[
]( "Ric Campo, James Baker and Bob McNair")
HOUSTON – Former Secretary of State James Baker and Camden Properties Chairman and CEO Richard "Ric" Campo will lead the campaign to bring the Super Bowl back to Houston, it was announced today. Baker will serve as the Honorary Chairman and Campo will serve as the Chairman for the Super Bowl LI Bid Committee that will look to secure Houston's first NFL title game since Super Bowl XLVIII at Reliant Stadium in 2004. The bid to host Super Bowl LI that will take place in 2017 is a joint effort between the Houston Texans, the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau and the entire community of Houston.
"We are extremely pleased and honored to have the support of Secretary Baker to lead our efforts to bring Super Bowl back to Houston," stated Bob McNair, owner of the Houston Texans. "His legacy as a great statesman coupled with his personal commitment to Houston makes him a great leader for our committee."
"I am delighted to assist my good friend, Bob McNair, and the Houston community in the effort to secure Super Bowl LI," remarked Secretary Baker. "We proved our abilities by hosting an outstanding game in 2004. Our goal now is to encourage the NFL ownership to recognize, that once again, Houston is the best choice for their prestigious event."
Houston saw an economic impact of more than $350 million as a result of Super Bowl XLVIII in 2004 as well as several urban expansion and renewal projects completed as a result of that game.
"The Super Bowl brings an enormous economic impact to its host city," stated Ric Campo. "It also offers us a chance to show a worldwide television audience what a vibrant and international city Houston truly is."
The Super Bowl Bid Committee is composed of 15 key community leaders representing the city of Houston, Harris County, and the business community. It has also engaged the services of sports marketing professional, Sallie Sargent to oversee and deliver the technical requirements of the bid to the NFL. The committee will present its bid at the NFL Spring League Meeting in Boston, Mass., May 20-22.
Baker's service experience in the public sector is unique and unparalleled, having held senior government positions under three U.S. presidents. Baker served as the nation's 61st Secretary of State from 1989 until August of 1992 under President George H.W. Bush and then as Bush's White House Chief of Staff and Senior Counselor until his term ended in January of 1993. It was in this position that he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1991. He served as the Secretary of Treasury and Chairman of the President's Economic Policy Council from 1985-88 and was Chief of Staff from 1981-85 under President Ronald Reagan. Baker began his public service in 1975 as Under Secretary of Commerce to President Gerald Ford. In addition to serving under three different presidents, Baker also led five consecutive presidential campaigns from 1976-92 for Ford, Reagan and Bush.
Since 1997, Baker has provided assistance in several international and national issues. From 1997 to 2004, Baker served as the Personal Envoy of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan regarding the conflict in the Western Sahara. In 2003, Baker was appointed Special Presidential Envoy for President George W. Bush on the issue of Iraqi debt. In 2005, he was co-chair, with former President Jimmy Carter, of the Commission on Federal Election Reform. In 2006, Baker served the co-chairs of the Iraq Study Group. In 2008, Baker co-chaired of the National War Powers Commission.
Baker is currently a senior partner in the law firm of Baker Botts and is the Honorary Chairman of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University and serves on the board of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
The Houston native graduated from Princeton in 1952 and then enrolled in the University of Texas School of Law at Austin following two years of active duty in the Marines. He completed law school with honors in 1957 and spent much of the next 18 years practicing law with the Houston firm of Andrews and Kurth.
Richard Campo is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Camden Property Trust, serving in this capacity since May 1993. As the Chairman and CEO of one of the nation's largest multifamily Real Estate Investment Trusts, Campo holds strategic roles within the real estate industry. He is currently a member of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT") where he serves on the Executive Board, the National Multi Housing Council ("NMHC") where he serves on the Executive Committee and was past chairman, and the Urban Land Institute ("ULI").
Currently, Campo is the Chairman of Houston First, a local government corporation that facilitates the city's economic growth through the business of conventions and the arts. Houston First manages the George R. Brown Convention Center, the Wortham Theater Center, Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Hilton Americas- Houston and several outdoor venues.
Campo also serves on the Board of Directors of several organizations that focus on the economic development, business outlook and future growth of Houston, including Central Houston, Inc., the Greater Houston Community Foundation and the Greater Houston Partnership, and is an Executive Advisory Board Member for the University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business.
