Tina, daughter of Joe and Lois Sikes, was born on October 14, 1940, in a little community called Tennessee Valley, in Bell County, Texas. She attended school in Tennessee Valley and Belton before moving west with the family to a ranch close to Killeen, in 1952. She attended and graduated from Killeen High School.
Tina started rodeoing at the age of 9 and by the age of 12, she had joined the professional ranks and became a member of the Girls Rodeo Association. In 1955, she represented Bell County as their Rodeo Queen and went to state to compete against girls from each of the 252 counties and won the Barrel Racing, Reining, and the State Rodeo Queen Contest, now Miss Rodeo Texas. She represented Killeen as their Rodeo Sweetheart for 3 years, and Miss Killeen for 1 year. She traveled to different towns promoting rodeo as well as competing. In mid-season of 1956, she lost her barrel horse, “King,” but still ended up in the top 12 for that year, barely missing the finals. In 1958, she was one of 6 barrel racers from Texas to be invited to Kansas City’s American Royal.
Tina was complimented by many as being one of the better “Horsewomen.” She was very athletic, had good hands, and lots of patience with a horse. She trained her own horses. She was always coached and escorted by her Dad until she married John Robert Hodge, a calf roper and cattle buyer, in 1959, at which time she continued to ride and help on the Hodge Ranch. She was blessed with two sons; Robert Joe Hodge and Jimmy Lee Hodge, both of whom became Professional Rodeo Cowboys. She would drive the boys to Jr. Rodeos after they were old enough to compete. She was Secretary for AJRA rodeos, jackpot calf ropings, and barrel races for several years.
Tina is still following her sons and now, 4 grandchildren to rodeos around the country while still living and working on a ranch with her husband, John.
