Bob McNair
Founding owner of the Houston Texans and philanthropist.
Robert C. McNair (January 1, 1937 – November 23, 2018) was an American businessman, philanthropist, and the founding owner of the National Football League (NFL)'s Houston Texans.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 1 January 1937
- Birthplace
- Tampa, Florida, U.S.
- Died
- 23 November 2018
- Place of death
- Houston, Texas, U.S.
- Education
- University of South Carolina
- Occupation
- Businessman
- Spouse
- Janice McNair
- Children
- 4; including Cal
Lore & Background
McNair grew up in Forest City, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He founded the cogeneration company Cogen Technologies in 1984, which he sold in 1999 to Enron. At the time of his death, McNair retained ownership of power plants in New York and West Virginia. He served as chairman and CEO of The McNair Group and owner of Palmetto Partners, Ltd. In June 2000, he formed Cogene Biotech Ventures. In 1997, he was interested in bringing an NHL expansion team to Houston but the bid failed. He was rumored to be interested in buying a soccer club in the UK and made a bid to purchase Reading F.C. in 2014, but was unsuccessful. According to Forbes, he had a net worth of $3.8 billion in November 2017. Committed to bringing the NFL back to Houston after the Oilers left the city to become the Tennessee Titans in 1996, McNair formed Houston NFL Holdings in 1998. On October 6, 1999, the NFL awarded the 32nd franchise to McNair, which became the Houston Texans, who began play in 2002. They won their first AFC South title in 2011, en route to four titles in six seasons. McNair was influential in bringing Super Bowl XXXVIII and Super Bowl LI to Houston's NRG Stadium in 2004 and 2017, respectively. On October 29, 2017, the majority of Texans players knelt during the national anthem after McNair had commented about having the 'inmates running the prison' during a league owner meeting. McNair apologized, stating he was not referring to the players but to the relationship between the league office and team owners. McNair was a member of the Texas Business Hall of Fame and served on boards including Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Grand Opera, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Center for the American Idea. On September 12, 2007, he gave $100 million to Baylor College of Medicine. He was a recipient of the Anti-Defamation League's Torch of Liberty Award. He donated over $1 million towards McNair Field, which hosts his hometown Forest City Owls. In 1998, the McNairs established the McNair Scholar Program at the University of South Carolina. In 1999, he received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from the university. The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, established in 2015, provides gifts to create centers for entrepreneurship at universities.
Reader's Guide
Robert C. McNair (January 1, 1937 – November 23, 2018) was the founding owner of the Houston Texans. He founded Cogen Technologies in 1984 and sold it to Enron in 1999. He brought the NFL back to Houston after the Oilers left in 1996, and the Texans began play in 2002. He was a major philanthropist, donating $100 million to Baylor College of Medicine and establishing scholarship foundations.
From Humble Beginnings to Energy Tycoon
Born in the small North Carolina town of Forest City, Robert C. McNair's journey to wealth was far from linear. After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a science degree and joining the Sigma Chi fraternity, he relocated to Houston in 1960. His early professional decades were marked by significant struggle; throughout his twenties and thirties, he worked as a salesman and attempted various entrepreneurial ventures that ultimately failed. The turning point arrived in 1984 when he founded Cogen Technologies, a cogeneration firm. This venture proved immensely successful, leading to its sale to Enron in 1999 while McNair retained ownership of power plants in New York and West Virginia. By the time of his passing, he had built The McNair Group into a major financial and real estate powerhouse and established Cogene Biotech Ventures. His perseverance transformed him from an unsuccessful entrepreneur into one of Houston's most prominent business leaders, with Forbes estimating his net worth at $3.8 billion in late 2017.
Restoring Football to Houston
Driven by a deep desire to return professional football to Texas after the Oilers departed for Tennessee in 1996, McNair formed Houston NFL Holdings in 1998. His persistence paid off on October 6, 1999, when the NFL awarded him the league's 32nd franchise, which debuted as the Houston Texans in 2002. Under his ownership, the team achieved significant milestones, including winning their first AFC South title in 2011 and securing four division championships within a six-year span. Beyond on-field success, McNair was instrumental in hosting Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 and Super Bowl LI in 2017 at NRG Stadium. His tenure was not without controversy; in October 2017, his comment describing the situation as 'inmates running the prison' regarding player anthem protests sparked a backlash. This led to the majority of Texans players kneeling during a game against Seattle, prompting McNair to apologize and clarify he referred to league office dynamics rather than the athletes themselves.
A Legacy of Philanthropy and Education
McNair's influence extended far beyond business and sports through extensive philanthropic efforts aimed at education and medical advancement. He was a major benefactor for Baylor College of Medicine, donating $100 million in 2007 to recruit top-tier scientists and physicians. His commitment to his alma mater included establishing the McNair Scholar Program at the University of South Carolina in 1998 and receiving an honorary doctorate from the institution later that year. Locally, he supported numerous cultural institutions like the Houston Grand Opera and the Museum of Fine Arts. In honor of his hometown, he donated over $1 million to build McNair Field for the Forest City Owls collegiate summer team, even throwing out the first pitch at its 2008 opening. Additionally, the Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, established in 2015, has funded entrepreneurship centers at universities across the United States, while their earlier Educational Foundation provided millions in financial aid to help Rutherford County high school graduates attend college.
Personal Life, Politics, and Succession
Robert McNair's personal life was anchored by his marriage to Janice, with whom he raised four children: Cal, Cary, Ruth, and Melissa. Politically active, he was a significant donor to the Republican Party, notably serving as Mitch McConnell's largest contributor between 2009 and 2015. However, his political involvement faced scrutiny in 2015 when he donated funds to oppose an equal rights ordinance in Houston; following public criticism, he withdrew the contribution. In his final years, McNair battled various forms of cancer, a diagnosis that began with skin cancer in 1994, leading him to withdraw from daily team operations shortly before his death on November 23, 2018. Following his passing, Janice assumed principal ownership and represented the franchise at owner meetings. Their son Cal McNair took over as president and CEO, eventually becoming the principal owner of the Texans in 2024 after a transfer from his mother.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Bob McNair?
He served as the founder and principal owner of the Houston Texans franchise for nearly two decades. His leadership defined the organization from its inception until his death in 2021.
What was his main achievement with the franchise?
His most significant accomplishment was successfully bringing an NFL franchise back to Houston after years without one. This effort culminated in the Texans beginning play as a new expansion team in 2002.
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