SHSU Rodeo Hall of Champions Endowed Scholarship

In the history of the Sam Houston State University rodeo program, only four individuals have held the position of rodeo coach. Under the leadership of these four coaches, SHSU has won more National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) rodeo championships than any other college with a rodeo program in the United States. The winning rodeo tradition at Sam Houston State University began in 1952 when Mexia High School graduate, Sonny Sikes, enrolled as a student. Sonny earned his Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture in 1955 and Master of Education in agriculture in 1957 from Sam Houston State University and did post-graduate work at Texas A&M University. Sonny’s wife, Joanne Nussbaum Sikes, also from Mexia, Texas, graduated from Sam Houston alongside Sonny in 1957 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Both of their children, Larry, and Sherri, also graduated from Sam Houston State University. As a student at Sam Houston, he was a member of the first National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association championship team and won four national titles during his years as a collegiate cowboy. Under Sonny’s leadership as rodeo coach, SHSU won more individual and team champions than any other NIRA school. Sonny was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1999. Roger Walters had the tough job of following Sonny Sikes as SHSU rodeo coach from 1999 through 2002. However, he maintained the winning tradition and the #1 status with NIRA. In 2001 Walters earned NIRA Coach of the Year. In 2008 Walters had the privilege to join NIRA as Commissioner, where he served until retirement in 2021. Roger Hanagriff served as the rodeo coach from 2003 through 2007, achieving successful winning seasons at SHSU. During his time as rodeo coach at Sam Houston, he also served as a faculty member, teaching agriculture business. In 2006 Roger earned NIRA Coach of the Year. Since 2008, Bubba Miller has served as the SHSU rodeo coach. Under Coach Miller’s leadership, numerous individual event champions and team championships have enabled Sam Houston to continue to hold the status of the #1 NIRA school with the most individual event and team wins in the history of NIRA.