The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a bastion of local and Texas tradition, has made history with a recent groundbreaking announcement.

For the first time ever, the rodeo has elected a woman to its executive committee, it was announced on June 7. Patricia "Pat" Mann Phillips is the only newly elected member of the committee for the 2019 rodeo season. Phillips is a local energy consultant.

“Pat has had a tremendous impact on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo during her more than 17 years of service,” Joel Cowley, rodeo president and CEO, tells CultureMap. “She first volunteered as a member of the directions and assistance committee in 2001, became the inaugural chair of the tours committee in 2008, and was elected as the seventh female vice president in the Rodeo’s history in 2015. Her commitment to our organization is unquestioned and we are proud to have her as a member of our executive committee.”

Jim Winne, who served as the chairman of the rodeo last year, has been selected to head the board for the second consecutive year, according to the rodeo announcement. Winne the founder, chairman and CEO of Legend Natural Gas companies, has been a member of the Rodeo's executive committee since 2014. Phillips and Winne join 13 other members of the rodeo executive committee.

The rodeo/RodeoHouston is set to run from February 25, 2019 through March 17, 2019.