Business & Science
Robert McNair
Florida-born Robert C. McNair became a Houston businessman and philanthropist, built Cogen Technologies and secured the NFL's 32nd franchise, returning professional football to Houston with the Texans in 2002.
- Roster rank
- #166
- Category
- Business & Science
- Subject type
- Person
- Profile source
- Published Texas Icons profile
Texas story
Life and career
Robert C. McNair was born in Tampa, Florida, in 1937 and moved to Houston with his wife Janice in 1960. His business reputation preceded football: he founded Cogen Technologies, which grew into a major privately owned cogeneration company.
After the Oilers left Houston, McNair formed Houston NFL Holdings in 1998. NFL owners awarded him the league's 32nd franchise in 1999, and the Houston Texans began play in 2002. His Houston legacy also includes major philanthropic support for education, medicine, arts and civic institutions.
Defining work
What to know
- Cogen Technologies
- Houston NFL Holdings
- Houston Texans founder
- Houston philanthropy
Timeline
Key milestones
- 1960Moves to Houston with Janice McNair.
- 1998Forms Houston NFL Holdings to pursue an expansion franchise.
- 1999NFL awards McNair Houston's expansion franchise.
- 2002Houston Texans begin play.
- 2018Dies in Houston at age 81.
Texas connections
Places in the story
Houston
Home from 1960, business base, philanthropic center and site of the NFL expansion franchise.
Home of the Houston Texans franchise McNair secured.
Legacy
Why the story lasts
McNair's clearest public legacy is returning NFL football to Houston, but his business and philanthropic careers were substantial and predated the Texans.
His Texas identity is adopted rather than natal: Houston became his home and primary civic arena after 1960.
Sources
Research trail
Cross-linked profiles