Who knew that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is in the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and that he has the dazzling belt buckle to prove it? Likewise, who knew that Mayor Annise Parker could be so at ease in her western embroidered shirt and jeans?
Those were just two of the unexpected revelations at Reliant Stadium when the Black Eyed Peas rocked rodeo traditions.
As the guest of former Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo chairman Paul Somerville, Dewhurst rode in the Grand Entry astride a Palomino stud on loan from Somerville. No surprise to those who know him well, the lieutenant governor was as at ease in the saddle as he is in the halls of power back in Austin. To those that know him only from the political spotlight, it is news that when he hung his hat in hometown Houston, Dewhurst was an accomplished cutting and roping competitor.
Let's just add that he looked more at home on the horse than he did watching the Black Eyed Peas with his wife, Tricia, and their 6-year-old daughter, Carolyn. However, he did remain in his front-row seat after the girls departed for bedtime and he did keep time to the Peas by tapping his thigh.
It was a first-time meeting for Dewhurst and Mayor Annise Parker, who viewed the rodeo action in neighboring suites. Parker was the guest of "Mr. Rodeo," 93-year-old Louis Pearce Jr. And for this outing, the mayor dressed western although she was not wearing a cowboy hat, thereby avoiding the dreaded hat hair that a Stetson might have caused.
Pearce's suite was packed with rodeo honchos including chairman Charles "Butch" Robinson and wife Paula, Rodeo Houston president and CEO Skip Wagner, executive committee member Mike Wells and more.
Joining Somerville in his suite in addition to the Dewhurst family were John and Becca Cason Thrash, Miriam Westmoreland, cutting horse legend Keith Barnett (seven-time world champion) and wife Paula, and a slew of other rodeo types that probably didn't embrace the Black Eye Peas with the same enthusiasm as the Cason Thrash duo.
