Roy Huffington, Oilman and Philanthropist, Dies at 90

HOUSTON — Roy M. Huffington, an oilman who played a major role in developing Indonesia's oil and natural gas sector and later served as a U.S. ambassador to Austria, has died. He was 90. Huffington died Friday while traveling out of the country, according to the funeral home George H. Lewis and Sons. Huffington also founded the Huffington Foundation, which donated millions of dollars to Houston charities, and also served as the chairman of the New York-based Asia Society for more than seven years in the 1980s. Huffington served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and upon his return, became a field geologist for Humble Oil Co. In 1956, he established his own Houston-based independent oil and gas exploration firm, Roy M. Huffington, Inc., or Huffco.

May Light Perpetual Shine Upon him.

I met and had a lengthy conversation with Mr. Huffington in the early 90s. He had no airs, no pretensions. He was a huge supporter, in word and deed, of all things conservative. We learned together, we had ancestors in common. This gallant gentleman followed up our chat with a beautiful note by mail to me, thanking me for the lovely chat.

He was a good and faithful friend to former Gov Pete Wilson-R. I've no doubts he was as faithful to all he knew. A very loyal man. My condolences to his loved ones and friends. And, yes, he is Arianna Huffington's former father-in-law; and in this I extend my sympathies and condolences to her also.

Men like Roy Huffington exemplify a generation of men who saw the stars, and figured out how to reach them. They worked hard, and while being complete and honorable gentlemen to those in and orbiting their lives. His sense of humor and wit was divine, as was his down-home, neighborly sense of wishing everyone around him to feel welcome, comfortable, and on equal footing.

I toast you, Roy Huffington. For all that you've done and been. Your presence is missed here. And heaven is enriched.

Thank you for reading about Roy Huffington and in sharing this moment in tribute with me. Appreciate it.

There are many unsung heroes in the conservative movement, and in the pursuit and preservation of our Constitutional liberties, and Mr. Huffington was most avidly one of these. A very gracious, down-to-earth, man. And, he was one of the most delightful.

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