Brings many good things
March 4, 2009 (Wednesday)
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo got off to its 2009 start last night. I’ll always be thankful for my Uncle Lloyd Lowe who took me to the first rodeo I ever attended in 1942, when Gene Autry was in town. It was in the Sam Houston Coliseum (now demolished), and I was ten years old. Seating capacity for a rodeo was 9217. (By contrast, last night’s attendance in Reliant Stadium was more than 59,000).
The organization (Houston Fat Stock Show and Livestock Exposition) was established in 1931, the year in which I was born, and the first show was held in 1932 in the Democratic Convention Hall, Sam Houston Hall (built in 64 days in 1928, seated 16,000, with 6 acres of floor space, demolished in 1937). Then it moved to the Coliseum in 1938, to the Astrodome in 1966, and to Reliant Stadium in 2003.
The early rodeos in Houston bore little resemblance to the grand extravaganza of today, with big star entertainment along with the regular events of a rodeo. Events such as trail rides, barbecue cook offs, parades, and colorful music shows, along with the exhibition of livestock, make this an exciting and important event for Houston and Texas.
I remember as a child being bored to death with the horsemanship exhibitions, but thrilled with the grand entrance of all the stars and contestants. I liked the riding contests when the horses did their very best to throw the cowboys, and I could hardly wait for the bull riders and the rodeo clowns who rescued the thrown riders by distracting the bulls. I especially enjoyed their jumping into barrels and being rolled around the arena by the angry Brahmas.
Many good things come with this big event, not the least of which is the generation of millions of dollars which provide scholarships for young people who might not have had such an opportunity without them. And who knows how many young people have learned to lead positive, hopeful lives by raising animals for events like these all around the country. We rejoice in the good things going on in our world.
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Sam Houston Hall, site of Houston’s first rodeo:
