Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Recognizing and Informing the Volunteers and Supporters of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
MAGAZINE
August 1994—Vol 1l, No. 3
®
Special Edition Financial Highlights Issue
Magazine CommitteeOfficer in Charge
Suzanne Epps
ChairmanRoy Elledge Jr.
Vice Chairmen/Committee Editors
Bill BarrettPeter A. Ruman
Copy EditorNancy Leverett
Editorial BoardMark AnawatyJohn Murphy
Marshall R. Smith IIIStephen Stepinoff
ReportersSamuel N. Allen
Nancy BurchYahsmine Catli-Cowan
Deborah DahlkeCheryl Dorsett
Freeman GregoryWhitney Horton
Ann JacobsBeth JohnsonMark Jones
Charlotte KirkPamela Malone
Melissa ManningElise Oppmann
Design/LayoutPegasus Design, Inc.
PhotographerSam Pierson
Magazine Staff/ManagementManagement Coordinators
Leroy ShaferSuzy Brown
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. James O. Bloodworth Allen H. Carruth
James R. “Dick” Graves Hal Hillman Don D. Jordan
H. Stuart Lang Jr. Louis M. Pearce Jr. John O. Smith
Clayton Underwood Tommie Vaughn P. Michael Wells
James M. Windham Jr.
Lifetime Member - Executive CommitteeDouglas B. Marshall
Chairman of the BoardJames R. “Dick” Graves
PresidentDon D. Jordan
OfficersRichard E. Bean John H. Causey John T. Cook
George A. DeMontrond III C.R. “Bob” Devine Suzanne Epps
George R. Hinsley Wayne Hollis Jr. Jim Janke
Robert V. McAnelly John J. Montalbano David E. Mouton, M.D.
Tom R. Northrup Paul G. Somerville
General ManagerDan A. Gattis
Volume II, Issue 3, is published by the HoustonLivestock Show and Rodeo, Copyright 1994. Letters
and comments should be sent to: Marketing Department, Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo, P.O. Box 20070, Houston, Texas 77225-0070.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Message from the President —————————————— 1
Financial Highlights —————————————————— 2
Features
Streamlining for the Future ————————————— 4
A Look at Operations ————————————————7
Corporate Sponsors ————————————————— 8
Where are They Now? ——————————————— 10
Board of Directors ————————————————— 12
Committee Spotlight
Souvenir Program Committee ———————————— 14
Lamb Auction Committee ————————————— 15
Ladies’ Go Texan Committee ———————————— 16
Commercial Exhibits Committee——————————— 17
Executive Committee Portrait
Mike Wells ———————————————————— 18
Management Feedback————————————————— 19
Calendar of Events——————————————— Back Cover
®
MAGAZINE,
he Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is knownas the Show with a heart. But we’re also recog-nized as a finely tuned, efficiently run organiza-
tion, where volunteers and staff significantly con-tribute to an outstanding bottom line.
Very few organizations can boast the type of revenueover expenses percentage we’re reporting for the 1993-1994 fiscal year — a phenomenal 41.76 percent! Thisrevenue over expenses totaling $12,460,451 representsthe largest in the Show’s history and unequivocally provesthe success of our 1994 event. These results enabled usto contribute $7,329,141 in support of Texas youngsters.
Our 1994 revenue was $29,838,942, with expensesrecorded at $17,378,491. However, as the chart onpage two demonstrates, revenue continues to climbon a steep incline, while expenses, although increas-ing, are not continuing at the same growth rate.
Beginning with the 1985 fiscal year and runningthrough 1994, revenue has increased 158 percent withexpenses increasing 140 percent. In that same 10years, our net, the revenue over expenses, increased188 percent. Our 10-year attendance history indicatesgeneral attendance has increased 51 percent since1985, with rodeo attendance increasing 83 percent.
How do we sustain this type of success? I feel thelong-term goals of the Show need to be exploredand analyzed, with strong efforts placed each year inachieving them. For example, in order to remain anattractive, reasonably priced entertainment venue forthe city and state, we must contin-ue to meet the expectations of eachticket buyer.
Our spectators want value for theirtickets — and if we can add valueeach year by offering more attractionsand activities, while remaining fi-nancially healthy, then we need todo so.
Obviously, we also want to offer tickets to a greaterportion of the public, as increased attendance trans-lates into increased revenue. Our decision to add tworodeo performances in 1995 will allow more ticketsfor purchase and was based on ticket demand provedover the past three years.
Parking continues to be a challenge and we are con-tinuously exploring the long-term strategies neededto offer spectators convenient, affordable transporta-tion to our event.
Also addressed in this magazine issue is the inter-nal reorganization of the Houston Livestock Show andRodeo. Significant, escalating growth, from the num-ber of members to the number of spectators, has causedus to focus on the operational framework of the orga-nization. We needed to change the framework to sup-port our current growth while focusing on the Show’s future.
For this reason, you’ll find an operations depart-ment to coordinate activities such as the carnival, bar-becue contest, educational displays and commer-cial exhibits.
Our logistics and service support department willwork with all buildings and grounds operations, clean-ing and security while retaining educational pro-grams, ticket operations and Corral Club operations.I think you’ll now find an internal organizationalstructure geared toward meeting the challenges ofthe 21st century.
Calculated, controlled and care-ful planning for the future growthof this organization is critical to itssuccess. However, with your con-tinued involvement and support,we’ll continue to see significant financial strides and contributionsdriven by an organization unequalledanywhere.
1
A M e s s a g e F r o m T h e P r e s i d e n t
T
D o n D . J o r d a nP r e s i d e n tS
am P
iers
on
F E A T U R E
2
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S✩
REVENUE OVER EXPENSE(For the year ending April 30)
1993 1994Revenue $ 27,394,143 $ 29,838,942Expense 15,982,910 17,378,491
Revenue Over Expense $ 11,411,233 $ 12,460,451
30
In M
illi
ons
Revenue
Expense
1994199319921991199019891988198719861985
25
20
15
10
5
1993*1 1994
Junior Show Contributions $ 3,216,575 $ 3,685,011Scholarships and graduate assistantships $ 2,832,430 $ 2,798,179Endowments to colleges and universities $ 505,000 $ 430,000Research and other agricultural programs $ 297,261 $ 415,951
*2 Total Contributions $ 6,851,266 $ 7,329,141
*1 Certain reclassifications have been made in the 1993 financial statement to conform to the 1994 presentation. Thereclassification did not affect the revenue over expense and contributions or fund balance for any period.
*2 Except for junior show contributions, contributions represent agricultural program support provided out of theprevious year’s Show revenue over expenses. Revenue over expense from the 1994 Show will be distributed duringthe 1995-96 year.
3
F E A T U R E
EXPENSE BREAKDOWN
15
1990
Operations
In M
illi
ons
Year
General & Administrative
Depreciation & Amortization
1991 1992 1993 1994
12
9
6
3
0
OPERATIONS, the largest category of expenses, includes rodeo, livestock show, advertising and promo-tion and committee activities.
Rodeo expenses include contract payments to feature entertainers, rodeo prize money and stock contrac-tor, lighting and sound, stage and crews and event labor such as ticket takers and clean up crews.
Livestock Show expenses include the costs of labor and equipment involved in setting up the buildings forthe livestock show and tearing out the show to return buildings to a condition for general shows and conven-tions. Also included in this category are premium payouts to open and junior show exhibitors.
Advertising and promotion expenses include all costs associated with the production and purchase of ad-vertising space in radio, television, newspaper and magazine media, as well as production and printing ofbrochures, bumper stickers, posters, billboards and souvenir programs. Also included are all activities relat-ing to public relations to include the operation of the pressroom during Show activities.
Committee activities expenses include all costs of meetings and functions, badges and other costs associat-ed with the more than 10,000 volunteers on the Show’s various committees.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE expenses include insurance, accounting and legal fees, office equip-ment, maintenance contracts and office supplies.
DEPRECIATION includes amortized costs of the buildings and improvements that have been constructed bythe Show and presented to Harris County.
F E A T U R E
4
S T R E A M L I N I N G F O R T H E F U T U R E
n an effort to facilitate theorganization’s phenomenalgrowth, the Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo has im-plemented a reorganization of itsoperational and support depart-ments. This reorganization resultsin the creation of one new depart-ment and the renaming of two oth-ers. Also, it has concentrated, shift-ed and/or modified the tasks andsupport requirements of all its departments.
These actions have resulted in thereassignment of some managementand staff personnel. Some volun-teers will notice the difference im-mediately because of changes ofmanagement and staff coordinatorsfor several committees throughoutthe Show structure.
Dan Gattis, general manager, ex-plained that these changes weremade to allow for positive operationand management control, to con-centrate similar tasks within prop-er departments, to eliminate over-lapping efforts, to improve efficiencyand to allow for organized im-provement, growth and expansion.
“We’re not fixing something thatis broken, we’re making a good op-eration much better,” Gattis em-phasized. “The Show has never beenmore successful than it has beenin the past three years, and as we im-prove our operational efficiency, wemust do nothing to interrupt thechemistry that has contributed toour phenomenal success.”
Gattis said that the Show’s staffand operational structure are being
reorganized along logical lines ofoperations, support, service and marketing.
“We have formed an operationsdepartment, restructured our pre-vious administrative departmentinto a logistics and service supportdepartment (to include buildingsand grounds), regrouped our live-stock and horse shows under theagricultural exhibits and competi-tion department, consolidated allaccounting, membership, manage-ment information systems and per-sonnel operations under the ac-counting and information systemsdepartment and redesignated themarketing department as marketingand presentations.
The management structure of theorganization is outlined below:
IPrepared byShow Staff
GENERALMANAGER’S
DEPARTMENT
Dan GattisGeneral Manager
LOGISTICS &SERVICESUPPORT
OPERATIONS MARKETING &PRESENTATIONS
ACCOUNTING &INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
AGRICULTURALEXHIBITS &
COMPETITION
Tom QuarlesAsst. Gen. Mgr.
Steve WoodleyMgr.Bldgs. &
Grounds
Mike DeMarcoMgr.Special
Services
Skip WagnerAsst. Gen. Mgr.
Leroy ShaferAsst. Gen. Mgr.
Suzy BrownMgr.
Tom BartelsAsst. Gen. Mgr. &
ControllerDon Jobes
Asst. Gen. Mgr.
5
F E A T U R E
The general manager’s depart-ment is responsible for the com-prehensive daily operations of theHouston Livestock Show and Rodeo,Corral Club Inc., and HoustonLivestock Show and Rodeo Inc.,wholly owned subsidiaries of theorganization. The general manag-er also functions as a liaison be-tween the president and the offi-cers of the Show; supervisesactivities of Show vice presidentsand serves on special committeesappointed by the Show’s chairmanof the board including the Executive,Educational Contributions Review,Budget, Finance and RiskManagement committees.
Other general manager duties in-clude management and supervi-sion of all departments and theirstaffs; supervision of all contractsand financial operations of the or-ganization; and representation ofthe organization in all negotiationswith state, county and city officials.
The general manager has a sup-port staff that assists him in the ex-ecution and implementation ofmanagement duties and responsi-bilities.
Coordinated committees: Legal Advisory and Lifetime Vice Presidents
The logistics and service supportdepartment is responsible for theeffective and efficient managementand supervision of support opera-tions including the following ar-eas: Show ticket operations;Astrohall and Astroarena securi-ty; buildings and grounds opera-
tions to include shop, warehouse,maintenance, and livestock showand rodeo setup and teardown; mailroom operations; all printing andsupply bids; cleaning operations;Corral Club operations; Board Roomoperations; administration of allscholarship/educational programs;front lobby receptionist; and Show-time telephone operators.
This department also will han-dle all-activities scheduling, radiocommunications, portable build-ings, waste removal and recyclingefforts. It works with AstrodomeUSA management to help super-vise and coordinate work duties ofemployees involved in the actualShow (ie. ticket sellers, parkers,guest relations, ushers, etc).
Coordinated committees:Carnival Ticket Sales, all CorralClub committees, EquipmentAcquisition, Events andFunctions, Graphics andSignage, Group Ticket Sales,Health, Ladies’ Season Box,Public Transportation, ResourceRenewal, Safety andTransportation.
The operations department is re-sponsible for profit/loss, cost man-agement and supervision of the fol-lowing areas: the carnival,commercial exhibits (includingRodeo Plaza and Astrohall Plaza),and special events/attractions toinclude the world’s championshipbar-b-que contest, the wild westshow, the milking parlor, the beefindustry exhibit and the pettingzoos.
Additional responsibilities forthis department include the effec-tive development, maintenanceand improvement of relationships,
both professional and financial,with corporate contributors, donorsand sponsors, as well as politi-cal, civic and corporate leaders whomay or may not have a direct relationship with the Show.Corporate development efforts alsospecifically include fund raisingfor the Educational Fund from corporations, foundations and individuals.
Coordinated committees:Agricultural Education TourGuide, Commercial Exhibits,Corporate Development,Directions and Assistance,Grand Entry, School Art, SpecialChildren, Western Art andWorld’s Championship Bar-B-Que.
The Show’s marketing and pre-sentations department is respon-sible for all aspects of the Show’smarketing and presentations pro-gram to include advertising; pro-motions; public, member and me-dia relations; sponsorships andcorporate cooperative programs;market, consumer and member-ship research and analysis; au-dio/visual production and pre-sentation; and communication andcomputer programs that supportmarketing, research, presenta-tion and public relations efforts.
This department also is respon-sible for all facets of credentials (in-cluding creation and distribution)and the technical presentation ofeducational demonstrations; spe-cial features and attractions; rodeopresentations; concerts; and stag-ing, sound and lighting. Additionalresponsibilities include manage-ment and implementation of in-house functions/departments in-
General Manager’s Department
Logistics and Service SupportDepartment
Operations Department
Marketing and PresentationsDepartment
6
cluding market research and mediabuying; production of all print andbroadcast commercials/advertising;graphics design and production, thebroadcast audio/video facility sup-porting multiple closed-circuit chan-nels, Diamond Vision screens in theAstrodome, radio and televisionlive feeds and network-quality postproduction.
Coordinated committees:Area Go Texan, Black Go Texan,Communications — Broadcast,Communications — Editorial, GoTejano, Go Texan Contests,Houston General Go Texan,Houston Metro Go Texan, Ladies’Go Texan, Magazine, OutdoorAdvertising, Parade, SouvenirProgram, Speakers andTrail Ride.
The accounting and informationsystems department is responsiblefor keeping accurate and completefinancial records for the HoustonLivestock Show and Rodeo, CorralClub, Inc., and Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo Educational Fund,Inc. Responsibilities include time-ly preparation of financial re-ports/analyses; organization and di-rection of all accounting functionsfor the Show; coordination and flowof financial information to and fromstaff and committee personnel; su-pervision of payroll and accountspayable/receivable; implementa-tion and maintenance of account-ing systems hardware/software; andmanagement of the annual audit in-cluding the maintenance of a pro-fessional relationship with auditorsand tax accountants.
Additional responsibilities in-clude the management of Showmembership operations, supervi-
sion of an in-house management in-formation systems (MIS) depart-ment which supports all other de-partments’ hardware and softwarecomputer needs and the upkeep ofthe Show’s policy handbook.
Coordinated committees: Membership andCommitteemen’s Bar-B-Que.
Responsible for effective man-agement and supervision of allaspects of livestock and horse shows,the agricultural exhibits and com-petition department functions asthe liaison between the Show andlocal, state, national and interna-tional livestock associations andbreed associations. It also repre-sents the Show in the planning andcoordinating of the InternationalLivestock Congress and schedulesall shows, livestock sales and re-lated activities including junior andcommercial sales.
With competition scheduledaround the clock in both the Astrohalland the Astroarena, the smooth andefficient operation of each show andsale is essential. Show livestock andhorse exhibitors also need to be as-sured they are competing in a qual-ity environment, with a great dealof hospitality and assistance offeredto each of them.
The agriculture exhibits and com-petition department is committedto providing outstanding, compet-itive settings with great emphasisplaced on shows and sales that areorderly, on schedule and effectivelyconducted.
Coordinated committees: Ag Mechanics Contest, BreedersGreeters, Breeding Poultry, all
Calf Scramble Committees,Intercollegiate Meat JudgingContest, International, JudgingContests Scoring, JuniorCommercial Steer Feeding andManagement, Lamb Auction,Livestock, Llama, PoultryAuction, Rabbit Show, Rangeand Pasture Plant Identification,Range Bull and CommercialHeifer, Sheep and Goat, SteerAuction, Swine Auction andVeterinarian. Horse Show com-mittees: Appaloosa,Arabian/Half Arabian, CuttingHorse, Donkey and Mule, JuniorHorse, Miniature, Paint,Palomino, Quarter Horse, HorseShow Advisory, Horse ShowAnnouncer, Horse Show Awards,Horse Show Equipment, HorseSales Assistance, Horspitalityand Junior Horse.
Show managers are united in theirbeliefs that they are implementinga reorganization that will be theblueprint for future staff and man-agement organization and devel-opment. These changes will allowthe Show to adequately meet theservice requirements of members,committee volunteers, exhibitors,spectators and all of theShow’s supported public.
F E A T U R E
®
Blueprint for the Future
Accounting and InformationSystems Department
Agricultural Exhibits andCompetition Department
The magazine will be
featuring a profile on
each of the new Show
departments. A look at
Operations, on the fol-
lowing page, is the first
in this series of articles.
7
F E A T U R E
A L O O K A T O P E R A T I O N S
ith its broad set of respon-sibilities, the
Show’s Operations Departmenttouches on every facet of the organization.
This department is directly accountable for the financial per-formance and public appeal ofevents and attractions geared toward the general public, excluding the rodeo and concertentertainment. In particular, thisdepartment decides how the spaceand time will be utilized for thefacilities at its disposal, deter-mines prices and negotiates thecontracts and terms with compa-nies, exhibitors, vendors and individuals in its venues.
Venues under the managementof Operations include the World’sChampionship Bar-B-Que Contest,the carnival, commercial exhibitsand attractions such as the WildWest Show, School Art display,Milking Parlor, Beef Industry exhibit and the petting zoos. Inaddition to the above mentionedevents and attractions, Operationsalso supports the Directions andAssistance, Special Children,Grand Entry, Ag Ed Tour Guideand Western Art committees, allof which directly impact the experience of the general publicat the Show.
“The greatest challenge in man-aging operations is to make surethat we continue to stay fresh, offering the public new attractionseach year and making the Showan event worth coming back totime and again,” said Skip Wagner,assistant general manager of Operations. “With the Astrodomefull, we need to provide a greatentertainment value on the restof the grounds so that we attractpeople to the Show who haveno plans to see the rodeo or con-
cert entertainers,” he added.In addition to the day-to-day
operations of the Show, this department also plays a vital partin developing the organization’srelations with the corporate com-munity, coordinating the actualfund-raising activities as well asseeing that the needs of theseShow contributors are met.Additionally, Operations workswith other Show departments in
any major fund-raising or corpo-rate development activities to ensure that the Show’s key sup-porter receive a consistent mes-sage regardless of which com-mittee or department is solicitingtheir support.
A related responsibility is to enhance relationships with political, civic and corporate lead-ers that may not have a directrelationship with the Show, butare important to the Show as itseeks to further its mission of ben-efiting youth and supporting education.
The comprehensive scope ofthis department also requires con-siderable interaction with all oth-er Show offices. Operations worksvery closely with the Marketing
and Presentations department toensure that its events and attrac-tions are promoted and present-ed as effectively as possible.
Operations also “contracts” withthe Logistics and Service Supportdepartment for set-up, mainte-nance, clean-up and tear-downservices and works closely withthem to see that ticket order fill-ing, parking, ushering and clean-ing are all executed to provide our
customers thebest possible ex-perience whenthey attend theShow.
Although thelivestock andhorse shows areprimarily gearedtoward the exhibitors andcontes tants ,O p e r a t i o n sworks with theAgricultural Exhibits andCompetit ion department to
enhance the overall experienceand value delivered to the gener-al public in the livestock and horseshow areas.
In addition to Wagner, the Op-erations department includes GinaRitter, Special Attractions Director;Janice Spencer, CommercialExhibits Director; and EvettaArmstrong, AdministrativeAssistant.
The Operations department teamfeels it is fortunate, because it per-haps touches more aspects of theShow than any other departmentor organization. If you have anyinput for them, let them know—they are always on the lookout fornew ideas to make the HoustonLivestock Show and Rodeoeven better.
W
®
The Operations department will now be coordinat-ing the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.
Sam
Pie
rson
F E A T U R E
8
C O R P O R A T E S P O N S O R S
Story byDeborahDahlke
iving Show spon-sors “bang for theirbuck” means mak-
ing sure the value of being a keyrodeo supporter pays off. Each year,businesses and corporations, largeand small, serve as corporate spon-sors of the Houston Livestock Showand Rodeo. The opportunities forthese companies to be a significant
part of the Show range from spon-sorship of rodeo events, star enter-tainment and video replays to mount-ed security, petting zoos, specialexhibits and other attractions andevents. The Show’s goal is to se-cure underwriters for the differentactivities that occur both on theAstrodomain grounds and duringthe 20 rodeo performances, so thatticket prices remain affordable forthe entire community.
The term “corporate sponsor” isapplied to those companies whosefinancial commitment to the Showis $50,000 or higher for one spe-cific event or activity. The Show’ssponsorship program began to grow
in 1988, when companies began torecognize the value and merit inevent marketing.
Show management capitalizeson the potential of offering spon-sors access to the hundreds of thou-sands of spectators at each year’sevent. During the 1994 Show, forexample, 985,871 spectators at-tending the rodeo watched the
Diamond Vision screens filled withvideo information on the sponsors,listened to the Show’s announcersthanking sponsors for their supportand saw strategically placed signsin various parts of the complex, giv-ing credit to businesses and com-panies whose contributions helpedmake the Show possible.
“Our intent is to provide mea-surable benefits and value back toall of our sponsors,” said SkipWagner, assistant general manag-er of the Show. “We recognize theneed to quantify the benefits backto our sponsors through carefultracking of the exposure and mar-keting opportunities they receive
in return for their financial com-mitment. We try to base the costof sponsoring each activity on thepotential exposure received andthe value of incremental benefitsoffered.
“Currently, we estimate that theShow’s corporate sponsors receive120 to 150 percent of the cost oftheir financial involvement back
in exposure and market-ing benefits.“At the same time, it isn’tlike they are just ‘buyingtime’ at the Show. Manyof them already have em-ployees working as vol-unteers and would donatesome funds anyway to sup-port the Show as good cor-porate citizens. Also, overthe past few years, cor-porations have increas-ingly recognized that therecan be a definite compet-itive advantage to beingperceived as a strong com-munity supporter. “It is our challenge to cre-ate and tailor programs tomeet both the marketingand charitable giving needsof all our corporate spon-
sors. As we do so, we have to becareful to protect the Show’s sta-tus as a 501 (c)(3) charity and en-sure all corporate sponsorships areproperly used and accounted for,”added Wagner.
During the 1994 Show, 32 com-panies were corporate sponsors,representing more than $1.5 mil-lion worth of Show revenue in spon-sorships alone. Many of the com-panies financially support the Showthrough additional ticket purchases,contributions directly to theEducational Fund, auction animalbuys or calf scramble donations.
Unlike many charitable organi-zations, the Show does not have
Corporate sponsors help underwrite some of the Show’s special services, such asthe shuttle bus operation.
GS
am P
iers
on$
9
F E A T U R E
to look hard for its sponsors. “Forthe most part, they come to us,” saidSuzy Brown, manager of marketingand director of the Show’s spon-sorship program. “We recognizecompanies making this type of fi-nancial commitment are making aconscious marketing decision, onebased on measurable results and re-alized goals. We try to keep allour corporate sponsors well informedand achieving their objectives and,as a result, there is very little turnoveramong our sponsors.”
According to Brown, most of thesponsors renew their financial com-mitments year after year and thereis a waiting list for sponsors eagerto support the Show’s activities.However, the Show’s philosophy isto provide quality entertainmentwithout becoming too commercial.“Although we respect and respondto sponsors’ needs for exposure, wehave a strong sensitivity to our au-dience as well. We want our spec-tators to enjoy the rodeo and the starentertainment while gaining an ap-preciation for the Show’s corporatepartners who are helping to make
this entertainment possible,”she noted.
The Show is committed to form-ing long-term relationships with itscorporate sponsors, turning to an-nual analysis for ways to improve.When new exhibits or activities de-
velop with sponsorship potential,as did the milking parlor exhibit in1993, careful consideration is given to the right type of sponsor.
“We try to create a good fit between the sponsor and the activ-ity in order that the sponsor will receive significant benefits from par-ticipating,” said Wagner. “The moresuccessful sponsors have leveragedthe funds they spend at the Showwith $3 worth of outside marketingexpense for every $1 they spend directly with the Show. If there isa natural tie between a sponsoredprogram and the sponsor’s line ofbusiness, it is much easier to aug-ment the sponsorship with adver-tisements in the community aboutthe rodeo and the sponsor tie witha particular event.
“Also, one of the benefits for cor-porate sponsors is that they can usethe Show’s logo in their advertis-ing, on their displays or in any oth-er collateral material, with approvalfrom the Show’s marketing office.It is good for the sponsors’ own prod-
ucts or service marketing,and it helps reduce theShow’s cost of actual advertising, so that moremoney can be used for edu-cational support. It is a verypositive association for boththe rodeo and the sponsors.“All in all,” said Wagner,
“the Show has created a gooddeal for the sponsors andtheir businesses, both because they are receivingvaluable marketing expo-sure from the Show and frombeing good corporate citi-zens. And you can’t underestimate the impactthat when they come to theShow, everyone involvedwith the Show makes sureour sponsors have aheck of a good time.” ®
Giving and Getting a Good Bang for Their Buck
Helping to keep ticket prices low, corporate sponsors bring singers likeClint Black and other top-notch entertainers to the Astrodome.
Many of the Show’s special attractions aresponsored, including rodeo events in theAstrodome.
Fran
k M
artin
Fran
k M
artin
F E A T U R E
10
W H E R E A R E T H E Y N O W ?✩
ince 1957, whenHoustonian BenDickerson was pre-
sented the first $2,000 scholarship,more than 11,000 awards totalingmore than $35 million have beengiven to Texas students. More than1,100 students receive some formof Show-sponsored educational as-sistance each year.
Providing the opportunity forTexas youth to receive a college ed-ucation has been the HoustonLivestock Show and Rodeo’s pri-mary purpose for 37 years.
The scholarships, in addition totheir monetary value, give the recipients some well-deservedrecognition, provide them with themeans to be more independent,and through donations, offer thestudents another source of moralsupport and encouragement. For
most of these outstanding young-sters, the Show’s scholarship is asignificant contribution to theircollege education; for some, it’stheir only means to achieve thatgoal.
Bill Rooney, Tammy Duke andStephanie Evans are former schol-arship winners who have excelledin their educational pursuits. Inthe years that have passed sincehigh school, they have capitalizedon the opportunities presented tothem as a result of winning aHouston Livestock Show and Rodeo
scholarship. Rooney, of Bryan, Texas,
was the recipient of aShow 4-H scholarshipaward of $8,000 in 1983.He attended Texas A&MUniversity to study agron-omy, which is soil andcrop science and plantgenetics. In 1987, he grad-uated magna cum laude.A senior-year project inplant genetics sparkedhis interest in plant breed-ing, so he continued hisstudies at Texas A&M andearned a master’s degreein the subject. Continuinghis education, Rooneyenrolled in a plant breed-ing and genetics doctor-al program at theUniversity of Minnesotain Minneapolis, and inDecember, 1992, becameDr. Rooney.“The scholarship made
things a lot easier for meas an undergraduate,” Rooney said.“Instead of working to earn moneyfor tuition, I worked to gain expe-rience. I was able to go on intern-ships in the summer rather that hav-ing to stay at home and save moneyfor school. I feel very lucky.”
That experience was evident in
the awards and honors he received.In 1989, Rooney received theOutstanding Master’s StudentResearch Award from the TexasA&M Association of FormerStudents. While at the Universityof Minnesota graduate school, hereceived the 1991 Hamm MemorialScholarship. During both his mas-ter’s and doctoral programs, hereceived fellowships.
Rooney is now an assistant pro-fessor of agronomy at Kansas StateUniversity where he teaches grad-uate level courses in plant geneticsand conducts research on alfalfa breeding and variety development.
Bill’s younger sister, TammyRooney Duke, followed his lead andwon a Show scholarship in 1986.With her $8,000 4-H award, she alsochose to attend Texas A&MUniversity and earned a bachelorof science degree in food scienceand technology in 1990.
Following an internship withGeneral Mills in Minneapolis, dur-ing which she worked on productdevelopment, she decided to pur-sue a master’s degree in nutritionat Texas A&M. But she soon real-ized she missed Minneapolis, andreturned to study at the Universityof Minnesota. Abandoning the mas-ter’s degree, she enrolled in a doc-torate program in food science andnutrition, from which she hopes tograduate this year. She is studyingcereal science, and her research isfocused on barley and the changesin the grain’s cell walls during themalting process.
Duke also is a multi-award-win-ning scholar. While at Texas A&M,she was named Outstanding Studentof the College of Agriculture, andshe received the Brewer Award forOutstanding Senior in AnimalScience. She became active in theInstitute of Food Technologies as
SStory by Elise Oppmann
Dr. William H. Cunningham (left), Chancellor of theUniversity of Texas, and Don Jordan, Show President, pre-sent $1.13 million in scholarships at the 1994 MillionDollar Scholarship Banquet.
John
McC
aine
Pho
togr
aphy
11
F E A T U R E
an undergraduate and has sinceheld several positions in the na-tional organization. She currentlyholds a USDA fellowship.
“My parents are of the opinionthat you work for what you get,”Duke said. “With the scholarship,I was able to earn money for the ex-tras; I didn’t have the pressure ofhaving to earn money for tuitionand books. I also had more freedomto concentrate on academics. Everyyear, during rodeo season, I thinkabout the Houston Livestock Showand Rodeo. It made a real differencein my life.”
In addition to the 4-H awards pre-sented to Rooney and Duke, theShow also offers FFA, Go Texan,Houston Metropolitan, School Art,Go Tejano and doctor of veterinarymedicine scholarships. The Showalso funds endowments and dedicated endowments to the colleges and universities, with the earnings used for semesterawards. Metropolitan, 4-H, FFAand Go Tejano programs make upthe largest percentage of scholar-ship money. For the 1994-95 schoolyear, more than 300 scholarshipswere awarded through these pro-grams, worth approximately $2.2million.
Metropolitan awards are pre-sented to a student in each highschool in Brazoria, Fort Bend,Galveston, Harris, Liberty,Montgomery and Waller counties.
The Show’s total educational com-mitment to the metropolitan pro-gram for the 1994-95 school year is$1.13 million. The metropolitanprogram began in 1989 with a$240,000 commitment and has nowexpanded into the Show’s largestscholarship program.
Stephanie Krienke Evans was therecipient of a metropolitan schol-arship in 1989. She used the $8,000award to attend Baylor University.
Majoring in accounting and eco-nomics, Evans maintained a 4.0grade point average and graduatedsumma cum laude.
The Houston native is now a full-time student at George WashingtonUniversity Law School inWashington, D.C. Having just com-pleted her first year, she is spend-ing the summer as an intern for U.S.Tax Court Judge David Laro.
While at Baylor, Evans was bothan outstanding student and athlete.She played tennis for four years andreceived the GTE Academic All-American Award for the 1992-93school year. In 1993, she becamethe first student at Baylor to benamed an Institutional NCAAWoman of the Year. During her se-nior year, she was namedOutstanding Student of theHankamer School of Business.Continuing to garner honors, Evanshas been named to the Moot CourtBoard at George Washington
University Law School.“The scholarship helped me
tremendously,” she says. “It wasa highlight of high school; it reallymeant a lot to me. I kept in touchwith my scholarship donor whileI was at Baylor. Having someonewho was interested and concernedabout my progress, and who wasalways there to provide support andencouragement, helped me to get agood start in college. It was nice toknow someone was behind me allthe way.”
Rooney, Duke and Evans are rep-resentative of the outstanding stu-dents who benefit each year fromthe contributions of the HoustonLivestock Show and Rodeo. Theyare among the elite group of Texasyouth who have achieved their ed-ucational and professional goalsbecause of the contributions of vol-unteers and the community.
They are the legacy of theShow.
“‘Tis education forms the common mind: Just as the twig is bent the tree’s inclined.”
Alexander Pope
Each year, fifty of the Show’s scholarships represent the Texas FFA, anorganization the Show has supported for more than 35 years.
John
nie
Hen
don
®
12
F E A T U R E
B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S
Story byMarkJones
rominent businessand communityleaders lend their
names, hundreds spend their mon-ey and, most important, all gen-erously give their time as membersof the Houston Livestock Show andRodeo board of directors. Boardmembers, including current, life-time and ex-officio, range from long-time Show volunteers to HoustonMayor Bob Lanier.
The Show’s board of directors isunique in many ways, includingthe variety of its members. Manybusiness owners and corporateCEOs serve proudly along side theiremployees as directors.
The board boasts members fromevery segment of society, but sur-prisingly, although many own cat-tle and horses, only about 10 maketheir livings from the farming, ranch-ing or stockyard business. Theboard truly represents theHouston/Gulf Coast area at work:there are approximately 10 attor-neys, five doctors and dentists, anda couple of veterinarians. Morethan 10 members are involved inconstruction, about 25 work in theoil, gas and energy industry andanother 10 are active in the in-surance business.
There are a few judges, a con-stable and an agent of the TexasAlcoholic Beverage Commission.Members work for or own jewelrystores, clothing companies, furni-ture stores and restaurants. Theydistribute beer, food and electric-ity, and about 10 repair or sell carsand trucks.
The common thread among thisdisparate group of men and womenis their devotion to the HoustonLivestock Show and Rodeo.
“Directors serve as the Show’stop ambassadors to the communi-ty, state and the world,” said DanGattis, the Show’s general manag-
er. “No matter what other associ-ations and volunteer organizationsthey work for, we feel they are al-ways an integral part of the HoustonLivestock Show and Rodeo, and Ican’t think of a better group to haverepresenting this Show.”
Directors attend numerous Showcommittee functions, adding that“official touch” to even those eventsfar from metropolitan Houston.With more than 90 committees meet-ing almost all year long, directorsare an important part of this orga-nization’s support network.
Board members also have otherimportant duties: they are re-sponsible for performance and op-erations of the Show, they electmembers of the ExecutiveCommittee, they elect officers andhave full authority in the purchaseand sale of real estate related to the Show.
In an organization of 30,000 mem-bers, 10,450 of which are commit-tee volunteers, the board of di-rectors is a relatively small group.It is limited by the bylaws to notless than 140 and not more than250 members, plus the chairmanof the board, the current officers,past presidents and lifetime vicepresidents. Directors are electedat the Show’s annual meeting eachyear by the general membership.
Potential new directors are sug-gested by their peers and are se-lected by the nominating commit-tee, which consists of the ExecutiveCommittee. Based on years of ex-perience as Show volunteers andleaders, each member of the nom-inating committee has his own wayof judging candidates’ qualifica-tions, but all recommendations areseriously and carefully considered.
Jim Bloodworth, one of the fiveExecutive Committee memberselected from the board of directors,has his own one-to-five-point grad-
ing scale for potential nominees.He said he looks for four majorthings: involvement in Show com-mittees, to include length of ser-vice and specific activities; finan-cial contributions to the Show;involvement in community activ-ities outside the Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo; and leadershipability. He has an eye to the futurein that final consideration.
“We need to be choosing some-one who might have the ability tomove up to officer,” saidBloodworth.
Current Chairman of the BoardDick Graves is a prime example ofhow the system works. He workedhis way up through the ranks fromcommittee volunteer to board mem-ber and committee chairman, vicepresident and ultimately, ShowPresident.
Past leadership also is honoredthrough promotion from directorto lifetime director. A director is eligible for this honor at the dis-cretion of the Executive Committee.Pictures of this elite group hang inone of the Show’s meeting rooms,recognizing those men and womenwho have shown outstanding ded-ication to the Show and its goals.
The ex officio board is made upof the Texas governor, Harris Co.judge, county commissioners,Houston’s mayor, police chief andfire chief, the Harris Co. sheriff,and other state, county and localofficials and dignitaries. Ex offi-cio members serve as non-votingmembers of the board.
With a wide range of professions,ages and backgrounds, the HoustonLivestock Show and Rodeo boardof directors provides a solid baseof support for Show activities, atremendous resource for futureShow leaders and a great sourcefor Show representationthroughout the community.
P
®
13
F E A T U R E
S H O W B Y L A W S A M E N D E D
Story bySamuel N. Allen
n June 2, 1994, theHouston LivestockShow and Rodeo
Bylaws were amended to more clear-ly define the organization’s goalsand functions, to expand the mem-bership of the board of directorsand the Executive Committee, tocreate a new office and to updatecertain provisions to comply withchanges in tax and other laws.
The amendments give the Showthe benefit of continued service ofvaluable members and gives recog-nition to men and women who haveserved the Show for many years.
The most significant amendmentsare associated with the board of di-rectors. The maximum number ofboard members is limited to 250,plus the chairman of the board, thepresident and the vice presidents.Also, lifetime vice presidents wereadded as permanent voting mem-bers of the board.
Another amendment providedthat, with certain exceptions, a per-son who is 70 years of age is inel-igible for election to the board ofdirectors. However, lifetime vicepresidents as well as elected andlifetime members of the ExecutiveCommittee are exempted from theage limitation.
Furthermore, the criteria for becoming a lifetime vice presidentor a lifetime director has been mod-ified. The office of “honorary” life-time presidents is now eliminat-ed. Now, a member of the boardwho has served for three consecu-tive years in the position of vicepresident is automatically desig-nated as a lifetime vice president.
In addition, a person who has servedwith distinction and who is nom-inated to be a lifetime director bythe Nominating Committee is eli-gible to be elected as a lifetime di-rector by a majority vote of the vot-ing at the annual meeting of themembership.
Prior to these amendments, a per-son was eligible to become a life-time director only if he served forten years on the board or was overthe age of 70 years.
The Executive Committee alsowas affected by amendments to theBylaws. The current president wasadded as a member. Previously,only the past presidents and fivemembers of the board of directors,elected by the board, served on theExecutive Committee. In addition,directors who had served on theExecutive Committee for nine yearswere ineligible to serve as mem-bers of the Executive Committee.Therefore, an article was amend-ed to provide that a person who becomes ineligible to serve on theExecutive Committee due to serv-ing for nine years or reaching age70 becomes eligible to be named alifetime member of the ExecutiveCommittee, with all privileges ofmembership, excluding the rightto vote.
An additional change in the officers structure as a result ofthe Bylaws changes, the office offirst vice president was created.The duties of
this officer will be determined bythe president. The first vice pres-ident, who will serve for a one-yearterm, is not automatically a mem-ber of the Executive Committee,but if he or she is not already a mem-ber, he or she becomes an ex-offi-cio member, without a vote, by invitation of the president.
The amendments to the Bylawsalso allows the election of honorarymembers to the Show. To becomean honorary member, a person musthave provided special services tothe organization or special servicein encouraging improvements inbreeding and raising farm animals.
One final alteration was the dateof the annual meeting, which hasbeen changed from the fourthTuesday of each May to the thirdTuesday of each May.
There were several amendmentsmade with respect to administrativematters. However, collectively theseall serve to expand the talent poolavailable to operate the HoustonLivestock Show and Rodeoefficiently and effectively. ®
O✩
14
O F F I C E R P R O F I L E S
ccording to John T. Cook, be-ing named vice president ofthe Show is right up there with
marrying his wife and being nameda partner at John L. Wortham & Son.As a native Houstonian, Cook re-members attending the HoustonFat Stock Show as a child whenit was held in the Sam HoustonColiseum.
Cook became involved in theShow when his son won a trophyin the Junior Horse Show duringthe 40th anniversary Show. Shortlyafter this experience in 1972, Cookjoined the International Committee.He was a member of the CommercialExhibits Committee and served aschairman of the Speakers Committeefrom 1981-1983. He remains ac-tively involved on the SpeakersCommittee.
“Being a committee member isnot only a privilege, but it also car-ries a responsibility of making surethat we continue to give the verybest we can to the community.”
Cook serves as officer in chargeof the Houston General Go Texan,Houston Metro Go Texan, RangeBull and Commercial Heifer andSpeakers committees.
Cook spent many years growingup in Houston, but graduated fromhigh school at Phillips Academyin Andover, Mass. He graduated
from Rice University in 1960. Cook’s wife Judy serves on the
Junior Horse Show Committee. SonTad, 33, previously served on theBreeders Greeters Committee, andJason, 27, currently is a member ofthe Cutting Horse Committee. Cook’ssons have been life members sincethey were in swaddling clothes.
Cook and his family enjoy spend-ing as much time as possible at theirranch in Fayette County. They raiseblack Brangus and Longhorn cat-tle and Quarter Horses. Cook alsoenjoys fishing and tries to get toMexico for dove hunting at leastonce a year.
ith his crisp white shirt andchiseled face, John J.Montalbano explains that
“for (wife) Angela and me, the showis serious business. It’s not just arodeo, but a chance to be able toprovide education for the youth ofTexas. We feel this is very impor-tant.” He and his family have servedHoustonians in the lumber indus-try since 1900. Montalbano LumberCompany, the oldest lumber com-pany in the city of Houston, has al-ways been an enthusiastic sup-porter of the Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo. Likewise, theMontalbanos have always felt theShow was an outreach of their fam-ily. “Angela and I come from a long
line of agricultural families whowant to help someone to help them-selves.”
Montalbano remembers going tothe Show as a part of growing up.He first joined the Corral ClubCommittee in 1978 and worked inthe Directors’ Club for about eightyears. In 1984, he joined the CalfScramble Greeters Committee andserved in that capacity for fouryears.
Most recently, Montalbano servedas chairman of the AgriculturalMechanics Committee. Montalbanoenjoys all aspects of the commit-tee and noted that “the students in-volved just shine. They all havegood goals and ideals.”
As a newly elected vice-presi-dent, he compliments vice presi-dents before him and hopes to addsomething positive to what theyhave already accomplished.
He will have the opportunityto do just that as he serves as offi-cer in charge of the Ag Mechanics,Area Go Texan, EquipmentAcquisition, Go Texan Contestsand Grand Entry committees.
Angela Montalbano served asvice chairman and remains activeon the Swine Auction Committeeand also is a member of theCorporate Development Committee.The Montalbanos have two sons,John Junior, 17, and Vincent, 10,who are already life members ofthe Show.
Montalbano enjoys working andspending time at the family ranch-es in Washington and WallerCounties. He works cattle, raiseshorses, enjoys fishing and hunting.
The Montalbanos also enjoy anine-year tradition of riding as afamily on Wagon Seven of the SaltGrass Trail Ride. Montalbano ispart owner of the wagon andAssistant Trail Boss of the Salt GrassTrail Ride.
V i c e P r e s i d e n t P r o f i l e s
Sam
Pie
rson
Stories byWhitney Horton
JOHN T. COOKS
am P
iers
on
JOHN MONTALBANO
A
W
15
O F F I C E R P R O F I L E S
r. David Eugene Mouton’s par-ticipation in many PoultryAuction Committee skits sure-
ly prepared him for duties now ascolor commentator with KTRK-TV/Channel 13 during the Show’sannual downtown parade.
But Mouton’s involvement withthe Houston Livestock Show andRodeo doesn’t start there. He wasa member of the Steer Auction andWorld’s Championship Bar-B-Quecommittees, and served as vice chair-man of the Skybox Committee.
Mouton also was chairman of theHealth Committee and remains ac-tively involved on that committeeas well as the Parade Committee.
As a vice president, Mouton hopesto make certain that “all committeemembers have a working under-standing of not only what we areabout, but the degree to which wehave been successful in promotingyouth and education. It is a greatexperience to actually see theseyoung kids getting their scholar-ships from the Show. Not only dothey recognize the contribution com-ing from this organization, but theyare so appreciative of it. Every vol-unteer contributes to the success ofeach one of the kids, and I think thatmore than anything else makes thewhole thing worthwhile.”
As a newly-elected vice president,Mouton serves as officer in charge
of the Health, Intercollegiate MeatJudging Contest, Llama, PoultryAuction and Veterinarian commit-tees.
Mouton grew up in Lafayette, La.,attended college at Spring Hill Collegein Mobile, Ala., then attendedMedical School at Louisiana StateUniversity in New Orleans. Moutonserved in the Army until 1972, whenhe moved to Houston and beganworking at Kelsey Seybold, wherehe practices today as an internistwith a subspecialty in nuclear med-icine.
Mouton enjoys spending timewith his wife Debra, who is work-ing on her master’s degree in busi-ness administration at St. ThomasUniversity and is busy with their1-year-old son, John Barry. Moutonhas four children from a previousmarriage, David, Suzanne, Georgeand Mark.
rowing up in a military family,Paul G. Somerville attendedtwelve different schools in twelve
years. Working summers in the oilfields, he graduated from theUniversity of Missouri. As ownerand chairman of Associated PipeLine Contractors, Inc., Somervillehas visited 92 countries; however,he has always returned home toHouston for the annual HoustonLivestock Show and Rodeo.
Somerville began his service tothe Show as a member of theInternational Committee, serving aschairman from 1991 to 1994. Twiceeach year, Somerville and other mem-bers of the International Committeepay their own ways to places suchas Italy, Paraguay, Mexico and France,to promote the Show abroad.
When visiting with internationalpeople, Somerville explained, “en-thusiasm for the Show becomes contagious.”
In his role as Show vice president,Somerville serves as officer in chargeof the Carnival Ticket Sales, GroupTicket Sales, International, Ladies’Season Box and Livestock commit-tees.
“Everyone always says the Showis for the kids, and I agree,” Somervillesaid. “Recently, I witnessed someof the finest kids in America receivescholarships at Texas A&M University.Their enthusiasm and appreciationis simply overwhelming.”
Somerville’s wife, Kathy, serveson the International and LadiesSeason Box committees. She andtheir daughter, Courtney, 7, are bothlife members of the Show.
Somerville loves to spend timewith his family, riding horses at hishome just outside of Richmond,Texas.
Somerville serves on the boardsof the Society for Performing Arts,the Childress Foundation, and thePipe Line Contractors Association,where he has been named one of theMen of Achievement in the PipelineIndustry. He is active in numer-ous cultural, charitable and civic or-ganizations, including the HoustonGrand Opera, Fellowship of ChristianAthletes, the Cystic FibrosisFoundation, the Houston Symphony,the Cancer Society, Crohn’s andColitis Foundation of America, theMarch of Dimes and Boys &Girls Harbor.
Sam
Pie
rson
DR. DAVID MOUTON
Sam
Pie
rson
PAUL G. SOMERVILLE
®
D
G
attlemen and sheep have al-ways been on opposite sides ofbarbed wire, but at the Houston
Livestock Show, the Lamb AuctionCommittee is tearing down thosefences faster every year as sales andpopularity both continue to in-crease.
Dr. Dan Lehane, chairman of theLamb Auction Committee, is a 30-year veteran of the Show, and not-ed that one of the most significantchallenges for the committee in thepast has been overcoming the neg-ative stereotype that lambs have inthe state of Texas.
“Selling lambs is one of the tough-est sales out here at this Show. It’sa major challenge because their im-age is very poor, and the size of theanimal is small,” Lehane said ofthe lambs, which have the small-est of three junior market livestockauctions. “It’s hard to get a largedonation for a small package ofmeat.”
But in spite of the challenges, theLamb Auction Committee has
worked hard and reaped many ben-efits. In the past 10 years, the com-mittee has seen significant increasesin pre-sales, premiums, entries andauction prices. To accommodatethe growth, more breeds and weightclassifications have been added tothe competition, which now in-
cludes 24 categoriesinstead of eight. DrLehane said he is quiteproud of the expan-sion, because it allowsmore students to par-ticipate in the livestockshow and earn awards.
“It’s the exhibitorswe are trying to re-ward. Our main thrustis generating premi-ums for them,” saidLehane, who joinedthe Lamb AuctionCommittee because itwas easier to promotelamb than beef in thenutrition-conscious
medical community. “We want toreally impact those kids who areall winners. They and their fami-lies have invested a lot of time andmoney in training, feeding andgrooming these animals, and wewant them to be rewarded.”
The committee has been verysuccessful, and at the 1994 auction,all junior market lamb exhibitorswho made it to the auction receivedat least $1,000 for their animals,which increased 100 percent fromthe $500 minimum last year. Withthe higher guaranteed payment,the committee is expecting the num-ber of entries to increase quite a bitfor the 1995 Show. The 1994 lambauction proved to be “twice as nice,”as the grand champion lamb sold
for $110,000—a new world’s recordprice. The previous year, the toplamb went for $55,000. The suc-cess of the 1994 auction allowedthe Lamb Auction Committee todirectly contribute $153,000, throughits buyers, to the Show’s Educa-tional Fund.
According to Jim Janke, officerin charge, the committee has beenvery prosperous, in part, due to the“lambual,” the committee’s annu-al promotional program.
In its effort to make an even big-ger impact on the students, thecommittee started a new traditionthis year when it hosted a JamesConey Island hot dog party forall 300 exhibitors. The Texas-sizedparty was held in the judging are-na and turned out to be a great ex-perience for both committee mem-bers and entrants.
“It was tremendously successfuland gave the committee a touch-ing exposure to the youngsters andtheir families,” Lehane said. “Itwas very rewarding for the com-mittee members to meet with theexhibitors and their parents. It givesus more drive and enthusiasm forthe next year.”
Another event committee mem-bers look forward to working oneach year is the sifting and pre-judging of the lambs, which takesplace in Rosenberg, Texas. There,about 1,000 entries are narroweddown to the 300 that will competein the show ring in Houston. Evenbefore that happens, members haveattended weekly meetings to reporton sales and to bolster enthusiasm.
And each year after the Show,the committee gets together for anannual awards meeting tohonor the top sales people.
C
C O M M I T T E E P R O F I L E S
C o m m i t t e e S p o t l i g h t
LAMB AUCTION COMMITTEE
16
Story byBethJohnson
Committee members assist in all aspects of the auc-tion, including helping this exhibitor with his prize-winning lamb.
®
Sam
Pie
rson
17
Story byMelissaManning
SOUVENIR PROGRAM COMMITTEE
C O M M I T T E E P R O F I L E S
ired up!These words may offer the
most accurate description ofthe more than 485 members of theSouvenir Program Committee. Theyare loud and proud, and when thiscommittee convenes for one ofits meetings, the casual observermay mistake the gathering for a po-litical convention.
Yes, these members do share acommon goal, but, instead of po-litical platforms, they are concen-trating on one important topic—selling ads.
While many Show committeemembers are enjoying the pleasuresof summer, Souvenir ProgramCommittee members are hard atwork selling the rodeo and sellingadvertising space in the souvenirprogram. According to the com-mittee’s chairman, J. Craig Cowgill,enthusiastic members are essen-tial to the program’s success.
“We have to create our own“February fever” in July and August,because nobody’s thinking of rodeoin July,” Cowgill says. “We haveto get our people fired up so theycan spread their enthusiasm to ad-vertisers.”
“Last year, our total revenue was$938,000,” Cowgill said. “Our goalin 1994-95 is to surpass $1,000,000in revenue.”
The committee secured $179,190in scholarship donations alone.
As one of the organization’s biggestmoney-makers, the SouvenirProgram Committee has set salesrecords, and sales have continuedto grow significantly for the lastnine years.
The souvenir program also servesas an important barometer for thesuccess of the upcoming Show,
Cowgill noted. Traditionally, if, atthe end of the sales campaign inNovember, ad sales for the souvenirprogram are strong, then the rodeoalso will be a success come February.
The souvenir program is a use-ful volume of information and ad-vertising, often exceeding 1,000pages. Inside, readers find de-scriptions of rodeo events, listsof Show committees and commit-tee members, and scholarship pro-grams and recipients, as well as ad-vertisers and other supporters ofthe rodeo.
One key to the committee’s suc-cess, says Robert V. McAnelly, officer in charge of the committee,is the continuing effort by committee leaders to ensure thatthe committee membership is representative of the Houston community which it serves.
Until 1987, the Souvenir Program
Committee was actually two sep-arate committees—the Ladies’Souvenir Program Committee andthe Men’s Souvenir ProgramCommittee. The two committeeswere merged to provide a larger,more unified sales force to com-mittee management. Currently,approximately 65 percent of thecommittee’s leadership positionsare held by women, McAnellyadded.
According to Cowgill, theSouvenir Program Committee islikely to be the most accessible tonew committee volunteers, as about100 new members or “rookies” arerecruited each year. During an“NFL-style draft” meeting in July,captains and team captains repre-senting the 16 sales teams, gatherto select or “draft” the members fortheir sales team.
These teams are a zealous bunch,and they like to have fun, Cowgillnoted, but they also take their com-mittee responsibilities very seri-ously. In the spirit of good-naturedcompetition, they will work hardto outsell other teams. Each teamadopts a sales theme and then com-petes for awards for best team sales,best individual sales and best teamdecor.
Both Cowgill and McAnelly agreethat the Souvenir Program Committeeis rewarding because it offers mem-bers an opportunity to interact withindividuals in the community andto provide scholarships to deserv-ing students. But an added bonusis that, “in the midst of selling ads,compiling copy and meeting dead-lines, we help generate excitementabout the Houston Livestock Showand Rodeo....and we have funwhile we’re at it.”
F
®
Committee chairman, CraigCowgill looks through the 1994souvenir program.
Sam
Pie
rson
C O M M I T T E E P R O F I L E S
C o m m i t t e e S p o t l i g h t
or almost 30 years, its style, classand elegance have been a partof the Houston Livestock Show
and Rodeo. Yet the Ladies’ Go TexanCommittee also typifies a strongcommitment to hard work, a will-ingness to take on new responsi-bilities and the ability to creative-ly advance the Show’s goals andpurposes.
The Ladies’ Go Texan Committeebegan as a subcommittee of theShow’s General Go Texan Committeein 1965. “It was a small group ofwives and daughters of Show of-ficers,” said Liz Jameson, commit-tee chairman.
By 1973, the subcommitteeachieved full committee status asthe Ladies’ Go Texan Committee,with emphasis on Show promotion,publicity and public relationsthroughout the greater Houston area.
In 1982, members of the Ladies’Go Texan Committee researched,developed and produced the Show’s50th anniversary cookbook. Thispopular item quickly sold out, caus-ing several subsequent reprints.
Throughout the Show that year,
committee members also sold thebook from a special Ladies’ Go TexanCommittee booth. Other Show sou-venir items, including items hand-made by the members, were addedto the booth’s inventory. The boothwas part of the committee’s re-sponsibilities through the 1993Show.
During the 1994 Show, Ladies’Go Texan members became am-bassadors for the Show through spe-cial public relations efforts in threekey areas: the corporate sponsorsuite, the milking parlor and theTejas Room.
Members work with significantShow supporters in theAstrodome’s ninth levelcorporate sponsor suite,ensuring all guests are com-fortable, informed and ableto have a great time at therodeo.
Committee membersalso work in the Show’smilking parlor, helping tobolster public awarenessof the Show’s education-al exhibits. About fivemembers work each milk-ing parlor shift, passingout promotional material,while others help demon-
strate the milking process. “Morethan 20,000 people toured the milk-ing parlor last year,” Jameson said.
In the Tejas Room, where specialreceptions are held throughout theShow, committee members greetVIP guests and act as Show infor-mation sources.
Currently, the committee also dis-tributes Show promotional mater-ial, such as posters and brochures,and conducts specific publicity ac-tivities to create public awareness
about the event. School children are of keen in-
terest to this committee. Prior tothe annual Show, Jameson said com-mittee members distribute activi-ty sheets to local school-aged chil-dren. The activity sheets includecoloring projects and various chil-dren’s games.
Last year, the committee distrib-uted an estimated 16,000 activitysheets to all private and most pub-lic elementary schools in theHouston, Alief and Spring Branchschool districts.
Each year, the committee selectsone school to highlight. At that spe-cial school, the members combineefforts with a local radio stationto pull out all the promotional stops.They use clowns, stage coaches andcowboys to promote the Go Texanspirit.
The Ladies’ Go Texan Committeealso conducts three fashion showsprior to the rodeo, with many com-mittee members modeling westernattire. The shows offer Houston-area women a chance to see what’shot in rodeo fashions.
Aside from its public relationsand promotional duties, the Ladies’Go Texan Committee also partici-pates in the junior market auctions.Jameson said the majority of com-mittee dues collected from the 110members is used to bid on auctionanimals.
From greeting youngsters inthe milking parlor and the class-rooms to informing Show contrib-utors and guests about the orga-nization, members of the Ladies’Go Texan Committee bring theessence of the Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo to all as-pects of the community.
LADIES’ GO TEXAN COMMITTEE
F
18
Story byCherylDorsett
Committee members help young visitors understand themilking process while touring the milking parlor.
®
Sam
Pie
rson
19
lydesdales, ostriches and vel-cro walls? Gourmet food, artdisplays, and belt buckles? This
may sound like the ultimate shop-ping mall, but it is only a samplingof the wares offered by hundredsof commercial exhibitors that comefrom all over the country to theHouston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
During the 1994 Show, 384 vendors occupied 700 booths inthe Astrohall and Astroarena, re-sulting in a contribution to theShow’s bottom line in excess of$1.3 million.
Making sure that everything runssmoothly, from moving into thearea to moving out, are the 150members of the Commercial ExhibitsCommittee. These lawyers, bank
presidents, teachers and businessprofessionals each contribute 40hours of their time making sure thevendors are happy.
“Our members are goodwill am-bassadors for the commercial ex-hibitors,” said Robin Holland, com-mittee chairman. “We realize that
the commercial exhibitors con-tribute not only a dramatic amountof money to the Show but also good-will and draw. Our job is to pro-vide the Houston area with the bestcommercial exhibitors and keepthose exhibitors happy.”
According to the committee’s of-ficer in charge, Wayne Hollis Jr.,each of the committee membersworks five, eight-hour shifts dur-ing the three weeks of the Show.They ensure the vendors complywith their contracts, check that theaisles are clear and help the firemarshals enforce their rules andregulations. The group takes careof lighting and air conditioning aswell as monitors the items beingsold, making sure the vendors do
not sell anything that may be of-fensive. A sub-group of the com-mittee takes care of any construc-tion for booths that may needassembling.
Sixty-two years ago, when theShow was known as the HoustonFat Stock Show, the commercial
exhibits were primarily livestockfeed companies.
“Back then, the Show was most-ly a forum for ranchers to showtheir animals and demonstrate theanimals’ weight gain,” said Holland.“So the vast majority of the ven-dors were companies who sold feedand advertised such things as av-erage weight gain. It was not un-til recent years that exhibitors start-ed selling everything from candlesto clothing.”
Today, the diversity of the com-mercial exhibitors reflects theShow’s current audience. Currentvendors sell and show everythingfrom barbecue and gourmet Italianfood to monster tractors and quilts.
The job of selecting which ex-hibitors participate in the Show be-longs to the Show’s staff, though in-put is provided by the committee.
“We invite most of the vendorsfrom the previous year to partici-pate in the next year’s Show,” saidJanice Spencer, the Show’s direc-tor of commercial exhibits. “About85 percent of them accept.”
After verifying vacant space,Assistant General Manager SkipWagner and Spencer review the ap-plications of those vendors whoare interested in having a booth.“There is no waiting list, as every-one thinks there is,” said Spencer.“The exhibitors are placed into cat-egories and are selected on that ba-sis.” For instance, there may be anopening for a new vendor, but some-one who is selling belt buckles maynot be selected because of the num-ber of other vendors already sell-ing the item. “We are always look-ing for things that are unique, newand have a western theme,”Spencer said.
Story byYahsmineCatli-Cowan
COMMERCIAL EXHIBITS COMMITTEE
C O M M I T T E E P R O F I L E S
C
One of the many shopping opportunities at the Show’s commercial exhibits.
®
Sam
Pie
rson
20
Michael Wells is an out-standing example of a manwhose reserved, soft spoken
approach to life creates respectand an aura of soundness, disci-pline and ability.
These qualities, together withhis active love of horses and hismanagement expertise, have madeWells an integral and valuable main-stay of the Houston Livestock Showand Rodeo.
Wells’ love for the Show beganmany years ago as a child. “I usedto attend the Show at the SamHouston Coliseum, and I remem-ber how fun it was,” said Wells.“But as an adult, I learned how thisoutstanding organization benefitsTexas youth and how it also affectsthe entire community of Houston.”
A member of the Show since 1965,Wells began his volunteer serviceto the organization in 1968 as a mem-ber of the Quarter Horse Committee.While on that committee, he developed the concept of theHorspitality Committee, which wascomprised of only eight people.Shortly thereafter, the group becamea Show committee and has expandedto a 374-member committee today.
Wells served as chairman of theCutting Horse, Quarter Horse,Palomino and Horspitality com-mittees. He was also a member ofthe Membership, Steer Auctionand Corporate Contributor com-mittees.
A native Houstonian, Wells grad-uated from San Jacinto High Schooland attended the University of Texason a football scholarship. He wasawarded the D.X. Bible award in1958. One year later, he received abachelor’s degree in finance and accounting.
Wells and his wife, Marilyn, liveon their ranch in Fulshear, Texas.Between them, they have five chil-dren and four grandchildren, withtwo more grandchildren due thisfall.
Both share in their love for cut-ting horses, and Mike is a directorand past Executive Committee mem-ber of the National Cutting HorseAssociation.
But Wells’ passion for cuttinghorses is not only a hobby, buta talent as well. In 1986, he fin-ished in the top 10 of the NCHAWorld Cutting Horse Finals. “Ittruly was an honor for me to makeit to the finals in 1985 and 1986,”Wells said. “Especially since theywere held at the HoustonLivestock Show and RodeoAstroarena.”
Since 1965, Wells has shownhis horses every year in theHouston Horse Show.
A prominent figure in Houston’sbanking industry, Wells retiredfrom First Interstate Bank of Texasafter 20 years with the bank to man-age personal investments.
In 1983, he became CEO of SuperSyndicated, Ltd., an investmentsyndication of Quarter HorseStallions, which underwrote thelargest cutting horse purse in thesport’s history—a $1 million prize.Wells returned to the banking industry in 1987 and currentlyserves as President and CEO ofTexas Guaranty Bank.
Wells enjoys and appreciatesthe Show for many reasons. “Itprovides an education to so many deserving and needy Texas youngpeople, it brings revenue to thecity of Houston and it provides aplace for wholesome fun and en-tertainment for all members of thefamily at a price that makes it thebest entertainment value inthe state of Texas.”
O F F I C E R P R O F I L E
E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e P r o f i l e
P.
Mike Wells
Mike Wells, one of the five mem-bers of the board of directorselected to the Show’s ExecutiveCommittee.
®
Sam
Pie
rson
21
M A N A G E M E N T F E E D B A C K
C h a n g e s a n d I m p r o v e m e n t s f o r 1 9 9 5
he 1994 HoustonLivestock Showand Rodeo was
a huge success, so now we havethe challenge of maintaining andsurpassing our past accom-plishments.
How do we do that? One ofthe answers to that question isto improve on those things we already do well, such as pro-viding the public with the aunique experience and the bestentertainment value anywhere.
Some of the 1995 improve-ments include moving all GoTexan activities back to theAstrodome complex and length-ening the barbecue contest.
The 1995 World’s ChampionshipBar-B-Que Contest will be heldbeginning Friday, Feb. 10 and con-tinuing through Sunday, Feb. 12in the Astrodome parking lot. Allother Go Texan contests, exclud-ing team penning, will be heldSaturday, Feb. 11, here in theAstrodome/Astrohall/Astroarena.The downtown rodeo parade androdeo run also will be heldSaturday, Feb. 11. Team penningaction will fill the AstroarenaSunday, Feb. 12.
One reason for the Go Texan activities rescheduling is the addition of two rodeo perfor-mances to deal with the ever-increasing demand for rodeotickets.
The rodeo will begin one dayearlier, Friday, Feb. 17 with anevening performance, followedby an new matinee performanceon Saturday, Feb. 18. The regu-lar rodeo schedule continuesfrom that point through Sunday,March 5, with all evening per-
formances at 7 p.m., all Saturdaymatinee performances at 11 a.m.and all Sunday performances at4 p.m.
Our world’s largest livestockshow also begins a day earlier,on Friday, Feb. 17, and runsthrough Sunday, March 5 as well.The horse show again will starton Wednesday, Feb. 15, withHouston cutting horse competi-tion. On Thursday, Feb. 16, theNational Cutting Horse Finalsand the International CuttingHorse contest begin in theAstroarena.
As part of the Show’s contin-uing effort to make our event educational as well as enter-taining, a new beef cattle dis-play will educate and informour audience about the nutri-tional value of beef, the bene-fits of other beef cattle byprod-ucts and the importance of foodsafety issues. This new additionwill be a fascinating attractionfor all ages.
We will continue with the milk-ing parlor, petting zoos and oth-er family-oriented exhibits thatproved to be so popular last year.
As committee volunteers, you’llalso need to be aware of pre-Show activities that will affectyou. Based on a scheduledNational Association ofHomebuilders Convention inlate January and early February,1995, we will not be able to holdas many committee meetings aswe have during this time framein the past.
Committee chairmen are encouraged to look closely attheir meeting schedules to de-termine if any meetings can be
eliminated or combined. Since meetings will be limit-
ed in January and February, meet-ings that normally would havebeen held during those monthswill have to be moved back tothe fall of this year.
Not only will this large con-vention be using our meetingrooms, during the last two weeksin January, they also will be uti-lizing the Astrohall series 100and 200 meeting rooms. Thesemeeting facilities are areas weuse extensively for large meet-ings. Management and staff willneed everyone’s cooperation tomake this work well for all 10,000-plus volunteers.
On the subject of volunteers,three new committees will beadded for the 1995 Show: theGraphics and Signage Committee,which will develop a system ofsigns, banners and graphics tohelp spectators get around thegrounds more easily and effi-ciently; the Carnival Ticket SalesCommittee, whose members willbe responsible for pre-selling car-nival tickets and ticket packages;and the Miniature HorseCommittee, which will assistwith the Miniature Horse Show.
As you read through this issue of the magazine, you’ll seethat this is an exciting time ofgrowth and change for theHouston Livestock Show andRodeo. We are looking forwardto these changes and enhance-ments to make our event evenbetter.
We know you as committeevolunteers will benefit, and we’rehere to answer any of yourquestions.
TPrepared byShowManagement
®
✩
Bulk RateU.S. Postage
PaidHouston, TX
Permit No. 9791Houston Livestock Show and RodeoP.O. Box 20070Houston, Texas 77225-0070
5-Labor Day holiday, Show offices closed 3-World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest entries accepted
15-Deadline for committee appointments and roster changes
22-Board of director’s meeting
24/25-Thanksgiving holidays-Show offices closed
®
MAGAZINE
D A T E S T O R E M E M B E R
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER
1 2 3
1098764
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
24232221201918
25 26 27 28 29 30
1
876542
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
22212019181716
2330 31
24 25 26 27 28 29
2 3 4
1211109876
13 14 16 17 18 19
26232120
27 28 29 30
51
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
5 3
15
22 2524
