John Poindexter, a Houston businessman, bought the three forts between 1990 and 1992 and spent almost four years restoring them.

He will face Rob Mosbacher, a wealthy Houston businessman, in a runoff election in early December.

Still, the Oilers were a tough sell, at least until a Houston businessman made an offer to buy the team and move it to Texas.

As Allan Bailey, a retired Houston businessman, looked on, tears welled in the senator's eyes.

Strake was defeated by the then 10-year incumbent, Democrat Bill Hobby, also a Houston businessman.

In March 2011, local Houston businessman Jim Crane emerged as the front-runner to purchase the franchise.

But only, as a Houston businessman said today, "if he can convince them that he's found a way to get the economy off the track he's gotten it onto."

- James Smith, executed by injection on June 26, 1990 in Texas for the murder of a Houston businessman.

Mr. Rains is an affable Houston businessman who served as Texas Secretary of State, an appointed position.

Analysts said they expected the two Houston businessmen to advise Enron executives and visit foreign nations peddling natural gas projects, particularly Enron's gas-fired power plants.