Bob Simpson wanted to make sure he was, in fact, the right honoree for the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation's Lifetime Award.
He scrolled through slides of previous winners and their accomplishments, such as Hank Aaron and Joe DiMaggio.He wasn't sure how he got put into that category, but proudly showed his slide: "Bob Simpson: CPA and lettered in band at Baylor -- freshman year.""Now it makes sense," Simpson said smiling. "But I am the fourth Bobby to win the award [joining Bobby Valentine, Bobby Bragan and Bobby Richardson]."Simpson, co-chairman and majority owner of the Texas Rangers, mixed in humor as well as valuable advice for this year's scholarship recipients in his speech Thursday night at Ridglea Country Club.Simpson recalled his childhood, growing up on a farm in West Texas, and earning a scholarship to attend Baylor. He told a story about a meeting he had in high school with his counselor and mom to determine what he should study in college.Simpson had a perfect score on the math section of the SAT, but what he described "minimal social skills." His mom asked the counselor, "Is Bobby going to be all right?""No, I'm afraid he's going to be a CPA," the counselor said.Simpson, the co-founder and former chairman and CEO of Fort Worth-based XTO Energy, went on to talk about selling the company for $31 billion in 2010 -- approximately 200 times what its value was in 1998.Follow Drew Davison on Twitter @drewdavison.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
