To Laurie, Lisa, Kelly, and Christiana,
our daughters and sisters
and the mothers of
our grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
—Sam & Andrew
Copyright © 2012 Sam Wyly and Andrew Wyly
All rights reserved.
Page 175 constitutes an extension of the copyright page.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wyly, Sam.
Texas got it right! / by Sam and Andrew Wyly; foreword by
Walter Isaacson. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-59591-076-9 — ISBN 1-59591-076-X
1. Economic development—Texas. 2. Entrepreneurship—
Texas. 3. Texas—Economic policy. 4. Texas—Economic
conditions—21st century. 5. Texas—Social conditions—21st
century. I. Wyly, Andrew. II. Title.
HC107.T4W95 2012
330.9764–dc23
2012027769
First edition, 2012
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Every effort has been made to contact the original copyright
holders of all materials reproduced in the book.
Any errors brought to the producer’s attention will
be corrected in future editions.
Printed and bound in the United States of America
Produced by Melcher Media, Inc. for WYLYBOOKS
SAM WYLY & ANDREW WYLY
FOREWORD BY WALTER ISAACSON
THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
FOREWORD BY WALTER ISAACSON . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9
PREFACE BY ANDREW WYLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10
INTRODUCTION BY SAM WYLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
THE CLOUT IS MOVING SOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19
WE WERE BORN FIGHTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20
…AND WE’VE NEVER STOPPED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21
WE RALLY AROUND THE FALLEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
IN TEXAS, LAND AND
LIVELIHOOD ARE SACRED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
THE PERKS OF NATIONHOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
24
TEXAS GAME-CHANGER:
SAM HOUSTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26
LONE STAR, MANY NATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28
WE’RE A BONA FIDE MELTING POT . . . . . . . . . . . .
29
OUR FRIENDS IN NEED ARE FRIENDS INDEED . . . . . .
30
OUR BOOTS ALWAYS FIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
32
WE’RE BORN DEAL MAKERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
34
WE CAN BRING DOWN EMPIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
35
WE PRIZE THE ART OF PERSUASION . . . . . . . . . . . .
36
...AND WE’RE NOT AFRAID
TO SPEAK OUR MINDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37
OUR POLITICIANS
HAVE GOT CHARACTER TO SPARE . . . . . . . . . . . . .
38
LAWMAKERS WHO
REALLY KNOW MAIN STREET . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
40
LEADING THE RIGHT-TO-WORK
REVOLUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
42
THE CONVENIENCE STORE WAS BORN HERE . .
44
…AND SO WAS THE WORLD’S BEST BURGER . .
45
HELL AND HIGH WATER DON’T STOP US . . . . .
46
TEXANS AIM HIGH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
47
OUR BIG SNAGS GET BIG SOLUTIONS . . . . . . .
48
TEXANS ARE TRUE TRAILBLAZERS . . . . . . . . . . . .
50
AMERICA’S TRADE NEXUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
52
THE WORLD’S PORT OF CALL . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
54
TEXAS IS STILL COWBOY COUNTRY . . . . . . . . .
56
TEXAS GAME-CHANGER:
SAMUEL MAVERICK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
58
THE NEW GREAT MIGRATION LEADS HERE . . . .
60
A POPULATION MAGNET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
62
POWERHOUSE METROS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
64
OUR POLITICIANS
PUT PEOPLE BEFORE PARTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66
ODDFELLOWS AND
ICONOCLASTS WELCOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
68
WE’VE GOT THE SPIRIT OF A WILDCATTER . . . .
70
…PLUS THE GRIT AND GUTS
OF A ROUGHNECK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
71
FOR OUR MONEY,
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
72
TEXAS