Rowling, R

<h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">Robert Rowling</h1>

--Three Texas tycoons are responsible for more than half the funds that conservative super PAC American Crossroads has raised since it was founded by top GOP strategists Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie in 2010.Harold Simmons, Bob Perry and Robert Rowling have collectively donated $30.5 million, or just over 54 percent, to the high-profile super PAC either personally or through their corporate accounts, according to a Center for Public Integrity analysis of Internal Revenue Service and Federal Election Commission filings.ifgRobert Rowling is heir to his father’s Texas oil fortune. Rowling’s TRT Holdings include the Omni hotel chain (which includes 15,000 rooms in 50 locations), Gold’s Gym fitness centers, oil and gas production (including Tana Exploration), financial and energy stocks. Rowling also owns a fifth of the downtown real estate in Corpus Christi and draws added revenue from a chain of Mexican dollar stores.  Power Networks: Rowling is a prodigious conservative fund-raiser, empowering and electing many mobers of Congress who have been key to killing climate legislation. He has given more than $2 million to Karl Rove’s American Crossroads, a “super PAC” that bankrolled GOP campaigns during the November 2010 elections. Rowling also provides financial support to Progress for America, a group that backed George W. Bush’s re-election campaigns. Rowling keeps a very low profile, and reportedly his photo has never appeared on the front page of the Dallas newspapers.124 While Rowling’s Gold’s Gym chain profits by appealing to gay customers, Rowling redirects these profits to some of the GOP’s most anti-gay politicians.125 Rowling has given $129,271 to Texas Governor Rick Perry.126  Environment: TRT Holdings is expanding its oil and gas exploration activities in the Gulf of Mexico through its Tana Exploration Company LLC. In 2006, Tana was fined $165,000 when it was determined that a gas/condensate leak from one of its wells occurred because both the primary and secondary surface safety valves meant to prevent leaks had been “improperly bypassed.” The resulting overpressure caused the pipeline to rupture.127

<div><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00487363&cycle=2012">American Crossroads</a>, the super PAC linked to Karl Rove, reported hauling in over $7 million in the month of July -- $3 million of that came from three corporations, all of which have a prominent public face.</div>

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<div>TRT Holdings, for instance, gave $1 million to the super PAC in July. While the holding company isn't exactly a household name, the brands owned by the group -- Omni Hotels and Gold's Gym -- are some of the most prevalent names on just about any commercial strip in America. According to <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org">OpenSecrets.org</a> data, the company has now given $4.5 million to American Crossroads, not counting the $2.5 million that TRT Holding's founder, Robert Rowling, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/donor_detail.php?cycle=2010&id=U0000003234&type=I&super=N">has personally contributed</a> to Crossroads.  8/12</div>

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TRT Holdings, owned by Dallas' Robert Rowling, gave American Crossroads $1 million. Rowling, whose firm owns Omni Hotels and Gold's Gym, got started at his father's successful company, Tana Oil & Gas. He's now worth <a target="blank" href="http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_Robert-Rowling_Q4SB.html">$4.4 billion</a>. In 2004 Rowling <a target="blank" href="http://democracy21.net/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC=%7B359B432A-0915-495A-BFBC-36A20DDE62D4%7D&DE=%7BFE9E962D-CA47-48AB-A81E-BEB0AE24E14F%7D">gave</a> $1 million to Progress for America, an outside group backing President Bush's reelection.

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Robert Rowling is the founder of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRT_Holdings" title="TRT Holdings">TRT Holdings</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holding_company" title="Holding company">holding company</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omni_Hotels" title="Omni Hotels" class="mw-redirect">Omni Hotels</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold%27s_Gym" title="Gold's Gym">Gold's Gym</a>.

In 1972, Rowling began working for Tana Oil and Gas, which was owned by his father, Reese Rowling, and William Colson. In 1989 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texaco" title="Texaco">Texaco</a> acquired Tana for $476 million, thereby providing money that was used to form TRT Holdings. Five years later, TRT Holdings sold Corpus Christi National Bank for $131 million. TRT Holdings would later purchase Omni Hotels for $500 million and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold%27s_Gym" title="Gold's Gym">Gold's Gym</a> for $180 million. In August 2010, Rowling made the winning bid to acquire the bankrupt <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Island_Plantation" title="Amelia Island Plantation">Amelia Island Plantation</a> Resort for $67.1 Million.

A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, Rowling has an undergraduate degree from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Texas_at_Austin" title="University of Texas at Austin">University of Texas at Austin</a> and a law degree from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Methodist_University" title="Southern Methodist University">Southern Methodist University</a>.

Rowling served as a regent to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Texas_System" title="University of Texas System">University of Texas System</a> until February 6, 2009 when he resigned over a controversy regarding bonuses paid to the UTIMCO investment staff. Governor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Perry" title="Rick Perry">Rick Perry</a> and Texas state senators had sought to go back on compensation agreements with the staff. Unwilling to break the contracts and disgusted by their grandstanding, Rowling quit during a Texas Senate Finance Committee meeting and followed it up a day later with a formal letter of resignation <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_note-0">[1]</a>

In recognition for his contributions to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_campaign" title="Bush campaign" class="mw-redirect">Bush campaign</a>, Robert Rowling has been given the title of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Pioneer" title="Bush Pioneer">Bush Pioneer</a>.

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes" title="Forbes">Forbes</a> magazine in 2010 listed Rowling as the 189th wealthiest person in the world with a net worth of $4.4 billion.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_note-1">[2]</a>

<h2>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Rowling&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Political Activities">edit</a>] Political Activities</h2>

Rowling is a conservative Republican and a major donor to the party.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_note-2">[3]</a>He is also one of four billionaire backers of the conservative political action group <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Crossroads" title="American Crossroads">American Crossroads</a>, a self-described "grassroots" <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization" title="527 organization">527 organization</a> that nonetheless has received 97 percent of its funding from the four billionaires and was founded by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Rove" title="Karl Rove">Karl Rove</a>, former President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush">George W. Bush</a>'s political strategist and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Gillespie" title="Ed Gillespie">Ed Gillespie</a>, former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_National_Committee" title="Republican National Committee">Republican National Committee</a> chairman.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_note-3">[4]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_note-4">[5]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_note-5">[6]</a>.

According to an article published in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes" title="Forbes">Forbes</a> magazine, "Rowling is facing a rebellion at his fitness chain Gold’s Gym after is $2 million donation to Karl Rove’s conservative group sparked protest from gay rights advocates". Rowling gave a $2 million gift to Karl Rove’s "conservative PAC American Crossroads, which has given money to candidates with anti-gay views.". <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_note-6">[7]</a>

Rowling gave more than $2 million as a private donation completely independent from his company, TRT Holdings. TRT Holdings has also given an additional $2.5 million from the company treasury this election cycle, according to public filings. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_note-7">[8]</a>

Rowling commented to Fox News, explaining that his donation to American Crossroads had nothing to do with social policies that could spark crossfire. "I've never heard one discussion of a social issue. This is all about fiscal sanity." <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_note-8">[9]</a>

<h2>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Rowling&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: References">edit</a>] References</h2>

<li id="cite_note-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_ref-0">^</a> A copy of Rowling's resignation letter is posted at <a href="http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/shared-blogs/austin/politics/upload/2009/02/rowling_formally_resigns/Letter%20to%20Governor%20Perry%20and%20Lieut.pdf" class="external free" rel="nofollow">http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/shared-blogs/austin/politics/upload/2009/02/rowling_formally_resigns/Letter%20to%20Governor%20Perry%20and%20Lieut.pdf</a></li>

<li id="cite_note-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_ref-1">^</a> <a href="http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_Robert-Rowling_Q4SB.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"#189 Robert Rowling"</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes" title="Forbes">Forbes</a>. March 10, 2010. <a href="http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_Robert-Rowling_Q4SB.html" class="external free" rel="nofollow">http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_Robert-Rowling_Q4SB.html</a>. Retrieved July 23, 2010.<span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=%23189+Robert+Rowling&rft.jtitle=%5B%5BForbes%5D%5D&rft.date=March+10%2C+2010&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Flists%2F2010%2F10%2Fbillionaires-2010_Robert-Rowling_Q4SB.html&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Robert_Rowling"> </li>

<li id="cite_note-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_ref-2">^</a> <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-Rowling_24bus.ART.State.Edition1.4ddcaca.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"Robert Rowling is the billionaire Dallas doesn't know"</a>. August 24, 2008. <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-Rowling_24bus.ART.State.Edition1.4ddcaca.html" class="external free" rel="nofollow">http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-Rowling_24bus.ART.State.Edition1.4ddcaca.html</a>. Retrieved August 29, 2010.<span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.btitle=Robert+Rowling+is+the+billionaire+Dallas+doesn%27t+know&rft.atitle=&rft.date=August+24%2C+2008&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dallasnews.com%2Fsharedcontent%2Fdws%2Fbus%2Fstories%2FDN-Rowling_24bus.ART.State.Edition1.4ddcaca.html&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Robert_Rowling"> </li>

<li id="cite_note-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_ref-3">^</a> <a href="http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/07/23/rove_group_billionaire_donors" class="external text" rel="nofollow">""Grassroots" Rove-linked group funded almost entirely by billionaires"</a>. Jul 23, 2010. <a href="http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/07/23/rove_group_billionaire_donors" class="external free" rel="nofollow">http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/07/23/rove_group_billionaire_donors</a>. Retrieved August 29, 2010.<span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.btitle=%22Grassroots%22+Rove-linked+group+funded+almost+entirely+by+billionaires&rft.atitle=&rft.date=Jul+23%2C+2010&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.salon.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fwar_room%2F2010%2F07%2F23%2Frove_group_billionaire_donors&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Robert_Rowling"> </li>

<li id="cite_note-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_ref-4">^</a> <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/08/karl-rove-linked-conservative-group.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"Karl Rove-Linked Conservative Group, American Crossroads, Adapts to New Campaign Finance Landscape"</a>. August 19, 2010. <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/08/karl-rove-linked-conservative-group.html" class="external free" rel="nofollow">http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/08/karl-rove-linked-conservative-group.html</a>. Retrieved August 29, 2010.<span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.btitle=Karl+Rove-Linked+Conservative+Group%2C+American+Crossroads%2C+Adapts+to+New+Campaign+Finance+Landscape&rft.atitle=&rft.date=August+19%2C+2010&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.opensecrets.org%2Fnews%2F2010%2F08%2Fkarl-rove-linked-conservative-group.html&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Robert_Rowling"> </li>

<li id="cite_note-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_ref-5">^</a> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/us/26rove.html?" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"Rove Returns, With Team, Planning G.O.P. Push"</a>. September 25, 2010. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/us/26rove.html" class="external free" rel="nofollow">http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/us/26rove.html</a>?. Retrieved September 28, 2010.<span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.btitle=Rove+Returns%2C+With+Team%2C+Planning+G.O.P.+Push&rft.atitle=&rft.date=September+25%2C+2010&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2010%2F09%2F26%2Fus%2F26rove.html%3F&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Robert_Rowling"> </li>

<li id="cite_note-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_ref-6">^</a> <a href="http://blogs.forbes.com/clareoconnor/2010/10/26/golds-gym-franchises-revolt-against-billionaire-owner-for-funding-rove-group" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"Gold’s Gym Franchises Revolt Against Billionaire Owner For Funding Rove Group"</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes" title="Forbes">Forbes</a>. October 26, 2010. <a href="http://blogs.forbes.com/clareoconnor/2010/10/26/golds-gym-franchises-revolt-against-billionaire-owner-for-funding-rove-group" class="external free" rel="nofollow">http://blogs.forbes.com/clareoconnor/2010/10/26/golds-gym-franchises-revolt-against-billionaire-owner-for-funding-rove-group</a>. Retrieved October 28, 2010.<span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Gold%E2%80%99s+Gym+Franchises+Revolt+Against+Billionaire+Owner+For+Funding+Rove+Group&rft.jtitle=%5B%5BForbes%5D%5D&rft.date=October+26%2C+2010&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.forbes.com%2Fclareoconnor%2F2010%2F10%2F26%2Fgolds-gym-franchises-revolt-against-billionaire-owner-for-funding-rove-group&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Robert_Rowling"> </li>

<li id="cite_note-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_ref-7">^</a> <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20020763-503544.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"Gold's Gym Faces Backlash After CEO Gives to GOP Group"</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_news" title="CBS news" class="mw-redirect">CBS news</a>. October 26, 2010. <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20020763-503544.html" class="external free" rel="nofollow">http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20020763-503544.html</a>. Retrieved October 28, 2010.<span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Gold%27s+Gym+Faces+Backlash+After+CEO+Gives+to+GOP+Group&rft.jtitle=%5B%5BCBS+news%5D%5D&rft.date=October+26%2C+2010&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2F8301-503544_162-20020763-503544.html&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Robert_Rowling"> </li>

<li id="cite_note-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rowling#cite_ref-8">^</a> <a href="http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/10/26/isnt-working-out-golds-gym-franchises-split-parent-co-over-ceos-american-crossroads-donat" class="external text" rel="nofollow">"This Isn't Working Out: Gold's Gym Franchises Split with Parent Co. Over CEO's American Crossroads Donation}"</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FOX_news" title="FOX news" class="mw-redirect">FOX news</a>. October 26, 2010. <a href="http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/10/26/isnt-working-out-golds-gym-franchises-split-parent-co-over-ceos-american-crossroads-donat" class="external free" rel="nofollow">http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/10/26/isnt-working-out-golds-gym-franchises-split-parent-co-over-ceos-american-crossroads-donat</a>. Retrieved October 28, 2010.<span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=This+Isn%27t+Working+Out%3A+Gold%27s+Gym+Franchises+Split+with+Parent+Co.+Over+CEO%27s+American+Crossroads+Donation%7D&rft.jtitle=%5B%5BFOX+news%5D%5D&rft.date=October+26%2C+2010&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fpolitics.blogs.foxnews.com%2F2010%2F10%2F26%2Fisnt-working-out-golds-gym-franchises-split-parent-co-over-ceos-american-crossroads-donat&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Robert_Rowling"> </li>

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<h2>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Rowling&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: External links">edit</a>] External links</h2>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2004/07/22/TopStories/Texas.4thRichest.Man.Appointed.Regent-695023.shtml" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Texas' 4th-richest man appointed Regent</a> (from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Daily_Texan" title="The Daily Texan">The Daily Texan</a>)</li>

<li><a href="http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/54/richlist07_Robert-Rowling_Q4SB.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Forbes Profile of Robert Rowling</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2006/09/26/Opinion/Viewpoint.Meet.Your.Regents-2308185.shtml" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Regent Robert Rowling</a> (from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Daily_Texan" title="The Daily Texan">The Daily Texan</a>)</li>

<li><a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-Rowling_24bus.ART.State.Edition1.4ddcaca.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Robert Rowling is the billionaire Dallas doesn't know</a> (from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dallas_Morning_News" title="The Dallas Morning News">The Dallas Morning News</a>)</li>

<li><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2010/08/26/omni-snares-bankrupt-amelia-island-resort-on-florida-coast/?mod=residential_real_estate" class="external free" rel="nofollow">http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2010/08/26/omni-snares-bankrupt-amelia-island-resort-on-florida-coast/?mod=residential_real_estate</a></li>

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<div class="pac">Robert B. Rowling Irving, Texas</div>

An oil industry giant who also owns the Omni hotel chain, Rowling, 57, of Dallas — owner, CEO and president of TRT Holdings Inc. — is worth $4.7 billion, according to Forbes.

<h4>Contributions</h4>

<ul>

<li>American Crossroads (GOP) $1,000,000 Donor: Robert B. Rowling | Date: May 20, 2011</li>

<li>Restore Our Future (Romney) $100,000 Donor: Robert B. Rowling | Date: Jan. 13, 2012</li>

<li class="last">American Crossroads (GOP) $1,000,000 Donor: TRT Holdings Ind. | Date: Feb. 3, 2012</li>

</ul>

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