INDIANAPOLIS – Janice McNair, the Texans’ co-founder and senior chair and the widow of the late Bob McNair, was honored with the Houston Sports Awards’ Lifetime Achievement award.
McNair has been a pillar in the city since moving to Houston in 1960 as a trailblazer in sports and philanthropy, including her part in returning the NFL to the former home of the Houston Oilers.
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McNair is known for her commitment to the community, supporting charitable causes as she and Bob McNair have focused on education and medical research as the cornerstones of their giving. They have contributed more than half a billion dollars through multiple foundations.
In 1989, the Robert and Janice McNair Educational Foundation was established. In 2019, McNair donated $5 million to Pro Vision Inc., a community building project in the Sunnyside neighborhood. During the pandemic, McNair donated $1 million to the Houston Rent Relief fund to help residents in Houston facing eviction during economic recession.
Bob McNair was given the Lifetime Achievement award in 2020.
Transforming lives & impacting communities ❤️
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 29, 2024
Congratulations to Mrs. McNair for her Lifetime Achievement Award from Harris County Houston Sports Authority! pic.twitter.com/C5y76KCqPj
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“The impact that Mrs. McNair has left on the City of Houston and surrounding areas is truly immeasurable,” said Daniel Gotera, senior director of communications for the Harris County - Houston Sports Authority. “Since her and Bob brought the NFL back to Houston, not only have we seen her passion and kindness on full display, but we’ve also witnessed the true power of using a platform for good. Mrs. McNair loves her team and this city. Her life’s work is absolutely worth celebrating.”
McNair, 88, delegated most of the responsibility of team operations to Cal McNair, her son, in 2018 when Bob McNair died from a long battle with cancer. Cal McNair was voted unanimously by his fellow NFL owners as principal owner last year.
That followed a legal battle with another son, Cary McNair, as he applied for a guardianship over his mother, citing concerns with her health. A doctor testified before a judge that Janice McNair was more than capable of fulfilling her duties as Texans principal owner.
The lawsuit was jointly dropped on Feb. 26, 2024. On March 26, 2024, Cal McNair became principal owner of the Texans.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
