Kimbell Art Museum philanthropist and prominent oil and gas minerals investor Ben Fortson died May 19 at age 95, the museum announced last Monday.
“He was a true gentleman and his commitment to the Kimbell Art Museum was deep, always accompanied by grace and a sense of humor. He leaves behind a strong and enduring legacy,” said Kimbell Art Museum Director Eric M. Lee.
A graduate of Texas Christian University, Fortson has been involved in the oil industry for nearly his entire life, from touring an oil rig with his father at age 4 to continuing his involvement in the industry through a series of investments that led to him starting his own company, Fortson Oil Company, in the early 1960s.
The company remains in business, employing about 50 people and leasing multiple properties in Robertson County, more than two hours south of Dallas.
Fortson, who was famous for closing oil deals worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, sometimes with just a handshake, lived his life and led his businesses by a simple motto inherited from his great-grandfather, W.C. Stripling of Fort Worth:
“Integrity is paramount,” he famously said.
Fortson's 40-year career in the oil industry began in Oklahoma City, working as a land manager for Champlin Oil. In between drilling wells around the country, he also learned how to negotiate contracts and lease property.
His business portfolio also includes founding Kimbell Royalty Partners, a Fort Worth-based oil and gas mineral resources and royalty company. The company owns 17 million acres of land across 28 states, according to its website. The company owns 129,000 oil wells nationwide, 50,000 of which are in the Permian Basin.
“Ben had a distinguished career in the oil and natural gas industry that spanned nearly 60 years, and we will be greatly missed losing him as a great friend and wise mentor at Kimbell Royalty Partners,” said Robert Ravnas, chairman and CEO, general partner of Kimbell Royalty Partners. “His wise counsel, vision and prescient investment skills were key components of Kimbell Royalty Partners' success over the years. We will miss his advice, sense of humor and friendship.”
Brett Taylor, executive vice chairman of Ravnas & Kimbell, worked with Fortson for decades, including on the firm's first royalty acquisition transaction in the late 1990s. The firm had an initial public offering in February 2017, and Fortson served on the firm's board of directors until his death.
Fortson was a seasoned businessman in the oil industry, but he left a lasting impact on the Fort Worth and Texas art scene through his involvement with the Kimbell Art Museum: He served as the museum's vice president and chief investment officer for 50 years and played a key role in the construction of the Renzo Piano Pavilion.
“We will forever remember Ben as the kind and wise leader he was to Kimbell through the immeasurable impact he had on the company through the construction of the Piano Pavilion and his oversight of Kimbell's investments and finances for half a century,” Kimbell's Lee said.
His early involvement with the Kimbell Art Museum was no coincidence: he married Kay Kimbell Carter in 1957, and she inherited the family's desire to build a “first-rate art museum.” That was the driving force behind Fortson's passion for building museums, but he was famously quick to give credit to his wife.
Fortson's dedication to opening doors for others, his constant counsel for those who needed it and his drive to inspire others to pursue their dreams no matter what made a lasting impression on Dee Kelly Jr., a partner at the Fort Worth-based law firm Kelly Hart & Holman LLP.
“Ben Fortson left an indelible mark on Fort Worth. He was a pillar of the arts community, a successful businessman and a friend to everyone. The entire Kelly family loved Ben Fortson,” he said.
