[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 188 (Thursday, November 29, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   FAITH, FAMILY, PHILANTHROPY, AND FOOTBALL: REMEMBERING BOB McNAIR

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 29, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Houstonians will never forget October 
6, 1999, when the NFL announced that the 32nd NFL franchise had been 
awarded to American businessman, Robert C. McNair. This adopted Texan 
will forever be remembered as the man that brought professional 
football back to Houston.
  McNair grew up in Forest City, North Carolina, and graduated from the 
University of South Carolina in 1958. He and his wife, Janice, moved to 
Houston two years later. McNair founded Cogen Technologies, which 
became the largest privately owned cogeneration company in the world. 
He then sold the bulk of it to Enron in 1999 for $1.1 billion with an 
eye toward becoming a National Football League owner.
  During his nearly two decades as an NFL owner, McNair left a lasting 
mark on the city of Houston. His leadership and determination brought 
the NFL back to Houston, built a spectacular stadium, and was 
instrumental in bringing two Super Bowls to Houston.
  Football was not the only good thing McNair gave to Houston. 
Throughout his life, McNair and his charitable foundations gave more 
than $500 million to a countless number of scientific, literary, 
educational, and faith-based organizations. McNair chaired the Robert 
and Janice McNair Foundation and the Houston Texans Foundation for more 
than 25 years. Ten years before he became known to most of us and 
before he was awarded the Texans franchise, McNair and his wife started 
the Robert and Janice McNair Educational Foundation to ensure all 
students in his hometown who so desired, would have the opportunity to 
attend college. Thousands of individuals have now received a better 
education; changing their lives because of McNair's selfless character.
  McNair passed away on Friday, November 23, 2018 at the age of 81. He 
is survived by his wife, Janice; two sons, Cal and Cary; two daughters, 
Ruth and Melissa, 15 grandchildren, and two great grandsons. McNair was 
once asked by the NFL Network how he would like to be remembered. He 
replied ``I'd like to think that I'd be remembered as an honorable man, 
as a good Christian man, and that I always did things in a first-class 
manner and treated people honestly. I think that would be a good 
legacy.''
  Mr. Speaker, Bob McNair lived his life always revolving around four 
main values: Faith, Family, Philanthropy, and Football. May we all 
strive to live a life well lived around those kind of values, and to 
leave a positive impact like Bob McNair.
  And that's just the way it is.

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