HOUSTON – The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo this year inducted its first Hispanic to the Executive Committee in its 92-year history.
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Garcia grew up around the Rodeo, with former President and Chairman Louis Pearce, Jr. as his inspiration.
“I got involved as a little kid because my dad worked for a gentleman that was super involved, Louis Pearce Jr., so I grew up out here,” said Juan Garcia. “I was always proud because I could always say I knew him.”
Fresh out of law school, Garcia joined the HLSR’s Legal Advisory Committee and shortly after, he joined the Go Tejano Committee.
“We directly impact the Hispanic community and more importantly, the Hispanic kids and families that are here and so it was my calling,” said Garcia.
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In 2023, the Go Tejano Committee awarded $20,000 in scholarships to nearly 30 students. It’s also where Garcia met his wife Isela in their first year.
“I always was very passionate about the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo,” she said. “It was a dream coming from a small town.”
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Garcia served as an officer and vice president for the last four years. This year, the Executive Committee chose him as their newest member, making him the first Hispanic to be inducted into the HLSR’s Executive Committee.
“To actually achieve that is tremendous for me and just a huge honor,” Mr. Garcia said.
He said he couldn’t have made it without his family’s support.
“I was so extremely happy and proud, of course,” Mrs. Garcia added.
The Executive Committee is a nine-year appointment. It’s responsible for decisions that’ll impact the rodeo’s future.
“At the committee level, you’re planning for that year,” Mr. Garcia said. “On the Executive Committee, you’re looking at more strategic decisions for the next 10, 20 to 50 years from now, decisions that are impacting our community, the show, and of course, the scholarship recipients that will get it for years to come.”
Juan and Isela Garcia said this is an opportunity for others in the Hispanic community.
“We’re setting that path for that generation to strive to be the best,” said Isela Garcia.
Mr. Garcia said he’s looking forward to his first rodeo season as a member of the Executive Committee.
“It’s not really what’s important that I’m the first,” he concluded.“It’s that it gives others that are coming behind me that hope that they can get there, as well.”