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February 1996—Vol IV, No. 1 Recognizing and Informing the Volunteers and Supporters of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo MAGAZINE Sam Houston Coliseum… the Show’s home from 1932 to 1965. Thirty Years At The Astrodome, Still Proud To Call It Home! TABLE OF CONTENTS A Message from the President ——————————————1 Features Magazine Committee Thirty Years at the Dome —————————————— 2 Officer in Charge Better than the Fourth of July ———————————— 4 Bill T. Teague These Little Piggies Went to the Races ———————— 6 Chairman Sound, Stage, Lights, Action! ———————————— 8 Peter A. Ruman 1996 Attractions and Entertainment ————————— 10 Vice Chairmen/ Committee Editors School Art Goes to Auction————————————— 12 Bill Barrett The Wild West Lives———————————————— 14 Bill Booher Committee Spotlights Copy Editor Go Texan Contests Committee ——————————— 16 Nancy Leverett Health Committee ————————————————— 17 Editorial Board Membership Committee —————————————— 18 Suzanne Epps Executive Committee Portrait J. Grover Kelley James M. Windham Jr. ——————————————— 19 C. F. Kendall Show News and Updates John Murphy Marshall R. Smith III Rodeo Round-up ————————————————— 20 Stephen Stepinoff Calendar of Events —————————————— Back Cover Reporters Samuel N. Allen Nancy Burch Yahsmine Catli-Cowan Cheryl Dorsett Amy Glass Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Freeman Gregory Executive Committee Whitney Horton Joseph T. Ainsworth, M.D. Jim Bloodworth Allen H. Carruth Ann Jacobs Dick Graves Hal Hillman Don D. Jordan Beth Johnson H. Stuart Lang Jr. Louis M. Pearce Jr. John O. Smith Mark Jones Clayton Underwood Tommie Vaughn P. Michael Wells Charlotte Kirk James M. Windham Jr. Larry Levy Lifetime Member - Executive Committee Pam Malone Douglas B. Marshall Melissa Manning Beverly Rosenbaum Chairman of the Board Patrick Scherrieb Dick Graves Jack Sorcic Leslie Worsham President Design/Layout Don D. Jordan Pegasus Design, Inc. First Vice President Photographer Jim Bloodworth Sam Pierson Magazine Staff Officers Management Coordinators Jerry Johnston Andrew John T. Cook George A. DeMontrond III Leroy Shafer C.R. “Bob” Devine Wayne Hollis Jr. Jim Janke Suzy Brown John J. Montalbano Kenneth C. Moursund David E. Mouton, M.D. Tom R. Northrup Paul G. Somerville Lodie Stapleton Production Editor Bill T. Teague Johnnie Hendon Staff Coordinator/Editor General Manager Teresa Padgett Dan A. Gattis Photographer Frank Martin, D.V.M. MAGAZINE, Volume IV, No. 1, is published by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Copyright 1996. Letters and comments should be sent to: Marketing Department, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, P.O. Box 20070, Houston, Texas 77225-0070. A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT he educational aspects of the Houston that our pioneering ancestors didn’t drive up I-10 to build Livestock Show and Rodeo are obvious — or this city. Tare they? We are all familiar, or should be, with The rodeo arena is full of life’s lessons, as well. Cowboys the fact that our Show is the world’s largest donor of agri- and cowgirls, competing for thousands of dollars in prize cultural scholarships. We read about the many scholarship money, never hesitate to help each other. One year we programs, both agricultural and non-agricultural, that ben- watched Ty Murray and Cody Lambert in a tight race for the efit young Texans all over the state. These opportunities are championship of the Houston Rodeo. Our cameras showed something all of us associated with the Show can be proud a close-up of Ty helping Cody secure his rope on his bull. of, but there is so much more to our educational scope than That’s an example of sportsmanship in an arena where rules the obvious. against “taunting” your competition aren’t needed. These Everyone who walks through the doors of the Astrohall, professional athletes treat their animals, their competitors Astroarena or Astrodome during the Houston Livestock and themselves with respect, regardless of what’s at stake. Show and Rodeo experiences a learning event. Urban chil- These men and women are also great examples of how dren and adults alike see where meat, milk, wool, mohair determination can help an individual accomplish his or her and other agricultural products originate and how much care goals in any endeavor. If a 150-pound cowboy can hang on it takes to raise the animals that provide these resources. to the back of a one-ton bucking bull, then many things are Our spectators see thousands of volunteers working possible. together for a common goal, and learn that men and women The Exceptional Rodeo, where mentally and physically from every profession and all parts of the community can challenged youngsters participate in fun rodeo events with become a team. And, they learn what teamwork can accom- real cowboys and cowgirls, is another great learning expe- plish, because our volunteers are responsible for this enter- rience for anyone who watches it. Those kids, despite the tainment extravaganza, for the buildings in which the challenges they face every day, enjoy this opportunity to Show is held, for scholarships to Texas students and so experience something new. They and their parents could much more. give up and say “it’s too hard.” But if you watch this event, The boys and girls raising animals learn that responsibil- you’ll see a bunch of great kids having the times of their ity to another living creature is hard work, but that the hard lives, and striving to accomplish what some would believe work pays off — sometimes in financial ways, but always to be impossible. in self-satisfaction. These young FFA and 4-H members You’ll also see professional athletes taking time to help also discover financial control, time management and goal- these youngsters. The bull riders, barrel racers, ropers, dog- setting skills. gers, bronc riders and rodeo clowns aren’t receiving money Students working on school art projects are exposed to or publicity for their endeavors, but they’ll tell you that their Western heritage in a way that makes it exciting and they are doing it for selfish reasons — helping these kids fun. It may be the first time many city makes the athletes feel good, too. kids get a chance to learn about the agri- Don’t tell your friends, children or cultural background of Houston. grandchildren that the Houston The trail riders bring history to life for Livestock Show and Rodeo is just a all of us, whether we’re on the trail our- good learning experience. Tell them selves or watching the reports on televi- that it’s great fun and that there’s some- sion. These hardy souls on horseback thing out here for everyone. The rest and in covered wagons are a reminder will be obvious. DON D. JORDAN Sam Pierson PRESIDENT 1 FEATURE THIRTY YEARS AT THE DOME n the vortex of media atten- summer of 1963, the organization Arnold and “Bonanza” actor tion that surrounded was in transition. Essentially, it had Michael Landon. The Coliseum IAstrodome-based profes- outgrown the downtown Coliseum, could hold 9,200 people, so every sional sports franchises during 1995, and was even having to discontinue seat was a close one. The venue’s a significant Houston anniversary some exhibitions because there was snug atmosphere was also its chief has had to take a back seat for a nowhere to put them. “By the time I drawback, however. It had almost no Story by while. But when February rolls became president, we had to do parking, and 9,200 tickets per per- Freeman around, all decent footwear is point- away with the rabbit show and the formance were not enough to keep Gregory ed and bare heads are rare, it’s time to poultry show,” said Lang. “We had the Show moving along at the pace it talk about that night 30 years ago the hogs bivouacked under needed. when the Houston Livestock Show Memorial Drive where it comes into “There was no question about it,” and Rodeo closed its collective eyes Texas Avenue.” Lang remembered, “if we were ever and stepped out into the great The Show had little space to con- to become a first-class stock show, we unknown. duct the cattle sales, and what few had to get out of there.” But where? In 1966, the Show moved from the cattle exhibitors remained in 1963 Under Neill Masterson Jr., Lang’s cozy but limited confines of the Sam were growing uneasy about the predecessor, the Show had pur- Houston Coliseum to the just com- Coliseum’s facilities. “Our good chased 167 acres of land near where pleted Astrodome/Astrohall com- exhibitors were leaving us, because U.S. 290 and the 610 North Loop plex, forever leaving behind any their cattle had to walk up a steep intersect today. The plan was to notion of maintaining a small opera- incline to get into the exhibit area. build a series of sheetmetal barns on tion. And that was quite all right Their animals would slip, fall and the property that would hold an with the Show’s leaders, because skin themselves. The exhibitors just expanded stock show. Eventually, a they knew it had to grow or was weren’t coming,” said Lang. rodeo arena would be constructed going to die. Conditions for the rodeo actually there, as well. When H. Stuart Lang Jr. accepted were rather pleasant. That year, the When approached about assum- the Show’s presidency during the chief attractions were singer Eddy ing the Show’s presidency in 1963, Lang was hesitant, partly because he questioned the wisdom of moving the event to the North Loop site. “I certainly didn’t want to break up the Show into two segments and not know what the future held for us,” Lang said. Growing financial obstructions also plagued the project, so the Executive Committee voted to look elsewhere to find the Show’s future.