The Day Everything Changed for the McNair Family
Why March 7th Was a Crucial Day for the McNair Family and Their Employees
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In early March, Houston buzzes with excitement as the Livestock Show and Rodeo comes to life at NRG Stadium, a venue it shares with the NFL's Houston Texans. The Texans were established by Bob and Janice McNair, who worked tirelessly to make the franchise a cherished part of Houston, forging a strong bond with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
As celebrations continued at the Rodeo on March 7, 2024, another, far more private event was taking place just miles away at the McNair family's corporate offices. At the McNair family's corporate offices, nestled within the Houstonian Hotel's lush grounds, a seismic shift in power unfolded as three of the four McNair siblings orchestrated a sudden leadership change. The dramatic move allegedly sidelined their brother Cary, igniting a fierce family conflict that would reverberate through the organization.
The news of the takeover quickly affected employees, many of whom arrived at the parking garage expecting a normal workday, only to be confronted by an alarming sight. Armed guards in bulletproof vests stood at the entrances, clutching lists with employee photos—some marked with 'X's. One employee noticed an unauthorized car parked in the space reserved for the HR director. As she walked in, she saw two executive assistants in tears. Concerned, she stopped to ask, “What is going on?” “They won’t let us in,” one of them replied. “Who is 'they'?” she asked. “The security guards.”
The scene instilled fear in the arriving staff; one even remarked that the guards' presence made them fear a mass shooting was occurring. As employees approached, a surreal and chilling atmosphere unfolded: those without the dreaded mark on “the list” were allowed entry, while others were unexpectedly shut out, caught in a situation that left everyone uncertain about the future of the McNair family's organization.
As some employees were sent home, others were allowed into the building. An eerie stillness consumed the offices that day, with confusion hanging in the air. Staff members turned to their bosses for answers, only to find that even the leaders were in the dark. Those who were permitted to stay often found themselves sent home by their supervisors, as the leadership struggled to make sense of the chaos and uncertainty surrounding the situation.
Amid the confusion, employees were shocked to learn about the appointment of a new CEO for McNair Interests. Stephen Johnson was replacing Cary McNair. Johnson’s background and connection to the company were unfamiliar to many. In the midst of such upheaval, several employees found themselves grappling with uncertainty, unsure of what to believe or expect next.
The environment changed drastically after the takeover, according to one employee. While many pretended that everything was fine and their jobs were secure, an underlying feeling of mistrust lingered.
I asked the employee what initially drew them to McNair Interests. The employee conveyed that during their interview, they sensed a strong sense of family within the organization. They also shared their impression of Cary McNair, telling me, “In a world of political correctness, he [Cary] stood by his values and faith. You could feel that throughout the organization.”
Many employees were aware that problems were brewing. They knew Janice McNair had been in poor health since her stroke. The public became aware of these issues in November 2023 when Cary McNair filed an application for guardianship of his mother, Janice. Cary also requested an independent medical exam. While it was widely reported that he withdrew his application to name himself as guardian, what has not been reported is that he subsequently requested a third party to act as guardian after withdrawing the initial request.
The media responded with news that suggested the family problems in the court had been put to rest. Cal McNair was named as the team representative by the NFL in March. The general public was led to believe that everything had been sorted out. This couldn’t be further from the truth. But what would make Cal, and his two sisters, Ruth and Melissa McNair, act with such force as they overthrew Cary and other executives and staff?
The Four Siblings
According to insiders, the family tension has been simmering for years. To understand the recent events, it’s essential to look at the distinct roles each sibling has held within the family legacy. Cal, for instance, was groomed to be the representative of the Houston Texans, while Cary was chosen to manage the business of McNair Interests. The sisters, Ruth and Melissa, held positions within the family that did not carry executive weight: one worked as a photographer, capturing family events and milestones, while the other managed the archives.
Journalist Tania Ganguli wrote an article in 2012 that resonates today, titled “Why Bob McNair Felt the Time Was Right to Make Cal McNair Texans COO”. In the article, she writes: “Having his [Bob’s] sons work while they were in high school was important to Bob McNair.” Absent from this narrative are his daughters, Ruth and Melissa. Perhaps this omission raises questions about Bob's expectations; perhaps he shared a common belief among many of his generation that sons were meant to assume certain roles, while he may not have envisioned his daughters taking on similar responsibilities. Regardless, there is little public information to be found about Ruth and Melissa.
Little is known publicly about Cary McNair as well. Sources close to the family note that Cary was recognized for his critical thinking skills and his readiness to challenge authority. He started his college journey at Trinity University before transferring to the University of Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on International Business. Known affectionately as the family “critic,” Cary consistently questioned the status quo. Cary stayed out of the spotlight, raising his children in Austin, before moving back to Houston. As CEO of McNair Interests, he ran the day to day operations of the family’s extensive holdings.
Cal McNair had long been positioned as the heir apparent to take over leadership of the Texans franchise. He had been groomed for this role, ascending to the position of Chief Operating Officer in 2012. In the years since, Cal had maintained a consistent, high-profile presence within the organization, cementing his status as the successor to his father, Bob McNair, who had founded the franchise.
The article from the Chronicle dating back to 2012 offers a glimpse into the relationship between Cal and his parents. It portrayed Cal as a quiet, almost childlike man with two childhood dreams: being part of a football team and working alongside his father. The article noted, “But for now, the former walk-on football player at the University of Texas delights in his job as if he is still the young child who used to cling to his father when he tried to leave for work.” Even at sixty-three, Cal's habit of calling his mother "Gammy" reinforces this childlike dynamic that some say he has maintained.
Cal worked closely with his dad and other investors with the Texans. On the Chronicle’s website, there is a follow up to the article where the journalist, Tania Ganguli, shared more information about Cal and Bob:
‘Here is how Cal replied when I asked what he feels the most important part of his job is: “I think just carrying on the traditions that my dad has laid down basically. Doing that, and the other thing I want everyone to know is dad’s not going anywhere. I’m not taking over. He’s going to be here. His dad is over 100 years old. My dad loves to work. I love to see him at work. I tell him, I’ll do any of the grunt work. You come here and enjoy. He is a brilliant business man, manager, motivator, all those things. That’s what he brings here, that leadership. I’ll do the grunt work. You just come in and enjoy. One day I hope really soon, I’ll be out there on the platform helping him hold up that trophy because I hear it’s pretty heavy but he’ll be the one holding that sucker up, I hope for a long time.”
Adding further complexity to the family dynamics, multiple sources suggest that tensions grew after Cal married his current wife, Hannah Hartland. Coming from a large family with three brothers and nine sisters, Hannah’s personality sharply contrasts with that of her husband. She is described as gregarious, strong-willed, and highly driven, embracing her role as Cal's wife. Recently, she has emerged as a prominent figure within the team. Her affinity for the spotlight sets her apart from other family members.
What happened?
These internal conflicts soon spilled into the courts. The guardianship case, for example, was just the beginning. According to the Houston Chronicle, Janice McNair submitted an affidavit to the court in December which said that her son Cary was “seeking to limit or terminate my rights and appoint himself as guardian of my estate.” As it related to the guardianship, Janice wrote “It will create a needless and baseless media stir regarding the ownership and direction of the Texans, thereby negatively affecting our employees, business partners and the team". Multiple people who are close to the family reportedly have doubts about whether or not Janice had the capacity to write such a statement.
Mrs. McNair suffered a hemorrhagic brain stroke in 2020. While we don’t know the severity of her diagnosis, this type of stroke is particularly dangerous because it can cause brain damage if not treated quickly (according to the Cleveland Clinic website). It is important to note that everyone responds differently to a stroke so we cannot assume the worst case scenario. Physically, Mrs. McNair appears to have slowed down. She is now in a wheelchair and her left arm is strapped down.
After the guardianship filing and according to sources familiar with the case, Cary and his bloodline have allegedly not had access to Mrs. McNair. Her gates, garages and doors all have new locks. On March 7, the same day as the takeover, a revocation of durable powers of attorney was filed with the Harris County Clerk’s office. This means that Mrs. McNair cancelled the legal authority she had given to others to make decisions on her behalf.
Effective March 7, 2024, Cary would no longer be CEO and manager of McNair Interests. The leadership of the trust that is over McNair Interests, Palmetto Trust Company, was also completely changed to remove Cary and add his siblings. Therefore, Cal, Melissa and Ruth were given the authority to make decisions without Cary. Ruth and Melissa were given executive titles despite never having experience in business.
Sources close to the family allege that Janice may have been misinformed about Cary's intentions. One source said that Cal, Melissa, and Ruth allegedly “convinced her to hand over her power to enable them to restructure the governance of the Palmetto Trust Company to oust Cary and his family.” The source added, “With the hostile takeover, the sisters agreed to minimize the circumstances under which a Texans representative could be removed.” In other words, these changes allow Cal to get away with almost anything.
On June 5, 2024, the Palmetto Trust Company, along with Cal, Melissa, and Ruth McNair, filed a lawsuit in Harris County Probate Court against Cary McNair, his son Holt, and several other executives from McNair Interests. This lawsuit is about the executives’ employment agreements. Cary has fought back alleging that this is retaliation against him for bringing a guardianship proceeding to the court.
The media has not provided any information about March 7, 2024 or the events that have followed (with the exception of one article by Fox a local fox news station). Given the McNairs' deep ties to the city’s culture, economy, and identity—through both the Houston Texans and extensive charitable initiatives—this ongoing story is of public interest.
After the recent shake-up at McNair Interests the impact is still unfolding. The leadership shift has disrupted a family once central to Houston’s community. Employees who once valued a culture of trust now face an atmosphere of uncertainty.
Janice McNair’s health issues and the guardianship proceedings have exposed long-standing family tensions and a power struggle. Cary McNair’s pushback highlights these internal conflicts, largely hidden from the public eye.
The McNair family's saga is a reminder that even the strongest legacies can face internal challenges. This evolving story highlights the significance of transparency, trust, and unity—values that, at least on the surface, once defined both the family and the organization.
The situation surrounding the McNair entities and the related lawsuits is dynamic and will evolve over time. Readers are encouraged to stay informed about any updates as new information becomes available. The events described are based on public records, court filings, and allegations made by various parties involved. I have included information from sources who have explicitly asked to remain confidential. For context on other lawsuits involving the family, please refer to previous posts. It is important to note that the courts have not yet made final determinations on these matters, and all parties are entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise in a court of law.