William Moncrief facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Moncrief
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| Born | March 27, 1920 |
| Died | December 29, 2021 (aged 101) Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Texas at Austin (BS) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | President of Moncrief Oil |
| Children | 7 |
| Parent(s) | Elizabeth Moncrief William Alvin Moncrief |
William Alvin Moncrief Jr. (born March 27, 1920 – died December 29, 2021) was an American businessman. He was often called Tex Moncrief. He worked in the oil and gas business. People sometimes called him a "wildcatter," which means someone who drills for oil in new, unexplored areas. He was the president of Moncrief Oil. He was also a billionaire and was listed among the richest people in the world.
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Early Life and Education
William Alvin Moncrief Jr. was born on March 27, 1920. He was the second child of William Alvin "Monty" Moncrief and Elizabeth Bright. When he was ten years old, in 1931, he saw a huge oil well "gusher" open up. This was in Gregg County, Texas, and it was a project his father worked on.
Moncrief went to Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana. He graduated with high honors in 1937. After that, he studied at the University of Texas. He earned a degree in petroleum engineering in 1942.
After college, Moncrief worked for Consolidated Vultee and then for Stanolind Oil. When World War II started, he joined the United States Navy Reserve. He served as a communications officer in the Pacific Ocean during the war.
Career in Oil and Gas
After the war, Moncrief came home and joined Moncrief Oil. He became an equal partner with his father. Their partnership was very successful. Moncrief Oil found many oil and gas fields. These were in West Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.
One of their biggest successes after the war was in Scurry County, Texas. There, the Moncriefs drilled 28 successful wells. These wells produced a huge amount of oil, more than 1.2 billion barrels. In 1972, Moncrief bought a part of the Madden Deep natural gas field in Wyoming. This was a very profitable investment.
In January 2006, Moncrief started drilling wells in the Barnett Shale natural gas field. In September 2009, he bought a share in the Davy Jones oil well. This well was off the coast of Louisiana. Throughout his career, Moncrief followed a rule from his father. He always kept his business private and never sold shares to the public.
Giving Back to the Community
The Moncrief family lived in Fort Worth for many years. They were known for helping their community and giving to charity. William Moncrief Jr. was a strong supporter of the University of Texas. He graduated from there and later served on its Board of Regents. He gave more than $27 million to the university. In 1997, an athletic center was named in his honor.
Moncrief also supported Texas Christian University. He often helped conservative causes. For example, he supported Ross Perot's try for president in 1992.
Family and Later Years
William Moncrief Jr. had seven children in total. Some of his children passed away when they were young. His son John Herbert died in a motorcycle accident. His daughter Monty Francine died from leukemia when she was seven or eight years old.
Moncrief was a founding member of the Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. He was also a close friend of the famous golfer Ben Hogan. His nephew, Mike Moncrief, was the mayor of Fort Worth from 2003 to 2011.
William Moncrief Jr. turned 100 years old in March 2020. He passed away on December 29, 2021, at the age of 101.
