, the expanded petting zoos and more.
However, on March 4, Show leadership was saying, “Yes,we had an incredible year. What can we improve for ‘96?”Corporate supporters and volunteers were already planningfor an even better next year.
This attitude, from volunteers, community supporters,members, management and staff, is essential to the contin-uing success of the Show. The Houston Livestock Showand Rodeo is competing for a share of the entertainmentdollar in one of the most exciting cities in the world. We’refacing other concerts, sporting events, television, computerchat lines and everything else someone could be doinginstead of attending our Show.
We have a unique advantage, however. We’re still unlikeanything else this city, or any other, has to offer. We aretruly family entertainment, we provide an unequaled edu-cational experience and there’sstill that allure to dressing like acowboy for a week or two.There’s no other place to see thelikes of Reba McEntire, GeorgeStrait or Clint Black after an
evening of world-class rodeo action.And, unlike the movies or the Internet or the hundreds of
television channels now available, the Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo is contributing more than $5.5 millionthis year alone to Texas boys and girls for their educationsand as rewards for their hard work with their animals.
More than $4 million of that goes directly for scholar-ships, endowments to colleges and universities, researchprojects and various agricultural programs. We’re financingthe leaders of tomorrow, and that’s not a cliché. It’s nearly400 high school students starting college for the first timethis month because 1.8 million people agreed that we havethe best entertainment value anywhere.
Let’s take a moment to look at the financial report in thisissue and savor our success. There should be at least 11,000people out there patting themselves on the back right now.What a phenomenal job all of you volunteers did.
And let’s thank our neighbors, friends and business asso-ciates for their support. No matter how big this Show gets,we’re still an important part of our community. In theHouston area alone, 117 students each received a $10,000scholarship this summer. Houstonians, in return, support-ed us by purchasing rodeo and livestock show tickets, auc-tion animals and souvenir program ads, by attending ourHouston Metro Go Texan activities, by putting our postersin their windows, by promoting our Show on their televi-sion and radio stations and in their newspapers, and somuch more.
Our goal for 1996 is to be better: more entertaining, moreexciting, more educational. The financial report from the
1995 Show is impressive, but it’sthe people, the heart and thedrive behind the numbers thatwill ensure that we keep readingthat same old headline.
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A M E S S A G E F R O M O U R C H A I R M A N A N D P R E S I D E N T
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D I C K G R A V E SC H A I R M A N O F T H E B O A R D
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ust a few short monthsago, several buildingsand an enormous
parking lot were transformed into agenuine Western extravaganza at the63rd annual Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo. On a mere 31acres, more than 1.8 million men,women and children, plus a multi-tude of livestock, gathered to create astate of excitement, energy and edu-cational opportunities for thousandsof Texas youth—our future leaders.
This magical reality—created bymore than 11,000 volunteers, joinedwith junior and professional live-stock exhibitors, entertainmentattractions and vendors—material-ized into the largest turnout ever forattendance. From all four corners ofthe compass, people united to par-ticipate in the special attractions aswell as the 20 rodeo performancesinside the Astrodome.
For the past eight years, theexcitement for this unrivaled eventhas led to increased general atten-dance and rodeo attendance. Youngpeople from across the state ofTexas brought their animals andhopes of placing high in theshowring. Commercial breederscame to improve their stock andbusinesses. Rodeo performers com-peted for championship recogni-tion in Houston, the place to makea mark in their profession. Add tothis the consistent draw of top-quality entertainers. This is themarvelous mixture which bringsspectators full of energy who wantto experience wholesome familyfun and entertainment.
Over the same period, revenuesover expenses also have increased.And because the root of the Showextends far beyond exhibitors, volun-teers, contestants and entertainers, this
is essential. It is the youth of Texaswho reap the benefits of the Show’scontinued success. Millions of dollarsannually are awarded to students. Infact, the educational commitment forthe 1995-96 school year exceeds $4
million. Whether a direct scholarshipto an individual, assistantships forgraduate students, an endowed schol-arship or a grant for a research project,the revenues of today are aninvestment in tomorrow.
1 9 9 5 F I N A N C I A L R E P O R T
JStory byLarry Levy
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1994 1995Revenues $ 29,838,942 $ 33,159,391Expenses 17,378,491 19,579,470
Revenue Over Expenses $ 12,460,451 $ 13,579,921
CONTRIBUTIONS(For The Year Ending April 30)
1994 1995
Junior Show Contributions *1 $ 3,685,011 $ 3,916,059Scholarships and graduate assistantships 2,798,179 3,016,255Endowments to colleges and universities 430,000 455,000Research and other agricultural programs 415,951 629,359
*2 Total Contributions $ 7,329,141 $ 8,016,673Guaranteed and additional premiums, and calf scramble awards.
Except for junior show contributions, contributions represent educational and agricultural program support providedfrom the previous year's Show's revenue over expenses. Revenue over expenses from the 1995 Show will bedistributed during the 1996-97 year.
*1
*2
REVENUE
EXPENSE
33
31
29
27
25
23
21
19
17
15
13
11
9
71986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
YEAR
$ M
ILLI
ON
S
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHT(For The Year Ending April 30)
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Ne
t: R
eve
nu
e O
ver
Exp
en
se
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995YEAR
$14,000,000
$12,000,000
$10,000,000
$ 8,000,000
$ 6,000,000
$ 4,000,000
$ 2,000,000
0
10-YEAR FINANCIAL HISTORY
FFA SCHOLARSHIPS – 50 four-year, $10,000 each $ 500,0004-H SCHOLARSHIPS – 50 four-year, $10,000 each $ 500,000METROPOLITAN SCHOLARSHIPS – 114 four-year, $10,000 each $ 1,140,000AREA GO TEXAN SCHOLARSHIPS
20 one-year, $2,500 each $ 50,00031 two-year, $5,000 each $ 155,0008 four-year, $10,000 each $ 80,000
GO TEJANO HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIPS – 104 awards $ 175,000SCHOOL ART CONTEST SCHOLARSHIPS $ 68,505MISCELLANEOUS SCHOLARSHIPS (including graduate assistantships and junior college awards) $ 347,750RESEARCH AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS $ 629,359ENDOWMENTS $ 455,000
TOTAL EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT $ 4,100,614
1994-1995 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Educational Commitments(as of April 30, 1995)
10-YEAR ATTENDANCE HISTORY
MIL
LIO
N A
TTEN
DEE
S
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
YEAR
1986 – 1995
General:61%
increase
Rodeo:95%increase
1.9
1.7
1.5
1.3
1.1
.9
.7
.5
GENERAL ATTENDANCE
RODEO ATTENDANCE
1986 – 1995
Net:301%increase
F E A T U R E
entlemen’s bets areplaced and littleones lean toward
the railing anticipating the vibrationof the horses galloping past. Thestarter whistle sounds, and theteams are off. From the initial chal-lenging barrel turn, clouds of dustare left behind as they race twicearound the Astrodome floor charg-ing toward the finish. The enthusi-astic audience cheers as the judgecalls the winner.
One of the most popular events atthe Show, the chuck wagon racesrun after the last bull ride, whilestage crews ready the stage for theconcert performance.
A team of four mixed-Shetlandponies and thoroughbreds pull asmall one-seat chuck wagon twicearound the dome floor racing at
speeds up to 30 miles per hour.Although chuck wagon racing inmost of the United States is strictlyfor exhibition and “heckling” rights,30-year veteran chuck wagon racer,Dennis MacGillivray, explained thestakes are very different elsewhere.
During the professional chuckwagon circuit, more than 200 racerscompete for prize purses and adver-tising endorsements. Prize money inCheyenne,Wyo., reaches $100,000,while in Calgary, Alberta, Canada,the purse is $350,000. In Canada,professional chuck wagon racersalso are celebrities, much like ourprofessional cowboys.
Drivers of the full-sized wagonsuse thoroughbred horses and runtwo wagons per race down five-eighths-mile tracks. In theAstrodome the exhibition races are
able to run three wagons, because ofthe immense size of the arena andthe miniature wagons.
During the winter, the six-mantraveling chuck wagon racingteams perform exhibitions at manyof the largest rodeos in the countryincluding Houston, Denver andFort Worth. MacGillivray said,“The crowds are always greatwherever we go. They cheer us on.In Houston, the crowds are very knowledgeable.”
Chuck wagon driver Brian Brittonagreed that whether in Fort Worth orHouston, the crowds are alwayscheering the racers onward.
MacGillivray, pictured inFebruary, 1969, on the front page ofthe Houston Chronicle credits thepresenters for bringing the racesback and exposing the sport yearafter year. He credits the crowds andenthusiasm of this “great show” forkeeping up the momentum.
MacGillivray admits that there aredangers to chuck wagon racing. Thisyear, fellow racer Ed Jackson sepa-rated his shoulder during one of theearlier performances, but the racersdownplay the danger.
“There are rules to govern races,and we are professionals. We knowwhat we are doing.” Like other horseracing sports, teams and driversspend hours training and practicingbefore racing.
Unwritten rules in Houstonrequire that the lead driver movehis team to the outside portion ofthe track, giving up the inside laneso that the other teams can catchup. However, the goal of the raceis still to win. During a profes-
R O L L I N ’ , R O L L I N ’ , R O L L I N ’
GStory byWhitneyHorton
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Even in the lead, a chuck wagon driver finds time to glance at the competition toensure a safe race.
Sam
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sional race, a driver would nevergive up the coveted inside track.
There also is a fair amount ofcamaraderie and tradition amongchuck wagon racers. MacGillivary’sson Layne is following in his father’scareer path as a member of his racingteam. Brian Britton of Aberdeen,Saskatchewan, has been drivingchuck wagons for 16 years and iscontinuing the tradition begun by hisfather Jim, who raced for 16 years.
MacGillivray does not know howhe got into the business. “It is notsomething you decide to do, I guessI was just always around it.”
Other chuck wagon driversinclude Rory McDonald and JoeHalerewich. Presenters of theraces at the 1995 Show were:Bank United, FM 100 KILTRadio, Kroger, McDonald’s, I.W.Marks Jewelers andRandalls Food Markets.
5
Tight turns around the Astrodome floor make the chuck wagon races anexciting event at every rodeo performance.
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In the days of the Old West and life on the frontier, the chuck wagon, often called the “mess wagon,”was basically a traveling cafeteria for cowboys on the range. It harbored the “chuck,” otherwise knownas the “grub” (spuds, flour, sugar, coffee, and beans) as well as the cooking supplies.
Invented by pioneer rancher Charles Goodnight, the chuck wagon was the heart of the cow outfit.After a grueling day in the hot sun, the chucks would be pulled around a campfire, where the smell ofdelicious food consumed the campsite. This canvas-topped, sturdy vehicle was a locker room, post officeand social club.
The first to leave the ranch or the campground, the wagonwas always driven by the camp cook—often the most impor-tant guy in any cattle outfit. His domain was the chuckwagon. He cooked and cleaned, and what he said around thechuck wagon was “law.” But when it came time to pack upthe chuck wagon and head into town or to the next site, theanticipation of the trip sent excitement and anxiety amongthe wagon drivers.
For quite a long time, traveling back and forth was boringand tedious. That is, until the rugged cowboys decided torace their wagons. The last to arrive was to pay for the “firstround” at the town saloon. This tradition is perhaps what unofficially started the “rangeland derby.”Traveling became more than just a journey, it was now a competition between the chuck wagon driversto see “who could get there first.”
This friendly rivalry has transformed into a unique and lucrative sport which millions of peopleenjoy, and has become a signature event at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Western H
istory Collection, U
niversity of Oklahom
a Library
he company that hassuccessfully operatedthe carnival at the
Houston Livestock Show andRodeo for the past two years is RayCammack Shows (RCS).
RCS, under the direction of presi-dent and CEO Guy Leavitt and hiswife Charlene, is more than familyoriented–it’s family owned and oper-ated. But it’s the professional way inwhich the carnival is operated thathas made the partnership betweenthe Show and RCS so successful.
“We were looking for the best andsafest carnival operation we couldfind two years ago, and we foundthat with RCS,” said Skip Wagner,
assistant general manager of opera-tions. “We were able to negotiate along-term contract with them, andthat has allowed us to make plans
with the carnival that we weren’table to do in the past.”
Ray Cammack was the founder ofthis carnival, and two of his threedaughters worked in the businesswith him.
No stranger to the carnival busi-ness, Leavitt grew up working in acarnival operation owned by hisfather. He later went to work forRCS, then married the youngest ofCammack’s three daughters,Charlene. Together the young couplemanaged RCS for two years beforeCammack died in 1983. Leavitteventually bought his late father’sbusiness and merged it with RCS.
“People think kids raised in the
carnival business live a nomadiclifestyle, but I had never missed asingle day of school by the time Ientered the eighth grade,” Leavitt
said. “And that’s the way Charleneand I are raising our children.”
From their home base inPhoenix, Ariz., the Leavitt’s sixchildren, ranging in age from 9 to24, stay home with mom to attendschool during the week, and thenthe entire family joins dad at thecarnival on the weekends.
Each of the children has a role inthe carnival operation. For example,22-year-old Kimberly runs threegames and one food stand on theweekends and attends Arizona StateUniversity during the week. “Ourkids get to meet the public, which Ibelieve is invaluable,” Leavitt said.
RCS operates in 27 different citiesthroughout the year and runs a smallpark in Phoenix, which has six acresof rides and games.
Leavitt has a year-round staff of 88people, many of whom are 20-yearveterans of RCS, to handle the nucle-us of the business. They set up thecarnival, operate games and ridesand manage concessions. An addi-tional staff of 350 local people ishired to operate the carnival, han-dling everything from games andfood concessions to trash pick-up.All staff members are easily identi-fied by their clean RCS uniformsand caps, which give the carnival avery professional appearance.
RCS has 76 games, 52 rides(including 28 rides for small chil-dren) and 14 food concessions thatthey bring to the HoustonLivestock Show and Rodeo. Theytransport it to the Astrodome using86 trucks and 124 trailers. Eighteenemployees alone work in mainte-nance and safety, just to ensure thatall of this equipment is well-main-tained and safe.
And how does the set-up at theShow compare to other carnivalsthat RCS handles? Leavitt said it is
F E R R I S W H E E L S A N D F U N B R I N G S U C C E S S
Story by CharlotteKirk
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F E A T U R E
T✩
Skip Wagner and Guy Leavitt discuss daily operations of the carnival to ensureeverything runs smoothly.
Sam
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one of his top three. From start tofinish, Leavitt and his staff spendone month in Houston. It requires10 days to set up and seven days totear down.
The biggest challenge is devisingthe right layout to ensure that themore than 500,000 people who visitthe carnival can move smoothly.The carnival itself requires fiveacres of the Astrodome parking lot.
“Setting up a carnival this size isno easy task, but we’ve learnedthrough experience how to make itwork,” Leavitt said. “We have ac o m p l e t e A m e r i c a n s w i t hDisabilities Act program, so weinstall wheelchair ramps as well assigns for the hearing impaired.”
The carnival is vital to the Show,according to Wagner, bringing inmore than $1 million in revenue lastyear. As a result, having a partner-
ship with the carnival producer iscritical to its success.
“With RCS, we do have a truepartnership, and because RCS is sosuccessful, the Show is successful,”Wagner said. “We work together toselect the right mix of rides, gamesand food to make this carnival afamily-oriented attraction. We con-sider the carnival to be an asset tothe Show, not only because of thesignificant piece of revenue it gen-erates, but also because the lightsand the action set the right tone forthe entire Show. It’s the first thingpeople see when they drive up tothe Astrodome.”
For two years, advance ticketshave been sold through the Show’sCarnival Ticket Sales Committeeand at area grocery stores. Salesthrough those channels generatedmore than $340,000 in 1995. By
selling tickets ahead of time, theShow has been able to increase rev-enues and cut down on the lines atthe ticket booths.
According to Leavitt, “We reallymake an effort to make the groundsa safe place. For example, all ridesare marked with bright yellowstrips, and we pave over electricalwires and cables so people don’t tripor fall over them.
“We are certified by the TexasAmusement Park Inspector, whoinspects us annually. But it’s worthit to us to operate a safe and pro-fessional carnival,” Leavitt said.
“We are very proud to say that weoperate the Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo’s carnival.”
7
Even the smallest youngsters enjoy a ride on the carousel.
Sam
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Everyone enjoys winning great prizes from thecarnival’s unique games.
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T H E S H O W ’ S S U C C E S S …
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F E A T U R E
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Louis M. Pearce Jr.President 1967-1969• Renovations to the Astrohall added
four acres, allowing more space forlivestock and meeting rooms.
• Scholarship amounts were dou-bled, increasing from $2,000 to$4,000 each.
• The concept for what laterbecame the Lifetime Vice Presi-dents Committee was established.
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Tommie VaughnPresident 1973-1975• Building expansion program
worth $1.2 million providedoffices and more exhibit space.
• The Super Sale Salon—site ofmajor auctions—was constructed.
• The first World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest was held.
Sam
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Douglas B. MarshallPresident 1958-1960• Livestock exhibitors took home
more money than ever.• “The Show With a Heart” became
the Show’s slogan.• The Show decided to feature
more than one entertainer for theevent.
H. Stuart Lang Jr.President 1964-1966• The Show moved its location
from the Sam Houston Coliseumto the Astrodome complex.
• The School Art program wasestablished.
• The horse show was united withthe livestock show and moved tothe Astrohall facility.
ollowing are eight of the most experienced members of
this organization, who are directly responsible for the
present success of the Southwest’s largest and most pres-
tigious civic event. The phenomenal numbers and figures
reported in this issue are the result of years of vigilant
forethought, planning and loyal service on the part of
many people, including the living past presidents of the
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
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Allen H. CarruthPresident 1979-1981• The Directors’ Club and Tejas
Room were built.• Show records were broken in atten-
dance, livestock auction sales andticket sales.
• The Show presented a scholarshipendowment totaling $800,000.
Git
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Joseph T. AinsworthPresident 1985-1987• Show membership increased to
17,000.• Corporate sponsorships were
established for star performances.• General attendance exceeded
1 million.
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Hal HillmanPresident 1988-1990• The Show’s Metropolitan
Scholarship Program began.• The International Livestock
Congress was established.• The Show’s educational commit-
ment totaled more than $4 million.
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Dick GravesPresident 1991-1993• Four acres were added to the
Astroarena facility.• Four-year scholarships valued at
$8,000 each were raised to$10,000.
• The Show hosted the EconomicSummit Rodeo for internationalofficials and guests.
hese men are still members of the Show and active in
its development and continued expansion. They have
320 cumulative years of dedication and outstanding lead-
ership to the Show. All of our living past presidents are
lifetime members of the Show, and have served as a com-
mittee member, committee chairman, board member, vice
president, president, chairman of the board and
Executive Committee member.
T
fter the last bull riderhas hit the dirt, the firstperson he hopes to see
when the dust settles is Sunni DebBackstrom. A visit to Backstrommeans a trip to the bank. As theProfessional Rodeo CowboysAssociation’s (PRCA) premier rodeosecretary, she works all the biggestrodeos and cuts checks for about $3million in winnings each year.
Holed up in a windowless roomunder the south side of theAstrodome, Backstrom brings hertraveling office straight from SanAntonio to Houston every year to domore than just hand out more thanhalf a million dollars in prizemoney. Her activities also includeprocessing entry fees, checking incontestants as they arrive for eachperformance, calculating winnersand payoffs, creating the scoresheets used every night by the offi-cials, gathering these score sheets upafter each event and posting the standings.
It’s also Backstrom who calls thePRCA every day to get the cowboyand livestock match-ups, and thenanswers almost 75 phone calls from
cowboys wanting to know the ani-mals they’re scheduled to ride, aswell as what scores or times they’llneed in order to place.
“I’m the one person who workswith every single facet of the busi-ness—the rodeo committee, contes-tants, media, officials and stock con-tractors,” said Backstrom, who’sbeen handling the duties of rodeosecretary since she received herPRCA card in 1971 at age 13.
“‘Secretary’ really isn’t a goodword to describe everything I do.I’m more like a rodeo office admin-istrator. My work is more a lifestylethan a job.”
Although she’s been selectedPRCA Secretary of the Year for thelast five years, an honor chosen bythe top 100 cowboys in eachevent, Backstrom says her momEllen was the best rodeo secretaryever. A four-time National FinalsRodeo arena secretary, Ellen was arodeo secretary for 26 years. Sheworked Houston many timesbefore her death in 1988 and wasrecently inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
“I’ve been in rodeo since I was 3years old, and I will always be in therodeo business. I can’t see any otherlife,” said Backstrom, whose favoritepart of her lifestyle is the people shemeets. “We’re like a small commu-nity. You don’t see everybody everyweek, but you see them throughoutthe year. I know thousands of peo-ple, and I’ve been able to traveleverywhere and see a lot of things.”
Backstrom worked more than200 rodeo performances last yearand spent a total of only 37 days ather home in Arizona. But herfavorite performances are thosethat take place right here inHouston. Although she enjoysworking the Houston Rodeobecause it’s so organized, it’s also
one of the most challenging.“Houston probably has more pro-
duction than any other rodeo you’llgo to. It’s so big, and only the veryelite cowboys are here. There’snobody here who can’t rope or ridewell,” she explained. “The three go-round system here is unique. Itmeans a lot of additional work andextra drawing of stock. You’ve got tobe very careful because a contestantcan’t ride the same stock twice.Also, there’s no room for error here.The stock is kept 50 miles away, soI’ve got to provide the stock contrac-tor an accurate list every day to getthe right animals here.”
With all these responsibilities andchallenges, one thing should soonbe making Backstrom’s job easier.While in Houston this year, she test-ed a new computer system thePRCA hopes to implement soon atrodeos throughout the country.
“Up until very recently, we werepretty antiquated. There are almost800 rodeos each year and about 60secretaries, and we’re figuring allthis work by hand,” saidBackstrom, who admits she isn’tvery ‘computer smart’ but was upto the challenge anyway. “I’ve notbeen intimidated by 10,000 cow-boys, so that little machine isn’tgoing to intimidate me.”
Backstrom travels about 30,000miles on the ground and another5,000 in the air each year, and she’snever missed a performance shewas scheduled to work. “I oncehad an accident just before a per-formance that required 35 stitches,but I wouldn’t take a pain pillbecause I didn’t want it to interferewith my job. Another time, I brokemy arm at a performance one nightand was back from the hospital intime to write checks. I will drag mybroken body to the rodeo nomatter what.”
R O D E O S E C R E T A R Y … A N D A W H O L E L O T M O R E
AStory by Beth Johnson
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F E A T U R E
Rodeo secretary Sunni Deb Backstrom receivesminute-by-minute reports of contestants’ scoresand standings.
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F E A T U R E
t seems like a typicalnight at the 1995Houston Livestock
Show and Rodeo. The stage hasbeen moved into the middle of thearena, the road crew has sound test-ed the instruments and the lightshave been dimmed. Suddenly thecrowd starts screaming as the spot-light captures the long, lean cowboysitting comfortably astride a horse.He rides effortlessly to the stage asthe roar inside the Astrodomebecomes deafening.
Flash back 12 years to a similarnight. By all rights, the crowdshould have been screaming EddieRabbitt’s name. He was the sched-uled headlining entertainer, and theopening act was Rosanne Cash.Rabbitt had made it to Houston buthad fallen ill and could not performat the matinee and evening perfor-mances scheduled for that day. Cashcovered the matinee performancesolo, but the Show’s managementwanted to fulfill the commitment totheir customers who had paid to seetwo performers. The evening perfor-mance, though, was less than eighthours away....
E.C. “Dick” Weekley, then-generalmanager, and Dan Gattis, then-assis-tant general manager, ran into somegood fortune. That day, Weekley wasspeaking at a seminar, addressing agroup that included entertainmentbooking agents, and he mentionedRabbitt’s cancellation.
Sitting in the audience and listen-ing intently was Tony Conway, anagent who was helping to shape thecareer of a determined young singer,George Strait. As Weekley conclud-ed his presentation and made hisway back to Show grounds, Conwaywas beating his own path to a tele-phone to see if Strait was available.
Conway phoned the Strait ranchin San Marcos, Texas, and spoke to
Strait’s wife Norma. George washome, but he was somewhere ontheir ranch looking for the family’slost dog. While Norma started thesearch for her husband, Conwaylaunched his own quest to find themembers of the band. “What I didn’trealize was that when a band comeshome after a three-week concert run,they scatter in many different direc-tions,” Conway mused.
Conway’s next call was to Gattis totell him about Strait. “I remembersaying ‘Who in the world is GeorgeStrait?’” Gattis said. “Lori Renfrow,now our assistant manager whosigns all of the entertainers, was mysecretary at that time. She knewwhat was going on, and the onlything she said was ‘Get him! Gethim!’ She told me a little bit abouthim, and that he had a few goodsongs out including ‘Amarillo byMorning’ and ‘Marina Del Rey.’After realizing that Strait might be
our only solution, I went intoWeekley’s office and told him that Iwas almost certain we could get thisguy to fill Rabbit’s place.”
“Who in the world is GeorgeStrait?” Weekley said.
“He’s warm and breathing, and Ithink we can get him here in time fortonight’s performance,” Gattis replied.
Weekley quietly walked away.It was now 3 p.m. with a 7:45
show looming. Show ExecutiveCommittee member and past presi-dent Louis Pearce flew Strait and hisband into Houston on his privateplane. A police escort helped get thegroup to the Dome from the airportby 8:45, with no time to rehearse forthe 9:30 concert.
“After he got on stage,” Gattis said,“I thought ‘This kid is going to wakeup in the morning and think he hadthe craziest dream....looking for hisdog one minute, and singing in front
11
S T R A I T T O T H E T O P✩
IStory by
PamMalone
The singing cowboy, George Strait, has been entertaining crowds in theAstrodome for 12 years.
Fran
k M
arti
n
See STRAIT TO THE TOP on Page 12
Recently, the Show lost one of itslongtime friends, supporters and for-mer staff members. E. C. “Dick”Weekley, former Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo General Manager,died May 8, after a lengthy illness.
Weekley joined the Show’s staff in1961, served as the general managerfrom 1962 to 1984, and became a con-sultant to the organization in 1984.
“Mr. Weekley guided the Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo duringsome of its greatest periods of transi-tion and growth. Because of his ded-ication to the youngsters of Texas, hewas in large part responsible for theincredible growth of our scholarshipprogram and the success of ourShow,” said Dan Gattis, currentHouston Livestock Show and RodeoGeneral Manager.
When Weekley joined the organi-zation in 1961, the Show was givingaway two scholarships each year.When he retired in 1984, more than900 students were attending collegeon Show scholarships.
Weekley himself was proudest ofthis accomplishment and felt it con-tributed greatly to the Show’s success.“I’ve been repaid many times whenwe go to present scholarships and seethe gleam in the youngsters’ eyes, andhow much it means to them,” he saidat his retirement.
Under Weekley’s management,the Show moved from the SamHouston Coliseum to the Astrodomecomplex; built the Astrohall,Astroarena and joining structures;more than tripled the number oflivestock show entries; and grewfrom an organization that measuredits attendance in the thousands toone that measures its attendance in
the millions.Weekley was a native of Pearsall,
Texas, and attended Texas A&IUniversity (now Texas A&MUniversity at Kingsville). Hereceived both his bachelor’s andmaster’s degrees in agriculture, andserved as a U. S. Marine Corpsinfantry company commander dur-ing World War II.
He began his lifelong commitmentto the youth of Texas as a vocationalagriculture teacher in Lytle, Texas,then served as area supervisor on theTexas Education Agency staff fortwo years. Weekley became theexecutive secretary of the TexasAssociation of the Future Farmers ofAmerica, editor of the Texas FutureFarmers magazine and a consultantwith the Texas Education Agency.
Weekley worked with many civicorganizations and received count-less awards for his commitment toTexas youth.
He is survived by his wife Jane, fourchildren and eight grandchildren.
Weekley’s love for and dedica-tion to the young people of Texascontinues with his passing. Hisfamily requests that donations bemade in his name to the HoustonLivestock Show and RodeoEducational Fund.
S A Y I N G G O O D - B Y E
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F E A T U R E
of 35,000 people the next minute.’”While Strait was charming the
crowd in the arena, another prob-lem was brewing backstage.Because Strait was a “fill-in” enter-tainer, Cash’s management did notwant him riding in the same car asRoseanne for the final ride-aroundat the end of the Show. The stan-dard formality at the time was tohave both performers from a dou-ble-bill show ride away together.With such short notice, it was
impossible to find another vehicle.“Instead,” said Gattis, “we got ahorse from behind the chutes forStrait. And he not only stepped upon the horse, but he jumped on itlike a good cowboy.”
When Strait rode out on thathorse, the crowd went wild. Heloped the horse around the arena,slid to a stop and went down thefence line touching everyone’s hand.He rode around once more, thenthrew his hat out into the crowd.
“That night, he really won the heartsof Houston,” Gattis said.
The Show brought this youngcowboy back the next year, and thenext. And Strait hasn’t missed a yearof throwing his hat out into thecrowd since that very night in 1983.
“And in ‘96, God willing, he’ll behere again,” Gattis said. “And when hedoes ride out into that arena, he will beperforming for one million peoplesince the day he first sang onthat stage in the Dome.”
STRAIT TO THE TOPFrom Page 11
E.C. “Dick”Weekley
Dick Weekley, the Show’s generalmanager for more than 20 years.
he position called forthe sharpest of busi-ness acumen, com-
passion, dedication and strength ofcharacter. The position, a new one tothe Houston Livestock Show andRodeo, is that of first vice president;and the man elected to fulfill thosestringent requirements is ExecutiveCommittee member Jim Bloodworth.
Bloodworth, a native Houstonian,operates a successful business in thecity. His insurance agency, managedin part by his wife Ruby, is concreteproof of Bloodworth’s ability to planfor the long term that the positionwill require of him.
“The Show has accomplished agreat deal in a relatively short peri-od of time,” said Bloodworth.“Who would have thought 10 yearsago that in 1995 we would bebroadcasting on pay-per-view tele-vision? We still have many newfrontiers to conquer, and I am chal-lenged and honored to hold theShow’s new position of first vicepresident as we strive to accom-plish even more.”
First vice president of the Show isnot a president-elect, although theperson holding this position wouldcertainly have a running start and amore thorough understanding of the
enormous role of the president. The position also is not an assis-
tant to the president, but a new posi-tion that will serve the Show inmany ways.
“The position of first vice presi-dent will enable the HoustonLivestock Show and Rodeo to keepits continuity of leadership moreconsistent than in the past,” saidDan Gattis, the organization’s gener-al manager. “This is particularlyimportant due to the tremendousgrowth experienced during the lastfew years and anticipated growth inthe immediate future.”
An example of the first vice pres-ident’s duties is the responsibilityof chairing a proposed long-rangeplanning committee. “It will be achallenge to manage the expansionof the Show since we want to seecontinued growth in revenues butare already selling a maximum oftickets. This planning committeewill be creative in its ideas on howto promote growth in the organiza-
tion,” said Gattis.Bloodworth’s community involve-
ment is diversified, although theShow is his first love among charityorganizations. He explained, “Mywife Ruby and I have been involvedwith a great number of organiza-tions, but the Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo is our favoritebecause we can really see the differ-ence the Show makes in the lives ofyoung people attending Texas col-leges and universities.
“I am especially fond of the waythe community bonds together.You certainly couldn’t buy all ofthe volunteer support and themedia coverage that the Showenjoys. It is an honor to beinvolved.” His wife also is a volun-teer for the Show, serving on theLadies’ Season Box Committee.
Another feature that sets the Showapart from other organizations, and afavorite of Bloodworth’s, is the deepwell of wisdom that past presidentsprovide. “In other organizations,whenever your term as president isover, you’re not involved any longer.The Show looks to its past presi-dents for the benefit of their vastexperience and knowledge. It is anhonor and privilege to work withthis group of individuals. The com-bination of past, present and futureinvolvement is unique; inshort, the Show has it all.”
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T H E “ F I R S T ” E V E R
Story byAmy Glass
TJo
hnie
Hen
don
O F F I C E R P R O F I L E
Jim Bloodworth
“The first vice president offers the best executive training opportunity in the history of thisShow, and I expect Jim Bloodworth will perform brilliantly.”
Don D. Jordan,President
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O F F I C E R P R O F I L E
In keeping with a family traditionof dedication and service to theHouston Livestock Show andRodeo, Jerry Johnston Andrew, saidit’s an honor to be among the Show’snewly elected vice presidents.
“I grew up around the Show mywhole life,” said Andrew.“Historically, I’m absolutely thrilledto be carrying on a family tradition.”
Her father, Ralph A. Johnston, wasa past president of the Show.Andrew’s brother, Jimmy Johnston,is a past vice president of the Show.She also has three daughters whoare involved with the Show.
Andrew has been a member of theShow since 1970, serving as chair-man of the Ladies’ Season BoxCommittee and as a member of theLadies’ Go Texan and SpecialChildren committees.
She also has been an avid sup-porter of the junior market auctions,having bought numerous championsteers and other animals throughoutthe years.
“I’m pleased to be a part of some-thing that does so much for the com-munity,” said Andrew. “It gets intoyour blood. They call it ‘rodeo fever,’and that sure is what it is.”
Her involvement in life and theShow is nothing short of inspira-tional. An accident 21 years agoleaving her paralyzed has not
slowed her down a bit, and her vol-unteerism extends far beyond theShow. She has been a board mem-ber, trustee and volunteer of theTexas Institute of Research andRehabilitation and is a volunteer forthe Center for the Retarded. She vol-unteers more time to others on aweekly basis that some do in awhole month. She says the alterna-tive, to have sat still and done noth-ing, was not an option. “Not withmy family and friends,” she said.“They wouldn’t let me give up, itjust wasn’t an option.”
As vice president, Andrew will beserving as the officer in charge offive committees: Ladies’ Go Texan,Ladies’ Season Box, OutdoorAdvertising, Special Children, andWestern Art.
“I take my commitments very seri-ously,” she said.
Her spirit is sure to be contagiousto others.
A dedication to achieving resultsis what attracted Kenneth C.Moursund to the Houston LivestockShow back in the fall of 1977.
Supporting the youth of Texas iswhat’s kept him involved, and beingelected as one of the Show’s vice pres-idents is among his highest honors.
“It feels great; it’s an honor andprivilege to continue to serve the
Show,” said Moursund. “It’s a ser-vice to help the show and continueto support youth and education.”
He has served as chairman of theGroup Ticket Sales Committee andis a member of the InternationalCommittee.
As a vice president of the Show,he will oversee five committees:Agricultural Education Tour Guide,Carnival Ticket Sales, Group TicketSales, Judging Contest Scoring, andRabbit Show.
While working with the GroupTicket Sales Committee, Moursundsaid he always made it a point tohave some of the scholarship recip-ients come back and talk to hiscommittee.
Of the thousands of youthMoursund has the honor of cominginto contact with each year, he saidthere’s always one or two that standout in his mind. “One year, a younggirl, between all the tears, told ushow grateful she was, and how herfamily could not have afforded forher to go to college,” recallsMoursund. “I thought, that’s whatit’s all about.”
Moursund said it’s very rewardingto realize that all the hard work, andall the effort the thousands of volun-teers put in goes to help young peo-ple just like that girl.
“These young people are dedicat-ed to achieving results, and appearto be determined to continue theirgood habits on into the future,” saidMoursund. “They’ve got all thequalities you need to survive in thefuture.”
Moursund is an executive withthe Kroger Company, and is a mem-ber of the Houston Farm and RanchClub. He is active in the Universityof Texas Exes Association and DucksUnlimited.
He, along with his wife Claudiaand son Kenneth Jr., enjoy the TexasHill Country. Moursund’s hobbiesinclude fishing and hunting in theGulf Coast area.
A L O O K A T T H E N E W V I C E P R E S I D E N T S
Stories byCherylDorsett
Jerry JohnstonAndrew
Kenneth C.Moursund
Sam
Pie
rson
Sam
Pie
rson
15
Being involved with horses andspending much of his life aroundthem, it seems more than fitting thatnewly-elected vice president LodieStapleton will be overseeing all 15Horse Show committees.
Stapleton has been a member ofthe show since 1973. He’s served onnumerous Horse Show committeesthroughout the last 20 years, as wellas serving as chairman of the HorseShow Advisory Committee and asthe General Horse Show chairman.
Five years ago, he played an inte-gral role in the implementation ofthe Youth Quarter Horse BarrelRacing awards program, which sig-nificantly increased the prizes givento the young participants. The final-ists from this preliminary competi-tion held in the Astroarena now viefor trophies, cash awards, a trailerand a trip to compete in theAstrodome during the Show.
Stapleton and his brother Shellyhave a ranch in Sealy, Texas, wherethey have raised race horses since1971. Along with his wife MaryJane, daughter Sheryl and son Kelly,he also has a ranch in LaPryor,Texas, near Uvalde.
As vice president, he will expandhis involvement to cover the individ-ual horse breed committees as well asthe Horse Show Advisory,Announcers, Awards and Equipment
committees and the Horse Sales andHorspitality committees.
Stapleton is chief executive officerof Southwest Tenant Constructionand president of Hou-TexConstruction Supply.
A secret of his success is found inhis ability to reach out and help oth-ers. His intense concern for theyouth of Texas is at the heart of hisShow involvement.
Mention the Show, and peopleoften stand up and cheer. Being arepresentative, and often times therecipient of those cheers, can be avery humbling experience, saidStapleton. “It just sends chills downyour spine,” he said.
But it’s all for the youth, and offer-ing opportunities to them that theyotherwise might not have beenavailable. That’s what Stapleton saidhe will never lose sight of. “I’mexcited about my election. The live-stock show means a great deal tome,” said Stapleton. “I’m sold onwhat it does.”
Newly-elected vice president BillT. Teague said he has been an admir-er of the show ever since he movedto Houston in 1975. His years ofdedication and commitment to theShow have paid off.
“I was the most surprised when Igot the call,” said Teague. “I never
dreamed it would happen. On onehand it is exhilarating, and on theother hand it is very humbling.”
Teague said the magnitude of hisinvolvement in the Show and theimportance of his service is some-thing he takes very seriously. Whatthe Show does for the youth of Texasis something in which he takes atremendous amount of pride.
“It clearly documents the quality ofyouth we have in this country thatgets very little publicity. It shows thatthe volunteer spirit is alive and wellin Houston and surrounding areas,”said Teague. He most recently servedas chairman of the Show’s SpeakersCommittee. As vice president, he willserve as officer in charge of the Communications Broadcast,Communications Editorial, Magazine,Souvenir Program, Swine Auctionand the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que committees.
Recently, Teague attended theShow’s presentation of 4-H scholar-ships. “When they introduced theShow’s officers, everyone stood upand gave the Show a standing ova-tion,” said Teague. “It was incredi-ble. It was indescribably delicious.That’s what every one of the 11,000volunteers needs to know. That’swhat makes all the sweat, effort andtime meaningful.”
Teague is president and chiefexecutive officer of the Gulf CoastRegional Blood Center. He is a pastpresident of the Rotary Club ofHouston. He is active with St. Luke’sMethodist Church and is an avidhunter and fisherman. He and hiswife Lynn, who enjoy playing ten-nis, have two sons, Tim and Jim.
Teague also serves on the board ofdirectors of the southwest SuddenInfant Death Syndrome ResearchInstitute. “One reason I appreciatevolunteers so much is that I’vespent 37 years in my professionworking with volunteers,” saidTeague. “They are somethingmoney can’t buy.”
Bill T. Teague
Lodie Stapleton
Sam
Pie
rson
Sam
Pie
rson
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C O M M I T T E E P R O F I L E
sk a group of 5-year-oldswhere milk comes from, andmost of them might answer,
“the grocery store!”. It is childrenlike these that the AgriculturalEducation Tour Guide Committeehopes to enlighten and educate at avisit to the Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo.
The committee’s 84 members,comprised of agricultural scienceteachers, design the tour route andassist during the elementary schoolstudents’ visits. However, the toursare conducted by high school agedFFA students, who escort about10,000 kindergarten to third gradestudents from inner-city Houstonschools through the livestock areaat the Show.
According to Janice Spencer,
staff coordinator of the committeewho handles tour requests, teach-ers begin asking to be put on thetour list in August when schoolstarts. “Unfortunately, we get somany letters we have to disappoint20,000 of the 30,000 kids who wantto come.”
“About 700 to 2,500 children aday visit the Show during that firstweek,” said Barbie Schmidt, com-mittee chairman. “FFA highschool students use their knowl-edge of the animals to explain thefood chain, processing, and thingslike what part of the animal is usedfor what.”
Before the kids come for the tour,the Show mails out lesson plans sothe children can have a basic ideaof what they’re coming to see.
Said Schmidt, “This gives thekids an opportunity to see the ani-mals first hand and watch thembeing cared for by their owners.During the tour, the FFA studentsexplain the different types of ani-mals, how they are raised, andwhat their food sources are.” Thetour lasts for one hour and beginsevery 15 minutes between 9 a.m.and 11 a.m.
“We emphasize the World ofCattle exhibit and the milking parlorbecause those are really areas thestudents can relate to. It’s education-al for them,” continued Spencer.
The tour’s popularity has grownover the years. A two-hour tour formentally and physically challangedchildren also is offered, but thereare only 100 openings. “As with ourother tours, this one fills up fast,”said Spencer. “Since these kidshave multiple mental and physicalchallenges, this tour is really spe-cial. Our FFA students partner upwith them one-on-one and takethem to the petting zoo. There, thekids can hold the animals, and theyreally get a kick out of that.”
“It’s an extremely personalizedtour,” echoed Schmidt. “The FFAguides also enjoy the time withthese youngsters. They also havelunch with the kids in the SalesPavilion. Sack lunches are donated,and last year, bandannas weredonated for the children as well.”
“Our tour is pretty basic—‘this isa cow’ sort of thing. But it’s sur-prising that there are so many chil-dren who have never even seencattle before,” Spencer said. “If wecan educate them so they can say,‘oh that’s where milk comesfrom,’ we’ve done our job.”
Story by YahsmineCatliCowan
Ag Education Tour Guide Committee
A
C O M M I T T E E S P O T L I G H T
An FFA tour guide takes a third grade student on a special tour of the petting zoo.
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Story byNancy Burch
C O M M M I T T E E P R O F I L E
he Corporate DevelopmentCommittee was formed in1988, in large part through the
efforts of two Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo Lifetime VicePresidents, Jim Bloodworth and JimWindham, both now members ofthe Executive Committee.
It evolved from the SpecialScholarship Committee as a meansof attracting more Houston-areabusinesses to become directlyinvolved with the Show.
According to Edgar C. “Red”Griffin, chairman of the committeefor the past two years, the group’smission is to solicit $10,000 mini-mum contributions from corpora-tions to fund four-year scholarships.
“Among our 30 members, wehave a broad mix of high profile,large company executives andsmall- to mid-sized business own-ers.” he said.
The committee is divided intofour teams, each one headed up by avice chairman. “Certain criteriamust be met for membership,” heexplained. “These include being alifetime member of the Show,attending a minimum of four of thesix committee meetings each year,securing at least one scholarshipdonation, serving as a member ofone of the development sales teams,paying annual dues and attendingboth the Corporate ContributorsReception and the Million DollarScholarship Banquet.”
Management coordinator for theCorporate Development Committee isSkip Wagner, assistant general manag-er of operations. He reported that forthe 1995 Show, the committee’sendeavors resulted in 67 companiesdonating a total of $905,584. “Theirefforts enabled the Show to fund 90$10,000 scholarships,” he said.
Griffin pointed out that at least onestudent in every high school in Harrisand contiguous counties is awarded ascholarship by the Houston Livestockand Rodeo each year.
These grants may be used at anyaccredited college or university inTexas for study in the student’schoice of major.
The $2,500 stipend per year forfour years is awarded to “deservingrecipients,” rather than on thebasis of either need or pure acade-mic standing.
The committee works throughoutthe year to solicit corporate supportfor these scholarships. Team mem-
bers call on new and existing donorsto secure the desired funds.
While the minimum contribution is$10,000, many companies and indi-viduals give larger sums, choosing tofund more than one scholarship.
Griffin and his committee mem-bers take great pride in the factthat their efforts have a direct
impact on the future of so manydeserving young people. “Thegreatest pleasure is in knowingthat we have made a very positivedifference in the lives of these stu-dents,” he said. “That’swhat it’s all about.”
Corporate Development Committee
T
Committee chairman Red Griffin inspects a sign displaying the Show’sgenerous corporate contributors
Sam
Pie
rson
t first glance, the 76members of the JuniorCommercial Steer
Feeding and Management ContestCommittee may not resemble yourtypical collection of teachers. Formost of the year, these volunteers areveterinarians, meat packers, cattlebuyers, ranchers, feedlot operatorsand agriculture instructors.
However, during the two weeks ofthe Show, the dedicated men andwomen who comprise this commit-tee, step out of their traditional rolesand come together to achieve a com-mon goal—teaching tomorrow’sranchers the realities of operating asuccessful cattle business.
According to Wayne Hollis, officerin charge, the goal of this committeeis to encourage more members of theTexas 4-H and FFA to participate ina practical beef production program.Members are responsible for orga-nizing and conducting the entirecompetition, selecting winners forthe feeding records contest and con-ducting the awards banquet for the
participants in the competition.Since its inception in 1952, this
committee has helped teach thou-sands of boys and girls about a pro-fession that embodies the spirit ofthe nation’s second largest state.
Committee chairman NathanPeebles said that most members ofhis dedicated group have 15 or moreyears of service on the committee.“Each year, we usually have onlyone or two positions become avail-able for new members,” saidPeebles. “We have a very lowturnover rate.”
Peebles enjoys the fact that thiscommittee is a friendly, close-knitgroup of individuals who takepride in their responsibilities andremain dedicated to preserving aprofession and way of life that hasbeen an integral part of Texas histo-ry and culture.
Several months before the Show,participants are given a time framein which they must purchase threesteers. After raising the pen of cat-tle, contestants provide a complete
set of records to chronicle theirexpenses for feed, medications andveterinary care, as well as any othercosts associated with raising theanimal for market. Each studentalso undergoes extensive writtentests and oral interviews.
The 1995 Show saw 90 partici-pants from around the state travelto Houston to compete in thisunique contest.
For their hard work, the competi-tion’s contestants have an opportu-nity to sell their steers to commercialbuyers and, if they have operatedefficiently, render a small profit.They also have a chance to competefor prize money and awards such asa new truck and a cattle trailer—allof which are provided by severalgenerous donors.
To help defray the expenses ofbringing their steers to the Show,participants also are able to earnpoint money, which is awarded toparticipants based on the quality oftheir steers.
Peebles also sees other less obvi-ous rewards for those who partici-pate in this program. They learn thatto succeed in business requires per-sonal responsibility and commit-ment to completing a task, regard-less of whether or not they walkaway from the event with the grandprize trophy.
Members of this committee getthe satisfaction of knowing thatthey have taught these young peo-ple the value of hard work andhave helped nurture business skillsthat will remain with the studentsfor a lifetime.
“The most rewarding part of thiscommittee is that by teaching thesekids about raising cattle, we also areteaching them about life,” Peeblessaid. “Education is what thiscommittee is all about.”
AStory byMelissaManning
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C O M M I T T E E P R O F I L E
Each of the junior commercial steers is graded on confirmation and qualityprior to being sold.
Sam
Pie
rson
Junior Commercial Steer Feeding & Management Contest Committee
ake one of the biggestevents in the country,held in the nation’s
fourth largest city, mix in more than1.8 million people, generously addherds of livestock, rodeo contes-tants, exhibitors and more entertain-ment opportunities than most placessee all year, and you have the mak-ings of one fantastic time.
And that’s the Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo.
Unfortunately, those excitingaspects also can combine to pro-duce a recipe for mishap if effectiveprecautions are not taken. The goodnews is that for more than 14 years,the Safety Committee has beenmaking the Show’s entire complexa safe place.
This committee is responsible fora number of things. First, its emer-gency medical personnel patrolalmost every area of the Showgrounds, dispensing care that rangesfrom adhesive bandages to cardiacresuscitation. Second, its investiga-tors roam the Astrodome complexlooking for safety hazards that mightpose a problem for Show personneland visitors. Third, as part of theorganization’s risk management pro-gram, the committee looks into acci-dents that may occur .
Roger Campbell has just com-pleted his tenure as the group’schairman under the leadership ofoutgoing officer in charge, RichardBean. Campbell is a Houston FireDepartment district chief. As amatter of fact, more than 40 percentof the 400-member committee isHFD personnel.
“It is a great all-around commit-tee,” Campbell said. “We have quitea few nurses, people who work forother police and fire departmentsand people from other agencies, andthey work very hard. Last year dur-ing the Show our committee spent alittle more than 13,300 documentedhours at work.”
Many of those hours involvedproviding first aid and emergencymedical care to the event’s visitorsand to the people who work at theShow. The committee makes thiscare available via first aid facilitiesat Memorial Park, the Astrohall, theAstroarena, the carnival, the park-ing lot and the World’sChampionship Bar-B-Que Contestarea. Members also provide care tothe rodeo contestants through the“Cowboy First Aid” program. TheAstrodome has its own first aid andemergency medical personnel whotake care of Astrodome visitors whoneed medical treatment.
“All of our committee memberswho provide hands-on care are atleast emergency medical techni-
cians (EMTs),” Campbell said. “Weaverage about 2,000 incidents dur-ing the Show each year, rangingfrom people needing aspirin to thosesuffering from a heart attack. Lastyear, we called for 72 ambulances. Ifyou run 1.8 million people throughany place in the world, that is a pret-ty good safety record.”
When onsite treatment is neces-sary, the committee’s dispatchers
send the medical team nearest theincident. In emergency medicine,time is very important. Considerwhat happened three years ago atthe carnival. Two women sufferedheart attacks at the same time...100feet apart. Separate SafetyCommittee medical teams stabilizedboth patients and saw them trans-ported to local hospitals.
“The best part of it was that bothwomen recovered, and we broughtthe incident to a good end,”Campbell said.
Taking care of injuries is onething; preventing them is another.And that is what the safety inspec-tion portion of the committee does.As liaisons between HFD inspectorsand the Show, committee members
work with fire department person-nel, ensuring that potential fire andsafety hazards discovered by dailyinspections are remedied.
“We are out there not only to pro-tect the Show and make everythingsafe,” Campbell said, “we’re also outthere to make sure thepatrons are safe.”
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TStory byFreemanGregory
C O M M I T T E E P R O F I L E
Members of the Safety Committee maintain a close eye on calf scramble participantsin case any injuries occur as youngsters wrestle with tenacious calves.
Sam
Pie
rson
Safety Committee
ach person follows his ownpath to the Show, andDouglas B. “Doug” Marshall,
a man known world wide for hisArabian horses, arrived by meansof an exotic route.
Marshall’s love of Arabians beganin his days in the Cavalry when herode half-Arabian horses, and itgrew during World War II when hefirst laid eyes on the horse marketnear Cairo, Egypt, from the air andwanted to visit it.
After a determined quest throughthe strange and fascinating streets ofCairo, the young serviceman locateda guide to take him to the market.Once there, Marshall said, “I was soimpressed with the Arabian horsesthat I vowed that if I lived throughthe war, I would own one.”
Marshall not only fulfilled hispromise to himself, but became aworld class Arabian horse breeder.His ranch, Gleannloch Farms,became one of the premier Arabianhorse stables in the United States.
Marshall pointed out that hisinterest in Arabian horses has creat-ed friendships all over the world—from Egypt to Europe to SouthAfrica—and he recently returnedhome from a trip to Germany wherehe visited a stable, club and show.
One of the early supporters of theShow, Marshall has served on theboard of directors for more thanforty years, making him the longesttenured living director of the Show.
He became involved with theorganization, which he referred toas the “greatest thing Houstonhas,” in the late ‘40s and became adirector in 1950.
Marshall served as the Show’s fifth
president from 1958 through 1960.During much of that time, there wasno place in the Show for Arabianhorses because there were notenough of them in the vicinity ofHouston. However, Marshall was,and still is, a cattle breeder, and suc-cessfully exhibited Aberdeen Anguscattle at the Show for many years.
He also rode on the Salt GrassTrail for many years. He recountedwith fondness one rainy night on thetrail when he watched his exhaustedand sleeping son’s boots fill withrain water, an experience all toofamiliar to trail ride participants.
After graduating from high schoolin Wisconsin, Marshall attended theUniversity of Minnesota and joinedthe United States Cavalry. While sta-tioned at Ellington Field in south-east Houston, he met his wife,Margaret Ruth Cullen, a womanwho shared his passion for horses.
Although Marshall has not raisedArabian horses since his wife’sdeath, his interest in animal hus-bandry remains keen. He presentlyspends his time at his ranch inBarksdale, Texas, where he raisesPiedmontese cattle—an Italianbreed of cattle that claims levels offat and cholesterol lower than thosefound in chicken.
He is proud of his state-of-the-artbreeding program, which involvesthe importing and implanting ofembryos. During the summer,Marshall escapes from the Texasheat to an island in the middle of alarge lake in Canada, a spot that hasbeen a lifelong retreat.
Marshall remains very focused onactivities with his three grandsonsand two granddaughters.
Marshall is proud of his involve-ment with the Show, particularlywith the scholarship program which grew from its infancy under hisguidance. Although he no longer fre-quents the Show, he misses it and
refers to it as a “lifelong disease.”Clearly a part of Doug Marshall’s
heart and soul, the Show is fortu-nate to have had his manycontributions to it.
E X E C U T I V E C O M M I T T E E P O R T R A I T
Story byAnn Jacobs
20
O F F I C E R P R O F I L E
DouglasB. Marshall
E
Douglas B. Marshall, the Show’sfifth president.
Sam
Pie
rson
21
✩
Story byMelissa
Manning
S T A F F P R O F I L E
rom high-tech satellitedistribution to one-on-onepublic relations; from the
glitzy glare of stage lighting to mid-night sessions of souvenir programproduction; from downtownHouston parades to Go Texan func-tions in such places as Clifton, SanAugustine and Wharton; the Show’smarketing and presentations depart-ment monitors, coordinates andreports the Houston Livestock Showand Rodeo’s heartbeat to the world.
It’s an exciting but demanding jobfor the eight full-time staff memberswho are responsible for the organi-zation’s promotions; advertising;public, member and media rela-tions; market research; sponsorshipprograms; and audio visual produc-tion and presentation.
The marketing office also workswith 15 communications-orientedcommittees, nine of which are GoTexan in nature. During the 1995Show year, 174 Go Texan functionswere held, generating massive expo-sure for the Show in a 66-countyarea and adding more than$600,000 worth of revenue to theShow’s bottom line.
Additional Show revenue isgained by the department’s inter-face with the corporate communi-ty through the Show’s sponsorshipand donation program, resulting inmore than $2 million each year indirect financial or trade paymentto the Show.
To share the Show’s story on alocal, statewide, national and inter-national basis, hundreds of newsreleases are generated annually bythis department, all aimed at edu-cating and informing the generalpublic about the organization. Staffmembers also write and design themedia guide, brochures, hand-books, directories, special eventprograms and the 1,100-page rodeosouvenir program.
These individuals also supervise
the production and presentation ofeach rodeo performance. From thegrand entry all the way through thefinal ride-around of the star enter-tainer, the marketing and presenta-tions department produces eachrodeo as a live television show. In aneffort to give every spectator the bestseat in the house, staff memberswork with other video and audioprofessionals to put a broadcast-quality production on theDiamondVision screens and approx-imately 300 closed-circuit televisionmonitors throughout the Astro-dome, Astrohall and Astroarena.They also provide a video/audiofeed for the local television stationsto use on their nightly newscasts.
Also during the Show, the market-ing and presentations staff operatesa press room and press box facility,which serve as hubs for media cre-dential distribution, informationsources, press releases and results,press photographs, interview coor-dination and press conferencescheduling. Seventeen part-timeworkers, contractors from aroundthe world, and almost 100 studentinterns assist in this effort.
In an attempt to bring even moreof an audience to the event, the
Show produced its first pay-per-view telecast in 1994, carried in ninedifferent states. In 1995, the March 3performance was offered as a pay-per-view telecast and was shownnationwide through Turner HomeSatellite, DirecTV and TVN.
The Show’s entire marketing effortis dependent upon constant con-sumer and membership researchand analysis, conducted with theassistance of the CommunicationsEditorial Committee.
“We’ve got the best department inthis organization because everycommittee member is responsiblefor marketing the Show and there-fore, part of our team. And with ateam like that, the possibilities areendless,” said Leroy Shafer, assistantgeneral manager of the marketingand presentations department.
In addition to Shafer, other mem-bers of the marketing and presenta-tions department are: Suzy Brown,manager; Johnnie Hendon, advertis-ing and creative director; TeresaPadgett, publications director; JaniceLunsford, Go Texan director; MelissaHernlund, executive assistant; Ida DeLos Santos, production and adminis-trative assistant; and SharonWoodfin, marketing assistant.
M A R K E T I N G & P R E S E N T A T I O N S D E P A R T M E N T
F
Leroy Shafer keeps the media informed with numerous interviews.
Sam
Pie
rson
Bulk RateU.S. Postage
PaidHouston, TX
Permit No. 9791Houston Livestock Show and RodeoP.O. Box 20070Houston, Texas 77225-0070
18-20 - Liberty County Cook-offand Events*
25 - Deer Park Teen Dance*25-26 - Alvin/Pearland Barbecue
Cook-off*26 - New Caney/Splendora Bake
Sale*, Tomball /Magnolia TurkeyShoot*, Katy Teen Dance*
28 - Fort Bend/Stafford GolfTournament*
4 - Labor Day holiday–Show officesclosed
15 - Conroe/Willis Barbecue*15-16 - Brazoria Southwest Cook-
off and Contests*18 - NASA/Clear Creek/
Friendswood Golf Classic*29-30 - Waller County Go Texan
Events*, Aldine/Spring/KleinBarbecue and Chili Cook-off*
30 - Cy Fair Old West CostumeBall*
1 - Deadline for committee listingin souvenir program
1 - Waller County Go TexanEvents*
7 - Galveston/Mainland Dance*9 - World’s Championship
Bar-B-Que Contest entries accepted
13 - Deer Park Fall Dance*20-22 - Galveston/Mainland Trail
Ride and Dance*27 - Liberty County Turkey Shoot*27-28 - Deer Park Barbecue
Weekend*
C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
7654321
8
15
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
16 17 18 19 20 21
9 10 11 12 14
5
121110987
4321
6
13
20
27 28 29 30 31
21 22 23 24 25 26
14 15 16 17 18 19
2
98765
1
3
10
17
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
18 19 20 21 22 23
11 12 13 14 15 16
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MAGAZINE
(*) Go Texan committee events; for more information, contact the Go Texan Director at (713)791-9000
