America lost a great man this week.
The Dallas Morning News reported that wealthy oil tycoon, financier, and generous philanthropist T. Boone Pickens passed away at his home in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday. He was 91.
Oil mogul dead at 91
According to The Dallas Morning News, Pickens died peacefully of natural causes, concluding a rough final few years for the oil mogul that included a series of small strokes in 2016 and a serious fall in 2017 that put him in the hospital and out of the public eye for some time as he recovered.
Pickens is survived by his five children, 11 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service is scheduled for next week at Pickens’ home church. He will be buried at his beloved alma mater, Oklahoma State University (OSU) — specifically, at the Karsten Creek Golf Club, where the OSU golf team plays.
Rising the ranks
Pickens was born near the start of the Great Depression in the small eastern Oklahoma town of Holdenville, where he revealed his business acumen early on when he took a job as a newspaper delivery boy. He expanded his “operation” by acquiring other delivery routes that surrounded his, according to the Morning News, ultimately making some serious money for a young kid at that time — roughly $38 per month.
After first enrolling at Texas A&M, Pickens transferred to Oklahoma State University — then known as Oklahoma A&M — after he lost a basketball scholarship. Working as a roughneck on an oil field while attending school, he ended up graduating from OSU with a degree in geology in 1951 and entered the oil industry, creating what ultimately became one of the largest energy producers in the country: Mesa Petroleum.
In the 1980s, Pickens shifted slightly from his focus on energy production and became something of a “corporate raider” by acquiring other businesses, making friends and enemies and becoming a billionaire somewhere along the way.
A lifetime of genorosity
Pickens was not a billionaire when he died, however. He died with an estimated wealth around $500 million — but that wasn’t due to any bad business decisions or economic hardships.
Rather, Pickens had made it point to give away his fortunes. He reportedly donated more than $1 billion throughout his life, the bulk of which went to OSU.
Pickens also used his wealth to help the GOP. He supported former President Ronald Reagan in 1980, and donated $10 million to help underwrite part of Reagan’s presidential library. Pickens also supported former President George W. Bush and provided the funding behind the infamous “Swift Boat Veteran” ad campaign against Bush’s 2004 challenger, John Kerry.
T. Boone Pickens was a great man who made a great fortune and then did even greater things with it. His generosity will be sorely missed.
802 Responses
Fantastic article.Really looking forward to read more. Fantastic.
Really informative blog post.Thanks Again. Really Great.
Appreciate you sharing, great post.Much thanks again. Really Cool.
Really informative blog post.Really thank you! Fantastic.
I cannot thank you enough for the blog.Really thank you! Fantastic.
A big thank you for your post.Much thanks again. Will read on…
A round of applause for your article.Really thank you! Great.
Hey, thanks for the article post.Thanks Again. Great.
I truly appreciate this article post. Much obliged.
Appreciate you sharing, great article post.Really thank you! Really Cool.
Looking forward to reading more. Great article post.Really thank you! Great.
I’ve read a few good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to make such a wonderful informative website.
A big thank you for your blog article.Much thanks again. Want more.
My brother recommended I might like this blog. He used to be totally right. This submit actually made my day. You can not imagine simply how so much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
Major thankies for the blog article. Cool.
I couldn’t resist commenting. Very well written!
Thanks a lot for the article post.Thanks Again. Awesome.
Really enjoyed this article post.Much thanks again. Much obliged.
What i don’t understood is actually how you’re not actually much more well-liked than you might be right now. You are so intelligent. You realize therefore significantly relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from so many varied angles. Its like women and men aren’t fascinated unless it is one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs outstanding. Always maintain it up!
A round of applause for your blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Keep writing.
I think this is a real great blog.Thanks Again. Cool.
wow, awesome article post. Much obliged.
Very good blog post.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
Appreciate you sharing, great blog post. Awesome.
Hey, thanks for the blog post.Really thank you! Cool.
A round of applause for your article.Really looking forward to read more. Really Great.
Thanks again for the blog.Really thank you! Great.
I really liked your blog post.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
Looking forward to reading more. Great blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Much obliged.
I really enjoy the blog post.Much thanks again. Really Great.
wow, awesome article post.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
Thanks so much for the article post.Really looking forward to read more. Want more.
I appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really thank you! Much obliged.
I really like and appreciate your blog post.Really thank you!
A big thank you for your article post. Cool.
I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for magnificent information I was looking for this info for my mission.
İstanbul Escort
Great article.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
Hey There. I discovered your blog the usage of msn. This is an extremely neatly written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to read extra of your helpful information. Thank you for the post. I will certainly return.
It’s actually a nice and helpful piece of info. I am glad that you just shared this useful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.