WILLIAM ALVIN “TEX” MONCRIEF, JR.
1920-2021
William Alvin “Tex” Moncrief, Jr., passed away peacefully on Dec. 29, 2021, having lived a full and blessed 101 years. On his 101st birthday, Tex observed, “I guess you could say I have seen and done a whole lot of things in my lifetime.” A generous philanthropist and legendary oil man, Tex was most often described as a “wildcatter”.
Born on the kitchen table in Hot Springs, Arkansas on March 27, 1920, Tex was the eldest of two sons of William Alvin “Monty” and Elizabeth Moncrief.
In 1931, at the age of 11, Tex watched his father bring in a massive oil well in Gregg County - vastly enlarging Dad Joiner’s East Texas field discovery many, many miles south. - “It was just the greatest thing I ever saw. People were jumping around and hollering and hugging each other just like they’d won a football game. I decided on the spot that I wanted to become an oilman.”
Tex graduated from Culver Military Academy in 1937 and earned a bachelor of science in petroleum engineering from the University of Texas in 1942. After working in consolidated’s Fort Worth plant flight testing bombers destined for the allies, he returned to the East Texas field working for Stanolind Oil. Tex then joined the United States Navy, serving in the pacific. Standing on the island of Saipan, Tex watched american b-29’s carrying the worlds first atomic bombs take off from Tinian Island for Japan, and unconditional surrender.
Retiring from the Navy, Tex joined his father Monty at Moncrief Oil. The close father-son relationship and the seemingly boundless opportunity at that time in the american oil industry proved immensely successful, with oil discoveries in East Texas, Louisiana, West Texas, New Mexico, Florida, and the Rockies. Throughout his career, Tex adhered to his father’s advice – own your own business and never go public.
Tex served on the University of Texas board of regents, receiving the distinguished alumnus award. Tex was a lifelong supporter of the Longhorns. In Fort Worth, his vision inspired the merger of the Moncrief Radiation Center with UT Southwest, creating the Moncrief Cancer Center on Magnolia Avenue. The cancer center charter stipulates the center be dedicated solely to serving the people of Fort Worth.
Tex and his father Monty’s long support of the TCU Frogs and endowment of numerous buildings on the TCU campus is well known.
Tex was a close friend of Marvin Leonard and Ben Hogan and served as Ben’s executor. He was a founding member and long serving president of Shady Oaks Country Club. Tex enjoyed (and generally won) a good gin game.
He grew up fly fishing with his father and children at the family “river ranch” on the Gunnison river and golfing in Palm Springs. He astounded his grandchildren and great-grandchildren with his “magic tricks”. Never shy at the microphone, Tex delighted in breaking into a song to accompany his remarks.
Tex was a lifetime member and supporter of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church as were his mother and father.
Preceded in death by his father and mother, brother Richard Barto, wife Deborah Beggs, and three children: daughter Monty Francine, sons John Herbert and Charles Beggs.
Tex is survived by his loving and much-loved wife Linda; sons W.A. Moncrief III, Richard Wesley Moncrief and Tom Oil Moncrief, step-children Debbie Johnson Ryan and Dr. Harold V. Johnson, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A private family service will be held at the Moncrief Mausoleum in Greenwood Memorial Park.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, should one desire, charitable gifts may be made to the Moncrief Cancer Institute, 400 W. Magnolia Avenue, Fort Worth 76104 St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 917 Lamar Street, Fort Worth 76102, or a charity of your choice.