Remembering Roy Huffington

On Friday, Roy Huffington, my former father-in-law, died at the age of 90 while vacationing in Venice, Italy. Since this site carries his last name, I want to take a moment to reflect on the man and his remarkable life.

Roy was born in Tomball, Texas and moved to Dallas during the Great Depression. He grew up early. His father had died in an accident in the oil fields of Venezuela before Roy was a teenager so, to help his mother and sister make ends meet, he often woke up at 4:30am to work on his two paper routes.

After earning his Ph.D. in geology from Harvard, he served as a naval officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet during WWII. Then, following a decade working as an oil company geologist, he went out on his own as a wildcatter in the mid 1950s. Roy Huffington was an oilman when oil exploration was still a romantic endeavor.

Over the ensuing years, he built his company into a very successful international energy company. He eventually sold the firm -- getting out of the oil business when oil was $22 a barrel -- and devoted himself to philanthropy, travel, and public service. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Austria from 1990-1993.

I met him in 1985. And our friendship continued even when my marriage to his son ended. Whenever I was in Houston for a speech, I would give him a call and, if he was in town, we would get together for a drink. He often wasn't in town, however, because he remained to the end a passionate world traveler who had visited all seven continents, and whose adventurous spirit never waned.

My fondest memories of Roy center around his role as grandfather. He had always had his heart set on having a grandson. But when my first pregnancy resulted in a stillborn boy -- whom we had already decided to name Roy -- and four granddaughters followed, he quickly realized they could be anything a grandson would be.

When our girls were little, I remember he used to patiently take them outside and teach them about the plants and the soil. He did this with such passion and depth of knowledge that, at one point or another, each of his granddaughters expressed a desire to follow in his footsteps as a geologist.

They all eventually broke off from the geology track, but stayed close to him. And no matter where he was, a card bearing his distinctive handwriting would arrive in the mail for their birthdays - postmarked from faraway locales and festooned with vibrant foreign stamps. The card always contained warm sentiments - and a little cash bonus for the girls.

The last time I saw Roy was in May, when he flew to LA -- at the age of 90 -- to attend our oldest daughter's high school graduation. I'll always remember the smile -- and the pride on his face -- as he watched her accept her diploma.

Newspaper obituaries will rightly remember the Golden Cross he received from the Republic of Austria for his service to the country; his philanthropic work as long-time chairman of The Asia Society and The Salzburg Seminar; the millions he donated to his alma mater, Southern Methodist University, and other educational institutions to help fund scholarships and teacher salaries; and the funding he provided (along with his beloved wife Phyllis) to establish the Huffington Center on Aging at Baylor College of Medicine, one of the world's premiere centers on the study of aging.

I'll remember those too. But mostly I'll remember his kindness, his generosity, his integrity, and his humility. We will deeply miss him.

Comments

[c3m]

I'm touched!

[gamoonbat]

Roy Huffington definitely sounds like a man whom I wish that I had met.

[Moka11]

What a wonderfully remarkable person Roy Huffington must have been. What a true blessing to read of his full life of fearlessness, curiousity, and mentorship through the Depression and even his later years. His Grandchildren have quite the legacy to carry on and a great history to reflect on. There is nothing more beautiful than witnessing a grandparent with their grandchildren sharing time together. It is the true definition of "quality time" Even the memory of it is beautiful and unforgotten.
Thank you for telling us his story.

[Moshe]

A beautiful tribute Arianna.

Thank you for sharing this, and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Shalom

[CintiBlue]

Dear Arianna,

Thank you for sharing Roy with us; what a fine man.

My condolences to you and your family.

[nanton29]

Roy Huffington was a great man judging from that wonderful tribute paid to him in the article. I am sure Roy was proud to have you as a daughter-in-law, and to know that you will carry the baton well in his continuing legacy.

[BlueZoo]

My condolences to the entire Huffington family. While posted in the Far East, in the '70s, my oil-man husband and myself were often guests of Roy and his wife in Jakarta and Singapore. You couldn't have asked for better company! Roy had been in the petroleum industry a long time and could tell stories through the night. Roy knew everyone who was anyone and we were just a young couple at the time but he took the trouble to get to know us and included us in his invitations whenever he was near. He was a joy to be around and we held him in great esteem. I was very sorry to hear of his passing. He will be missed by so many!

[ReelBusy]

Dear Arianna,
I don't think many people realize the solid family values foundation with which you have raised your daughters. Thank you for sharing this.
A grandfather is a wonderful thing.
My condolences to you and your daughters on this loss.

[Gemma08]

Condolences to you and your family.

[darcy]

Your article made me cry, Arianna. Your relationship with this man was a tribute to you as well as him.

[psgoodguy]

what a lovely tribute. my condolences, arianna.

[Shayrae]

psgoodguy...I hope you don't mind that i am posting my condolences to arianna as a reply to your post. The 'Post a Comment' tab is not working. Dear Arianna, as a regular poster to this site, I want to let you know that this was a warm and beautiful tribute to your former father-in-law. You, your former husband and your daughters will be comforted by the love Mr. Huffington had for his family. He seems to have been a wonderful man.

[PLUMPLUM]

Dear Arianna,

I would like to extend my sincere condolences to you on the passing of Mr. Huffington. I read about it in one the newspapers but wasn't sure of the familial connection albeit the surname.

I hope good memories will make this time less difficult to traverse. You have carried his name with dignity and style all the while accomplishing so much.

You and your family will be in my prayers.

[Lisette]

Dear Arianna,
Thank you for sharing your memories with us,
the readers of Huffington Post.
And,my condolances to you and your daughters on this loss.

[Russycle]

Arianna, thanks for sharing Roy's legacy with us. Next to losing my father, the passing of my father-in-law was the the hardest moment in my life. Deepest condolences.

[idarosenberg]

Dear Arianna, I was so sorry to read of the passing of your father-in-law. Having lost my dad years ago at an early age I know the feeling of loss when you loose someone that not only you love, but has also had a presence in your life. My heart goes out to you, your daughters, your former husband, and the family and friends of your father-in-law that will surely miss him. You do his name proud. With warmest regards, Ida

[deeppeace]

Nice piece, Arianna. I, too, maintained a healthy, loving relationship with my father-in-law after my marriage ended. He and I would talk every week about the regular conversations between Bob Edwards and Red Barber on NPR. When I heard that Red Barber had died, I had to pull off the road and cry, because he was my last living link with Herbie. He is still in my heart, nearly 20 years later.