For the third consecutive year, Patricia, “Pat” Man Phillips was elected as Chairman of the Board and Welsey Sinor as new Chairman-Elect.
HOUSTON — On Tuesday, June 3, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) board of directors met to elect the new leadership for the 2026 rodeo, set for March 2-22. The meeting resulted in the election of a new chairman-elect, two new executive committee members, six new officers, 26 new directors and 13 lifetime directors.
Chairman of the Board
The extraordinary Pat Mann Phillips retains her chairman status for the third year in a row. She continues her leadership following a historic 2025 season, which included achievements such as setting an all-time attendance record, attracting 2.7 million attendees, increasing educational commitment to $28 million, a 500,00-dollar increase — the highest amount in history, and setting 10 new auction records.
Being a volunteer herself since 2002, and the first female executive leader, she showed appreciation to the rodeo’s 36,000-or-so volunteers by establishing the first-ever Volunteer Appreciation Day. Furthermore, her efforts have been recognized by the RODEOHOUSTON® Hall of Fame and the RODEOHOUSTON Star Trail of Fame.
Chairman-Elect of the Board
A volunteer at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo since 2003, Wesley Sinor started his rodeo career as a member of the Gatekeepers Committee. In his 22 years, he was a member of the Executive Committee in the Spring of 2017, vice president from 2014 to 2016, and a Board of Directors elect in 2009. He also served in a variety of committees such as Feed Store, Houston General Go Texan, Livestock, Rodeo Ops, Armed Forces Appreciation, Grand Entry, and Quarter Horse.
Sinor embraces his Pasadena, Texas roots as a proud graduate of Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and an MBA from Rice University.
Sinor will spend the 2025-2026 season shadowing Phillips’ final term as Chairman of the Board.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee includes the chairman of the board, the past chairmen of the board for each of the immediately preceding nine years, and at least five members who are elected at large from the board of directors.
- Roger Camp
- Jeff Hildebrand
- Parker Johnson
- J. Alan Kent
- Kelly Larkin, M.D.
- Robbie Smith
- Wesley Sino
- Warner Ervin
- Juan Garcia
- Jeffrey S. Hayes
Non-elected members (current and past presidents and chairmen of the board):
- Patt Mann Phillips
- Jim Bloodworth
- Brady F. Carruth
- Don D. Jordan
- Jack A. Lyons
- Jim Winne
Officers
Eighteen vice presidents, elected for one-year terms, not to exceed three years, supervise the activities of the Rodeo’s more than 36,000 volunteers serving on 109 different committees.
The board re-elected Chris Boleman, president and CEO and Katie Grahmann, chief financial officer and corporate treasurer, and Harry Perrin, general counsel and corporate secretary
- Stacy Anderson
- Martha Ceballos
- Nancy Motley
- Robert Pike
- Michael Sachs
- Jim Sartwelle III
- Johnny Causey
- Stan Horton
- Russell Jones
- T. Mark Kelly
- Sean Lehane
- Kristie Manning
- Aimee Coates Monteverde
- Amy Pinkham Miller
- David Smith
- David Stone
- Justin Tankersley
- Lance Welch
Board of Directors
Twenty-six new directors were elected to serve on the Rodeo’s board:
- Tony Bradfield
- Tim Brinkmeyer
- Derek Causey
- Andrew Clendennen
- Janeen Comer
- Paxton Crew
- Cheryl Deitcher
- David Dwyer
- John Fussell
- Alan Goodrich
- Jay Graham
- Craig Johnson
- Melisa Jordan
- Emily Loftus
- Jennifer Lowery
- Ann Massey
- Vincent Montalbano
- Dustan Neyland
- Craig Paton
- Donna Prihoda
- Richard Roland
- Mike Sarubbi
- James “JD” Slaughter
- Miller Vaughan
- Patti Wilburn
- Wendell York
Lifetime Directors
Additionally, 13 directors were honored with the status of lifetime director for their dedicated service to the Rodeo:
- Mike Brem
- Steve Ehrig
- Stephen Estes
- Diane Gautreaux
- Mike Hartwig
- Lance Heacock
- Danny Lange, Jr.
- Pamela Logsdon
- Gary McMullen
- Donald Middleton
- Jeanne Shirey-Lord
- Sharon Simmons
- Randy Trahan
The 2026 Rodeo is scheduled for March 2-22. For more information about Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo For more information, visit rodeohouston.com, download the RODEOHOUSTON app and follow @RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.