Jacquie Campbell (Biggs)
As a child I also went to see Roy and Dale, and when they began their ride around the perimeter of the ring, I bolted away from my parents so I could stick my hand through the bars and touch one of the horses.When I turned around to go back to my parents, all I could see was vast numbers of seats and people. A girl from the Red Coats who was ushering, picked me up and set me on her shoulders until we spotted my parents. My mom was frantic but my dad was not worried.
We did get out of school for the Rodeo/parade. My dad worked downtown in a building that faced Main, and the windows to the building actually opened. Some of us would ride to work with him on parade day and roam around downtown where the floats and riders were assembling. Once we even conned some group to let us ride on the back of their float. Our goal was to get to ride double with one of the cowboys, but I do not think we were ever successful at that. Once the parade began, we took the elevator up to my dad's floor and he opened the windows and we watched the parade from about the third floor -- maybe the Esperson Building. Not sure.
In Guard, we ushered for the Rodeo both at SHC and when it moved to Astrodome. We thought that was fun -- except when we had to wear the helments. Then it was the Fat Stock Show -- renamed Livestock Show.
As a teacher for 30 years, I observed the HLSR assist many students with scholarship money for showing animals, art projects, academic/community service, Tejano scholarships, etc. It is truly a local organization that has given back to Houston and surrounding communities.
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