Mica Mosbacher

Mica Mosbacher
Born Michelle McCutchen
(1953-07-20) July 20, 1953
Gainesville, Florida, U.S.
Occupation Honorary Consul for Iceland in Houston and Central Texas, author and philanthropist
Spouse(s) Robert Mosbacher
(2000–2010; his death)

Michelle "Mica" Mosbacher (born July 20, 1953) is the American author of memoir, Racing Forward, philanthropist, Trump fundraiser, national surrogate and advocate on social issues prompting legislation such as funding for sexual assault. She is the widow of Robert Mosbacher, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce.[1][2] She is frequent guest on Fox Business and Fox News.[3]

Early life

Mosbacher is a fifth-generation Floridian, the daughter of John Jolley McCutchen, M.D. J.D. of New Jersey and Florida, and Jane Seckinger McCutchen of Florida. She has one brother, John McCutchenI II president nd CEO of On Time Electric and co-founder/driver with Godstone Ranch Motorsports. The family moved to Houston, Texas after Dr. McCutchen was recruited as part of Dr. Michael DeBakey’s heart transplant team. An accomplished horsewoman, while in high school in Houston, Mosbacher competed in Saddleseat Equitation and won the category during her debut at the 1969 Texas State Fair in Dallas. She went on to become Junior Champion, Southwest Circuit.

Mosbacher attended Hollins University from 1971 to 1972 and the University of Texas in Austin (1972–75). She also studied acting and modeled part-time in her twenties. In 2010, she earned two walk-on roles in the Broadway production of the musical, Mamma Mia!

Her career in journalism began in 1972 when Mosbacher interned as a news reporter at NBC affiliate KPRC-TV in Houston. While at KPRC, she was among the first female radio reporters in Houston. She won two awards in print journalism from the Houston Press.

In 1985, she married Donald C. Duncan, Jr., an attorney. They had one son, Donald C. Duncan, III. She has one grandson, Donald Cameron Duncan IV. In 2000, she married Robert Mosbacher, Sr., 28th U.S. Secretary of Commerce and CEO of Mosbacher Energy.

Politics

Mosbacher became involved with politics in Memphis, when she worked with the precinct chair placing yard signs in support of senate candidate Howard Baker. Later, she worked as a volunteer in the Advance Office for Vice President George H.W. Bush in Houston.

Mosbacher was the national co-chairwoman, Women for McCain in the 2008 presidential campaign, and the statewide co-chair for Texas Governor Rick Perry. She served as Inaugural Chair for Governor Perry in 2007, and national co-chair of Perry’s presidential campaign in 2012. She also served as a National Finance Co-chair for the Republican National Committee in 2012. She was also appointed by the Governor to a six-year term on the University of Houston's Board of Regents. Mica served as vice chair of the board and chair of the endowment committee.

Philanthropy

Mosbacher has served on the board of the American Hospital Foundation, receiving the board’s highest honor presented by Ambassador Howard Leach at the United States Embassy in Paris. In the late 90’s, she implemented the Best Friends Foundation, an abstinence-based program for youth, in the Houston Independent School District.

In 2008, Mosbacher was inducted in the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame. That year, she was also named as one of Houston's "most beautiful Houstonians"[4] In 2010, she was awarded the honor of Dame Commander, Duke of Castro, House of Bourbon of the Two Sicilies, King Francis I for public service.

She was honored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Pastoral Loving Hearts and Hands and named “Pacesetter of the Year” by the Cancer Assistance League. Houston Mayor Annise Parker and City Council honored her by designating “Mica Mosbacher Day” in April 2011 for Mosbacher's initiation of a public art installation titled "Tolerance" on Allan Parkway in Houston. In partnership with the City and former Mayor Bill White, the Jaume Plensa sculptures and adjacent bridge honor and celebrate diversity and harmony in Houston and Texas.

Mosbacher was commissioned as an Honorary Consul of Iceland, Houston and Central Texas on March 9, 2010 by the Foreign Ministry of Iceland, and concurrently accredited by the U. S. State Department.

She was awarded the Silver Good Citizenship Medal in 2012, the highest honor from the Texas Society, Sons of the American Revolution. Mosbacher was named the 2007 “Philanthropist of the Year” by TAASA (Texas Association Against Sexual Assault) and has been an advocate for Senator John Cornyn's "The Safer Act" and other legislation regarding assault prevention and funding.

References

  1. ↑ The New Yorker 2007 "He saw clients and old friends: Mica Mosbacher (who once invited him to Houston to attend a party with her and to meet her husband, Bob, the Secretary of Commerce under George H.W. Bush) "
  2. ↑ http://www.uh.edu/uhtoday/archives/2008/march2008/030608jmmosbacherqna.php
  3. ↑ Texas Tribune Updated: Advocates Say Change to Strip Club Fee is Dead But supporters of the strip club fee say all kinds of other controversial amendments have been added to SB 1 and don’t seem to be at risk of being killed. “The courts reviewing the bill … have made it clear that [using the revenue for health insurance] is not a good fit,” said Mica Mosbacher, an advocate for the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault and a sexual assault survivor. "SB 1 provides a remedy.”
  4. ↑ H Magazine
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