The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo board of directors met Wednesday, June 6, to elect new leadership for the 2019 Rodeo, set for Feb. 25 – March 17.
Chairman of the Board
For the second consecutive year, Jim Winne was elected as chairman of the board. He was a founder, chairman and CEO of Legend Natural Gas companies, and retired in 2013 after 35 years in the oil and gas industry. He joined the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in 1977 and was elected to the board of directors in 2004. From 2006 through 2008, he served as a Rodeo vice president and the officer in charge of the Calf Scramble Arena, Calf Scramble Donors, Calf Scramble Greeters, Parade, Rodeo Contestant Hospitality, Rodeo Operations, Special Children’s and Trail Ride committees. Winne has been a member of the Rodeo’s Executive Committee since 2014. In 2017, he served as chairman of the board – elect. Visit rodeohouston.com/About-Us/Our-Team/Volunteers to read his full biography.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee includes the chairman of the board, the past chairmen of the board for each of the immediate preceding nine years, and at least five members who are elected at large from the board of directors.
Newly elected:
Patricia “Pat” Mann Phillips, Houston – Energy Consultant Re-elected:
Brady F. Carruth
Ray Hinsley
J.P. “Hap” Hunnicutt
Chris Richardson
Wesley Sinor
Joe Van Matre
Non-elected members (past presidents and chairmen of the board):
Jim Bloodworth
Don D. Jordan
Jack A. Lyons
Charles R. “Butch” Robinson
R.H. “Steve” Stevens
P. Michael Wells
Lifetime appointments:
Ed McMahon
Officers
The board re-elected Joel Cowley, president and CEO; Jennifer Hazelton, chief financial officer; and Sherry Hibbert, general counsel, for 2019.
Eighteen vice presidents, elected for one-year terms, supervise the activities of the Rodeo’s more than 34,000 volunteers serving on 108 different committees. Each vice president may serve up to three terms.
Newly elected vice presidents:
Thomas J. Baker III, Round Top, Texas – president, Tom Baker Insurance
Ed Decora, Houston – CEO, Ed’s Precision Manufacturing, LLC
E.R. “Butch” Guerrero, Houston – retired, Dow Chemical
Bill Hanna, Houston – principal, Fayez Sarofim Company
Emmett Story Jr., Houston – owner, Story Electric Company
Tonya Yurgensen-Jacks, Houston – global account manager – Cisco Systems, Inc.
Elected to second terms:
Roger Camp
J W Daubert III
Terence Fontaine, Ed.D.
Kelly J. Larkin, M.D.
Mike Moss
Taylor Whitaker
Elected to third terms:
Michael C. Curley, Corporate Secretary
Michael Galvan
Jeffrey S. “Jeff” Hayes
James Alan Kent
Archie Thompson
Wendy Vandeventer, Assistant Corporate Secretary / Treasurer
Board of Directors
At the annual membership meeting on Thursday, May 31, the general membership elected 20 new directors to the
Rodeo’s board:
Stacy Stidham Anderson
John M. Causey
Sandra L. Crook
Carl “Bo” Dawson
John Gus “Yonny” Demeris
Lloyd R. French IV
Kevin H. Harris
Tom Harrison
Toby Hicks
Jacqueline “Jackie” Hodges
Michelle Iversen Jeffery
Diane Johnson
Russell Jones
Sean Lehane
William “Billy” Parker
Mac Ruffeno
Julie Sacco
James D. “Jim” Sartwelle III
Laurie Tarver
Wesley Ward
Lifetime Directors
In addition, 15 directors were honored with the status of lifetime director for their dedicated service to the Rodeo:
Mary Jane Albert
Tucker Blair
Karen Bridges
Roger Campbell
Beth Cardono
Gene Clark
Thomas Conner
Al Farrack
Chester Howard
Joe McDaniel
Frank Miller
Clay Parker
Joe Pedigo
Lon Randazzo
Alan Tinsley
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ promotes agriculture by hosting an annual, family-friendly experience that educates and entertains the public, supports Texas youth, showcases Western heritage and provides year-round educational support within the community. Since its beginning in 1932, the Rodeo has committed more than $450 million to the youth of Texas. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com and connect with #RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for all of the latest news. The 2019 Rodeo is scheduled for Feb. 25 – March 17.