Ben Fortson, Kimbell Art Museum philanthropist and prominent oil and natural gas mineral investor, died on May 19 at the age of 91, the museum announced last Monday.
“He was a true gentleman, and his devotion to the Kimbell, always accompanied by grace and a sense of humor, was profound. He leaves a powerful and enduring legacy,” said Eric M. Lee, Director of the Kimbell Art Museum.
The Texas Christian University alum was around the oil industry practically his entire life. When he was 4-years-old, Fortson took a trip to an oil derrick with his father, which later inspired him to stay close to the industry through a series of investments and forming his own company, the Fortson Oil Company, in the early 1960′s.
The company is still active to this day, employs approximately 50 people and leases multiple properties in Robertson County, about two hours south of Dallas.
Fortson, who notoriously completed oil deals worth hundreds of thousands of dollars with only handshakes at times, lived life and led his businesses through a simple motto which he inherited from his great-grandfather Fort Worth’s W.C. Stripling.
“Integrity is the most important thing of all,” he would famously say.
Fortson’s 40-year career in the oil industry started in Oklahoma City when he was a landman for Champlin Oil. Between drilling wells all over the country, he was also learning how to negotiate contracts and how to lease properties at the same time.
His business portfolio also consisted of establishing Fort Worth-based oil and gas mineral and royalty company Kimbell Royalty Partners. The company owns 17 million acres across 28 states, according to its website. It owns 129,000 wells across the country with 50,000 of them in the Permian Basin.
“Ben’s distinguished career in the oil and natural gas industry spanned nearly six decades, and we are very sad to lose him both as a good friend and wise counselor to Kimbell Royalty Partners,” said Robert Ravnaas, chairman and CEO of Kimbell Royalty Partners’ general partner. “His wise counsel, vision and prescient investing skills were a key factor to the success of Kimbell Royalty Partners over the years. We will miss his advice, sense of humor and friendship.”
Ravnass and Kimbell’s executive vice chairman, Brett Taylor, had worked with Fortson for decades, including the company’s first royalty acquisition deal in the late 1990′s. The company had its initial public offering in February 2017 and he served on the company’s board until his death.
Though Fortson was an expert businessman in the oil industry, he left a lasting effect on Fort Worth’s and Texas’ art scene with his involvement in the Kimbell Art Museum. He was the museum’s executive vice president and chief investment officer for 50 years and played a pivotal role in the construction of its Renzo Piano Pavilion.
“We will forever remember Ben as a kind and wise leader whose impact on the Kimbell — especially through the building of the Piano Pavilion and his oversight of the Kimbell’s investments and finances for half a century — is incalculable,” the Kimbell’s Lee said.
Getting in early in the Kimbell Museum was no accident. He married Kay Kimbell Carter in 1957, who had inherited the hopes of their family to build a “museum of the first class.” It kickstarted Fortson’s passion to help build the museum, but he famously always gave credit to his wife.
Fortson was all about opening doors for other people and would always lend advice to anyone who needed it, giving other people hope to pursue their dreams no matter what. It’s something that left an impression on Dee Kelly Jr., partner of Fort Worth-based law firm Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP.
“Ben Fortson leaves an indelible mark on Fort Worth. He was a pillar of the arts community, a successful businessman, and a friend to everyone. Every member of the Kelly family loved Ben Fortson,” he said.
