The founder of top 10 U.S. privately-held petroleum producer Petro-Hunt LLC, William Herbert Hunt, passed away on April 9. He was 95.

A son of East Texas oil wildcatter H.L. Hunt, he grew his Dallas-based Petro-Hunt to operations globally and across the U.S., including in the Permian, Williston and Powder River basins and in the Eagle Ford Shale.

Hunt and his family were inducted into Hart Energy’s Hall of Fame in December.

Domestically and globally, Petro-Hunt was instrumental in some of the largest oil discoveries in the world. In 1961, Hunt and brother Nelson Bunker Hunt discovered the Sarir Field in Libya, one of the largest oil fields onshore Africa.

Later, the family had a role in opening the North Sea with Placid Oil’s discovery in the 1970s on Block L 10/11.

In extraction innovation, Petro-Hunt drilled and completed the first medium-radius double-lateral well in South Texas in the 1990s, taking the concept to North Dakota.

In addition to oil and gas production, Petro-Hunt has operations and interests in gas processing, oil refining and real estate.

A geologist receiving his bachelor’s in 1951 from Washington and Lee University, Hunt held membership in the American Association of Petroleum Geologists throughout his career, receiving the organization’s Pioneer Award.

His leadership roles in industry organizations included a position on the American Petroleum Institute board, president of the American Association of Drilling Contractors (now known as the International Association of Drilling Contractors) and chairman of the National Ocean Industries Association.

He was president of the Dallas Wildcat Committee in 1965-1966 and president of the Dallas Petroleum Club in 1970.

Hunt was the last surviving original inductee of the All-American Wildcatters, which was founded in 1969, and lived by the group’s creed, “My word is my bond.”

He was an advisory board member for the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University (SMU) and was on the board of SMU’s Institute for the Study of Earth and Man.

In his community, Hunt served as a board member of several organizations: he was on the executive board of the Boy Scouts of America’s Circle Ten Council, where he was president from 1984-1986; the Presbyterian Hospital Building Corp. from 1985-1990; and the Wadley Blood Bank (now part of Carter Blood Care) for several years.

A long-time member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, he was a deacon and elder and taught Sunday School for many years.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Nancy Jane (nee Broaddus), his children and their spouses: 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 and Sharon Hunt; and 35 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.

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

A celebration of his life will be held at Highland Park Presbyterian Church on April 23 at 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Highland Park Presbyterian Church, the Retina Foundation of the Southwest or to the Highland Park Education Foundation.

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