Energy Legends

Energy Legends was created to tell the story of the men and women who provide the industrial oxigen and make our society possible. The series was to be produced and distributed on World Energy Television and was to focus across all areas of Energy. You can view the first episode here.

The first episode that aired in 2009 captured a man who understood the meaning of being an American hero, The Honorable Robert Mosbacher. The story is told from the recollections of those that new him best.

The late Honorable Robert Adam Mosbacher, Sr., accomplished Texas oilman and champion amateur sailor, served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the administration of George H. W. Bush.

Secretary Mosbacher's central accomplishments while at the helm of the Commerce Department from 1989 to early 1992 included helping to lay the foundation for the North American Free Trade Agreement, significantly closing America's trade deficit with key trading partners such as Japan and South Korea, and prevailing in a unanimous Supreme Court decision following the 1990 census.

His rise in politics stemmed in part from his success - or luck, as he routinely called it - in business. Following graduation from Washington & Lee University and acting on advice from his father, the 21 year-old moved to Houston from his native New York in 1948 to manage his father's energy investments and build his own portfolio. Mr. Mosbacher quickly built a highly successful oil and gas company with interests throughout the Gulf Coast, the Rocky Mountains, the Michigan basin, and eventually numerous international markets such as Spain, the Philippines, Canada, Tunisia, India, Peru and more. Since 1950, Mosbacher Energy has participated in the discovery and/or development of hundreds of millions of barrels of oil and almost a trillion cubic feet of natural gas. In recognition of his leadership in the industry, Mosbacher was elected to head the All American Wildcatters Association, the National Petroleum Council, and the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, among others.

Sailing victories came early and frequently to "Bobby" - as he was known then - on nearby Long Island Sound. Over a lifetime of skippering in New York and out of the Texas Corinthian Yacht Club he would amass numerous prestigious titles: the 1939 Long Island Sound Midget Sailing Championship; the 1941 and 1942 Long Island Sound Atlantic Class Championships; the 1957 and 1988 Scandinavian Gold Cup; the 1958 North American Clifford D. Mallory Trophy; the 1969 Dragon Class World Championship; and the 1971 Sailing Class World Championship.

In the Houston area and nationally, Mosbacher's public service and philanthropy was wide-ranging and important to many public institutions and organizations. He twice served as chairman of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's Board of Visitors where he led several highly successful capital campaigns. He also chaired other major initiatives for such organizations as the Woodrow Wilson Institute, The World War II Museum in New Orleans, and the Texas Heart Institute.

In September 2009, the Board of Regents of the Texas A&M University System approved the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy in the Bush School of Government and Public Service. Named for Mr. Bush's long-time friend and colleague, the initiative recognizes Mosbacher's years of service and commitment to improving the nation's domestic economy and trade relationships.