★ A TTruerue TTexasexas TTroubadourroubadour ★ TThehe SShow’show’s BBeginningeginning ★ RRodeoodeo AAthletesthletes MAGAZINE COMMITTEE OFFICER IN CHARGE Bill R. Bludworth CHAIRMAN Lawrence S Levy A Message From the Chairman 1 VICE CHAIRMEN Tracy L. Ruffeno Features Gina Steere COPY EDITOR Kenneth C. Moursund Jr. A Keen Alternative ......................................... 2 EDITORIAL BOARD The Way It All Began ..................................... 4 Denise Doyle Katie Lyons Cotton Pickin’ ............................................... 8 Marshall R. Smith III Constance White The Competitive Advantage .......................... 10 Todd Zucker Space Scholars .............................................. 12 PHOTOGRAPHERS page 4 Debbie Porter Incoming Vice Presidents .............................. 14 Lisa Van Etta REPORTERS Scholarship Student Profiles ......................... 17 Beverly Acock Sonya Aston Committee Spotlights Stephanie Earthman Baird Tish Zumwalt Clark Gina Covell Lamb and Goat Auction ................................ 18 Brandy Divin Ladies’ Go Texan ........................................... 19 Teresa Ehrman Susan D. Emfinger Samantha Fewox Show News and Updates Alicia M. Filley Bridget Hennessey Third-Year Committee Chairmen Profiles ..... 20 page 8 Melissa Kaplan Melissa Manning Rodeo Round-Up ........................................... 21 Nan McCreary Ken Scott Calendar of Events ........................... Back Cover Amy Sloan Kristi Van Aken Susan K. Williams HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO ★ A TTruerue TTexasexas The Cover TTroubadourroubadour MAGAZINE COORDINATION Native Houstonian Robert Earl Keen has graced the rotating stage MARKETING & PRESENTATIONS DIVISION of RODEOHOUSTON™ five times. MANAGING DIRECTOR page 12 ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS ★ TThehe SShow’show’s Keen brings with him a unique BBeginningeginning ★ Johnnie Westerhaus RRodeoodeo AAthletesthletes sound that is true to Texas. MANAGER - INFORMATION / PUBLICATIONS Clint Saunders ™ Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo DESIGN / LAYOUT Amy Noorian CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: VICE PRESIDENTS: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: LIFETIME MEMBERS - STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul G. Somerville Louis Bart Joseph T. Ainsworth M.D. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Francis M. Martin, D.V. M. Bill R. Bludworth Jim Bloodworth Don A. Buckalew Dave Clements PRESIDENT: Danny Boatman John T. Cook John Causey Skip Wagner Bill Booher Tilman J. Fertitta J.M. “Jim” Clepper Charlene Floyd Dick Graves Douglas B. Marshall MAGAZINE CHIEF OPERATING Rick Greene Don D. Jordan Clayton Underwood Fall, Volume XIV, No. 3, is published by OFFICER: Joe Bruce Hancock Stuart Lang James M. Windham Jr. the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Copyright 2006 Leroy Shafer Darrell N. Hartman Louis M. Pearce Jr. Letters and comments should be sent to: Dick Hudgins Charles R. “Butch” Robinson Marketing and Presentations Division Charles W. Melton John O. Smith Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo P. O. Box 20070, John A. Sandling Paul G. Somerville Houston, Texas 77225-0070 David B. Smith Keith A. Steffek 832.667.1000 Marshall R. Smith III R.H. “Steve” Stevens www.rodeohouston.com Griffin D. Winn P. Michael Wells www.hlsr.com James A. “Jim” Winne III Agriculture ★ Education ★ Entertainment ★ Western Heritage A Message From the I want to thank the many recipients of outs, e-mails and at your committee meetings. “Bowlegged H” Magazine that, after reading There will be many new events that will be a lot my article in the last edition, took the time to of fun and draw a lot of attention. either call me or e-mail me with their very positive remarks. Encouragement and praise As we are beginning our meetings and catching are rewarding and challenging to produce good up on tales with people that we have worked results, and often better than monetary rewards. with for many years, and giving the rookies a The very favorable comments reflect our mutual rough time, there has been much work going commitment to values, morals, ethics and a way on that we often do not know about and are of life that makes our organization so successful. unaware of. The staff has many challenges that the committee members do not have to deal with The officer assignments and committee in preparing for and putting on the Show. Often, chairmen have all been named and the this starts with just getting into their offices and committees are all hard at work preparing for navigating around Reliant Center. Each day, the 2007 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™. they have to find the best gate to get in as they The energy and excitement are unparalleled work around OTC, road race courses, concerts, includes the obvious, and there are many as we prepare for one of the largest charitable festivals, trade shows and many other set-ups unexpected duties that arise every day. All of events staged anywhere in the world by and tear-downs that attract large crowds to a this and helping to coordinate the efforts of volunteers. If you just stop and think about it, facility that maximizes its use. The Accounting 17,000 very ambitious and motivated volunteers and you had never heard of our organization Department is still collecting money from last — no wonder you can see the lights burning or attended one of our Shows, you could be year, paying bills, dealing with auditors and late almost every night from now through the overwhelmed, and say, “Where do we start?” We preparing budgets for next year’s Show, along 2007 Show. While we celebrate this year, please are going to prepare for more than 1.8 million with many other responsibilities. The IS Division remember how important our staff members are people to share our facilities with us for 20 days. is still putting out fires from items that did not to our success, and think about all of the work They are going to be moved in and out of Reliant go exactly as someone wanted last year. (I have they are doing that we do not ever hear about Park in a safe and efficient manner, and they found that working with computers can be in our efforts. We are blessed to have a team of are going to be fed, entertained and educated more frustrating than working with animals). staff and volunteers with the same mission that while they are with us for a very reasonable They are also busy preparing programs to work together so well. cost. The experience will be one that families meet our needs that make the Show run as will brag about and enjoy for many years to efficiently as possible while being compliant in I look forward to a great year and seeing all of come. Unmatched prices will be paid to junior every aspect. The Marketing and Presentations you at a meeting real soon. exhibitors for their entries and they will be Division was actually working on our next challenged to work hard in preparing to qualify Show before we completed the last one. This is We truly are a very large family. As with any for our events. As a result of all of this, many a major job dealing with many personalities group of our size, there are many exciting events millions of dollars will be raised to support the and representatives, and on a schedule that is in individual lives and many tragedies. The education of Texas youth. All of society benefits often not their own. Staff members have torn members of our organization rally around any from the volunteer efforts. down many of the temporary facilities such as individual they need to help in any way that pens, ticket booths, etc., and prepared them they can, and their sincerity and generosity is This is an especially exciting year as we for storage after inspecting them to evaluate as unique as our organization. In my personal celebrate our 75th anniversary and “The Year future use. They will be soon preparing to pull situation, I have been overwhelmed by the love of the Volunteer.” While we know that it is this equipment back out and set them back and prayers that I see for my family, as well impossible to be able to adequately recognize up. There are many meetings going on all over as others in their time of trouble. I urge you to how important each and every person is that the country to ensure the best entertainment continue this fellowship, and I know that God makes our event such a success, we are going to and the best cowboys come to our Show. We will reward our faithfulness. spotlight for the world that we are a volunteer need the best stock for the Rodeo. We have to organization and how important that is to our meet with many city and county officials to God bless each of you! success. There has been a committee established ensure compliance with all regulations and to both celebrate our anniversary and honor our provide a safe experience for everyone at our members with special events and competitions. Show. Many contracts are handled by the Show The committee is hard at work, and you will be for everything, from sponsors, entertainers, receiving more specific information through mail transportation providers, etc. This list just Paul Somerville 1 A AAlternativelternative KeenKeen By Kristi Van Aken ome folks call his music “alternative country,” In some ways, Keen’s imagination helps him play to the Show some call it “Texas country,” and others refer to fans, who are seated far from the stage in Reliant Stadium. it as “not mainstream.” Singer/songwriter Robert “The audience is that big,” Keen said, invoking an image of him holding his thumb and forefinger close together to SEarl Keen calls himself “just a singing cowboy.” illustrate how small the audience looks from the stage, “and On March 6, 2006, native Houstonian Keen returned home you just pretend they’re right there, in your face. We try to to sing his own brand of country music to 45,774 fans at speak a little more slowly and play songs that won’t bleed out RODEOHOUSTON™. “I feel very fortunate. My hat is off to with all that echo.” people at the Rodeo who have the courage to book what is Keen and his band played to their audience at the Show.