William Herbert Hunt

William Herbert Hunt of Dallas, Texas went to be with his Lord and Savior on April 9, 2024, at the age of 95. Herbert was born to H. L. Hunt and Lyda Bunker Hunt on March 6, 1929, in El Dorado, Arkansas.

His family moved to Tyler, Texas when he was a year old and then to Dallas when he was nine. Herbert attended Dallas Country Day School, Stonewall Jackson Elementary, and J. L. Long Middle School before, as he put it, “being shipped off” to The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. After graduation from The Hill School, he attended Washington and Lee University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology.

While at Washington and Lee, Herbert met Nancy Jane Broaddus on a blind date. They married the first Saturday after Nancy’s 21st birthday and celebrated more than 72 years of love and devotion together.

Herbert joined the family oil business and had an accomplished career in oil and gas exploration and the oil service industry. He was involved with numerous discoveries and field developments around the globe.

Herbert served in a number of industry organizations. He was a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists since 1953, receiving their Pioneer Award. He was President of the Dallas Wildcat Committee in 1965-66 and served as President of the Dallas Petroleum Club in 1970. He served on the Board of Directors of the American Petroleum Institute (API), as Past President of the International Association of Drilling Contractors and as Chairman of the National Ocean Industries Association. Herbert was the last surviving original inductee of the All-American Wildcatters, and he lived by the AAW creed “My Word is My Bond”. He was an Advisory Board Member of the Maguire Energy Institute at SMU and served on the board at SMU’s Institute for the Study of Earth and Man (ISEM).

Another of Herbert’s endeavors was real estate development. He was active in the development of various properties in Richardson, Plano, Forney, Fate, Lavon, and Royse City. He also developed a number of properties in Scottsdale, Arizona and Orange County, California.

Herbert’s non-industry involvement included serving on the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America Circle Ten Council, where he was President from 1984-86. He received various awards for distinguished service to youth. He served on the Presbyterian Hospital Building Corporation from 1985-1990 and served many years on the Board of Wadley Blood Bank (now part of Carter Blood Care). Herbert was a long-time member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, where he served as a Deacon and Elder. He and Nancy taught Sunday school for many years.

While Herbert’s industry and business achievements are legendary and his civic involvement and philanthropy vast, he was most proud and took great joy in the family he and Nancy raised together.

Herbert is survived by his wife Nancy, children Doug (Margaret), Barbara Hunt Crow, Libby Allred (Al), Bruce (Leeanne), and David (Libby), grandchildren Taylor Hunt (Elizabeth), Casey Hunt (Morgan), Nathan Crow (Itzel), Marshall Hunt (Brittany), Hunt Allred (Brittny), Austin Hunt (Chelsea), Davin Hunt (Anne Lindsey), Megan Carter (Joel), Margaret Crow Casselbrant (Magnus), Nancy Collins (William), Carter Hunt (Michelle), Daniel Crow, Bailey Hunt (Jordan), Dallas Hunt, Elizabeth Hunt, Sharon Hunt, and thirty-five great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by sister-in-law Caroline Lewis Hunt, as well as half-siblings Ray Lee Hunt (Nancy Ann), June Hunt, Helen Lakelly Hunt (Harville Hendrix), and Swanee Grace Hunt.

Herbert is preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Caroline Rose Hunt and Margaret Hunt Hill, and brothers Hassie, Nelson Bunker, and Lamar Hunt.

A Celebration of Herbert’s Life will be held at Highland Park Presbyterian Church on Tuesday April 23rd at 3:00 pm with Pastor Jay Lee officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Highland Park Presbyterian Church (hppres.org), the Retina Foundation of the Southwest (retinafoundation.org), or to the Highland Park Education Foundation (hpef.org).