John L. Nau

John L. Nau, III is President and Chief Executive Officer of Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P., the nation’s largest distributor of Anheuser-Busch products, a position he has held since 1990. Silver Eagle employs more than 1,200 employees and serves more than 13,000 accounts throughout 16 counties in Texas through operations in Houston, San Antonio, Conroe, Cypress and Rosenberg. Along with being one of the largest Grupo Modelo distributors in the country, Silver Eagle also distributes a broad selection of microbrews, craft beers, and several non-alcohol beverages and waters.
Nau has participated in civic, community, and philanthropic organizations in Houston and throughout the United States. His current involvement includes Vice Chairman of the National Park Foundation Board of Directors, Civil War Trust Board of Directors and Chairman Emeritus, Baylor College of Medicine Board of Trustees, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Board of Trustees, Honorary Trustee of the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, Honorary Trustee of The Texas Heart Institute, Honorary State Trustee of San Antonio Parks Foundation, Director and Executive Committee member of the Greater Houston Partnership and Advisory Council member to the Center for Big Bend Studies. He also serves as a Board Member for the Center for Houston’s Future, Discovery Green Conservancy in Houston, Friends of the Texas Historical Commission, Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park, Houston Police Foundation, The Admiral Nimitz Foundation, and the Texas State Historical Association. Additionally, he is Chairman of the Capital Campaign for The Center for Texas Cultural Heritage and Chairman of the Steering Committee for the proposed Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area. He is founder and President of The Nau Foundation.
Nau has a personal interest in American history, and he has served as chairman of the national Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, 2001-2010, a position appointed by the President of the United States. He also served as chairman of the Texas Historical Commission, 1995-2009, a position appointed by the Governor of Texas.
He is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and formerly served on the Board of Visitors, a position appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He also serves as Vice Chairman and on the Executive Committee for the University of Virginia Capital Campaign.
Nau and his wife, Bobbie, reside in Houston, Texas. Their family includes two daughters, Elizabeth Nau Stepanian and husband Andy, Victoria Nau Johnson and husband Parker, and five grandchildren, Katharine, Reese and Driggs Stepanian, and Liston and Case Johnson.
Nau has been a major contributor to the Republican Party, particularly Texas Republicans. Nau has served as the national finance chairman of Texas Senator and former NRSC Chairman John Cornyn. Nau is also a major contributor to American Crossroads and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.