Roy M. Huffington Personal and Professional Papers

Roy M. Huffington was born in Tomball, Texas on Oct 4, 1917. The son of an oil man, he earned his bachelors in geology from Southern Methodist University in 1938, and earned a Ph.D. in geology from Harvard in 1942.He was a charismatic, creative, hardworking, benefactor, and supporter of cultural, civic, and educational programming for the betterment of society. He supported 350 local charities. He put importance on international relations and he wanted to share his knowledge and passion of Asia with others. After serving aboard the USS Hornet as a lieutenant during World War II, he left the Navy and went to work for Humble Oil. In 1956, Huffington left Humble to start his own business with the money he had saved over the previous decade. Roy M. Huffington, Inc. or “Huffco.” made a number of successful ventures around the world, most notably the discovery of vast reserves of natural gas in Indonesia in 1972. These ventures lead to his interest in Asia and the many cultures. In 1989, Huffington sold his oil company, and in 1990 President Bush appointed him to the role of Ambassador to Austria. He also served as chairman of the Asia Society and the Salzburg Seminar. He was also involved with the Council of Foreign Relations, and a trustee of the Brookings Institution. He was also involved in the All American Wildcatters, The Baker Institute, and the Rothko Chapel. Roy enjoyed a full life, a life filled with travel and a dedication to international affairs. He passed away at the age of 90 in 2008.