Photo Credit Lisa Norwood
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ is one of the most prestigious and decorated rodeos in the world. For 92 years, the Show has been blessed to work with the most successful people in the rodeo industry — those known for their athleticism and keen knowledge of the sport who have helped elevate the event to its impeccably high standards. To recognize these individuals, the Show created the RODEOHOUSTON® Hall of Fame and honored its inaugural class in 2024 — Mike Cervi, Charmayne James and Bob Tallman.
Katelyn Scates, director of sports and event presentation for the Show, explained how the idea for the Hall of Fame began. “After honoring the Cervi family for 50 years of partnership in 2023, we began discussing how we might honor other individuals as well,” Scates said. “As those conversations developed, we realized how many people have impacted RODEOHOUSTON, and we wanted to acknowledge them formally. As a Show, we recognized that entertainers had been highlighted through our Star Trail of Fame, but we had not done the same on the Rodeo side. With the support of the Executive Committee, we were able to create the RODEOHOUSTON Hall of Fame as an effort to further promote the sport of rodeo and pay tribute to those people who have helped us build our event to what it is today.”
Future honorees will be chosen for their impact, success and longevity with the Show. They will include past and present rodeo contractor personnel, contestants, stock, and stock contractors. The plan is to welcome at least one member annually.
Before being recognized during RODEOHOUSTON’s Championship Round on March 17, the inaugural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held with Chairman of the Board Pat Mann Phillips presiding. All three honorees and their families attended, along with Show President and CEO Chris Boleman, Show leadership, and local media. Each inductee delivered a few words before receiving a small replica Hall of Fame wall plaque and a custom belt and buckle designed by master metalsmith Clint Orms.
Honoree Mike Cervi, founder of Cervi Championship Rodeo, is one of the most respected stock contractors in rodeo history. His family-run business has become one of the world’s largest stock-contracting firms and has served as the stock contractor for RODEOHOUSTON for more than 50 years. Cervi’s dedication, vision and unwavering commitment to excellence have significantly contributed to the industry’s growth and the Show’s prestige. “It’s the biggest rodeo in the world, and we are involved in it,” said Cervi. “It is the greatest thing that could happen to me.”
More than 450 RODEOHOUSTON champions have been crowned since 1938, but none have reached the extraordinary athletic accomplishments of barrel racer and Hall of Fame honoree Charmayne James. In 1984, James and her horse, Scamper, earned their first major win inside the Astrodome. During the next decade, James and Scamper won 10 championships, making her the winningest RODEOHOUSTON contestant. “This rodeo paid well, and it was where I could win a good bit of money to keep me going down the road,” James said. “Today is truly an honor.”
Rodeo announcer and Hall of Fame honoree Bob Tallman has been the distinctive voice of RODEOHOUSTON for more than four decades. A legend, Tallman is deeply admired and respected by fans, rodeo athletes and colleagues. He is known for his unrivaled knowledge, his kind heart and his distinct way with words. His iconic “Hello, Houston” can be heard at the beginning of every performance. Tallman exemplifies the values of hard work, integrity, and loyalty, and he has dedicated his life to promoting and protecting Western heritage. The 12-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Announcer of the Year has achieved many accolades over the years, but learning about his induction into the RODEOHOUSTON Hall of Fame left him speechless. “This is a hell of a deal,” Tallman said. “Everyone wants to talk about their rodeo, and I call this one mine. I bleed Houston.”
The permanent Hall of Fame display can be found on the second floor of NRG Center, outside the Show offices. Visitors to NRG Stadium during spring and summer can see the “Legends of the Arena,” a six-month display near Section 133 that includes both the Star Trail of Fame and Hall of Fame inductees.
“This inaugural class is a historic group,” Mann Phillips said. “There is no doubt that the bar is set high for future inductees, and one day, this wall will be filled with plaques that tell the story of our success.”