History of TGRA
From the Texas Gay Rodeo Association website
The Texas Gay Rodeo Association was founded in the summer of 1983. November 1984 heralded the first annual Texas Gay Rodeo near Houston, beginning the tradition of the TGRA Fall rodeo, which continues to this day. TGRA is a member of the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA), which governs all sanctioned rodeos. Chapters sprouted up across Texas over the years, and currently there are five chapters located in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.
In 2000, TGRA started a Spring Rodeo held in Fort Worth or Dallas each March. This rodeo event has become one of the most popular on the rodeo circuit. In addition, TGRA as a statewide organization currently holds an Annual Rodeo, which all chapters get an opportunity to host.
One facet of our many activities is Royalty, where candidates vie for the title of Mr., Miss, Ms. and MsTer TGRA. These ambassadors host fundraisers for TGRA during their candidacy and reign. They then have the opportunity to compete in the Mr., Miss, Ms. and MsTer IGRA contest. This honor has been bestowed upon several Texas titleholders over the years.
IGRA Finals Rodeo is held in October of each year. In 1993 TGRA hosted the Finals Rodeo in Fort Worth, then a mere two weeks later put on the 10th Annual TGRA Rodeo in San Antonio.
That was a busy but rewarding year for all of our sponsors and membership.The growth of TGRA coincided with the fight against HIV/AIDS. The founding members recognized the need for the community to pull together to raise money to combat this epidemic in light of limited government intervention and funding.
Present (2013)
TGRA is proud of its I.R.S. designation as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt and tax-deductible, not-for-profit charitable organization. Since we got started in 1983, TGRA members (individual and commercial), Royalty, and local communities have raised and donated over two million dollars to Texas charities –primarily, though not exclusively, for AIDS-specific service support. Other types of agencies are also supported by TGRA contributions: women's health projects, breast cancer, disaster relief, and children's programs to name just a few. Each TGRA chapter decides how to donate its allotted funds, a direct function of how much was raised during the prior year. They may then address any acute needs in their own community. TGRA is administered and run totally by volunteers –there are no paid employees. The membership numbers in the hundreds. The State Board of Trustees, with an Executive Committee in each chapter, conducts day-to-day operations of the organization. Officers are elected to an annual term. There are many committees within each chapter that exist to meet the wide-range of challenges in hosting rodeos and maintaining a focused charitable concern. Membership participation in TGRA activities, while not mandatory, is appreciated.
Future
This year, as TGRA celebrates 31 years of service, we look to many more years of active community involvement. Our continued growth depends on the dedication of existing members (individual and commercial) as well as the talent, expertise, and insight of new members –commercial as well as individual. There are many areas of TGRA and degrees of involvement available to its members. Our success is entirely dependent on the support of the membership and the communities we serve. We are engaged in fighting a war on infectious diseases and terminal illnesses, but prefer the rodeo arena as our battleground.
The members of TGRA wish to thank you for your support, encouragement, and consideration in helping those who cannot help themselves.
Past Presidents| 1984 | Terry Clark | Houston |
| 1985 | Gary Miller | Dallas |
| 1986 | Gary Miller | Dallas |
| 1987 | Steve Vaughn | |
| 1988 | Gerald Ford | Fort Worth |
| 1989 | Richard Montgomery | Dallas |
| 1990 | Richard Montgomery | Dallas |
| 1991 | Debe Powell | Houston |
| 1992 | Debe Powell | Houston |
| 1993 | Seth Cortigene | Houston |
| 1994 | Preston Porter | Austin |
| 1995 | Preston Porter | Austin |
| 1996 | Preston Porter | Austin |
| 1997 | Jeanne McLeod | San Antonio |
| 1998 | Jeanne McLeod | San Antonio |
| 1999 | Jeanne McLeod | San Antonio |
| 2000 | Michael Gaitz | Houston |
| 2001 | Charley Lanier | Dallas |
| 2002 | Charley Lanier | Dallas |
| 2003 | Mark Nicks | Fort Worth |
| 2004 | Marcia Johnson | San Antonio |
| 2005 | Marcia Johnson | San Antonio |
| 2006 | Mack Williamson | Dallas |
| 2007 | Russell Bleakney | Fort Worth |
| 2008 | Russell Bleakney | Fort Worth |
| 2009 | Jeanne McLeod | Austin |
| 2010 | Jeanne McLeod | Austin |
| 2011 | Randy Edlin | Austin |
| 2012 | Randy Edlin | Austin |
| 1985 | ||
| 1986 | ||
| 1987 | ||
| 1988 | ||
| 1989 | ||
| 1990 | ||
| 1991 | Till Thacker | |
| 1992 | R.D. Lynch | Dallas |
| 1993 | Preston Porter | Austin |
| 1994 | Gerald Ford | Fort Worth |
| 1995 | Jeanne McLeod | San Antonio |
| 1996 | Jim Gadient (Stella mae Stardust) | Dallas |
| 1997 | Charley Lanier | Dallas |
| 1998 | Michael Gaitz | Houston |
| 1999 | Terry Covington | Fort Worth |
| 2000 | Mike Nerio | San Antonio |
| 2001 | Larry Garrett | Houston |
| 2002 | Greg Walker & David Dunlop | Dallas |
| 2003 | Mark Nicks | Fort Worth |
| 2004 | Dwight Jones | Fort Worth |
| 2005 | Randy Edlin | Austin |
| 2006 | Tom Truitt | Dallas |
| 2007 | Judy Gayle | San Antonio |
| 2008 | Mark Miller | Austin |
| 2009 | Lohn cernalod | Fort Worth |
| 2010 | Mark G. | Dallas |
| 2011 | CC Melody | San Antonio |
| 2012 | Gene Fraikes | Fort Worth |
| 2013 | Dan Nagel | Dallas |
| 1985 | ||
| 1986 | ||
| 1987 | ||
| 1988 | ||
| 1989 | ||
| 1990 | David "Vince" Vincent | |
| 1991 | J.D. Norton | Austin |
| 1992 | Nathan Chowning | Fort Worth |
| 1993 | Frank Martinez | Austin |
| 1994 | Tony Valdez (Chili Pepper) | |
| 1995 | Frank Elam, Jr. | Fort Worth |
| 1996 | Debe Powell | Houston |
| 1997 | Marcia Johnson | San Antonio |
| 1998 | Ronnie Dunlap | Fort Worth |
| 1999 | Terry Covington | Dallas |
| 2000 | Joe Meals | Fort Worth |
| 2001 | Randy Edlin | Austin |
| 2002 | Candy Pratt | Dallas |
| 2003 | Wade Earp | Dallas |
| 2004 | Claudia Chaffin | Austin |
| 2005 | Nora Young | Dallas |
| 2006 | Mark Miller | Austin |
| 2007 | Gene Fraikes | Dallas |
| 2008 | Dwight Jones | Fort Worth |
| 2009 | Robin Cagle | Fort Worth |
| 2010 | Roger Peterson | Dallas |
| 2011 | Cindy Cowen | Fort Worth |
| 2012 | Rodd Smunk | San Antonio |
| 5th | Terry Clark | Houston |
| Year | Gary Miller | Dallas |
| 1988 | Joe Moss | Fort Worth |
| Preston Porter | Austin | |
| Lynn Smith | Houston | |
| Walter Strickler | Houston | |
| 10th | Nathan Chowning | Dallas |
| Year | Gerald Ford | Fort Worth |
| 1993 | Bob Jackson | Fort Worth |
| Richard Montgomery | Dallas | |
| Debe Powel | Houston | |
| 15th | David Berry | Houston |
| Year | Jim Gadient | Dallas |
| 1998 | Charley Lanier | Dallas |
| Jeanne McLeod | San Antonio | |
| Keith Reiser | Houston | |
| 20th | Terry Covington | Dallas |
| Year | David Dunlop | Dallas |
| 2003 | Michael Gaitz | Houston |
| Karroll Parker | Fort Worth | |
| Greg Walker | Dallas | |
| 25th | Ray Tucker | Austin |
| Year | Mark Miller | Austin |
| 2008 | Randy Edlin | Austin |
| Wade Earp | Dallas | |
| Russell Bleakney | Fort Worth | |
| Jeannine Tuttle | San Antonio | |
| 30th | Gene Fraikes | Fort Worth |
| Year | Eddie Taylor | Houston |
| 2013 | Mike Lee | Houston |
| Mark G. | Dallas | |
| Dan N. | Dallas |