Royal Holt

Bettis, Jr.

-
image description
IN LOVING MEMORY

Royal Holt Bettis, Jr.

Jan 25 1923 - Apr 19 2014

Royal Holt Bettis, Jr., 91 passed away April, 2014. Roy was born January 25, 1923 in Houston, Texas. He moved to Dallas from Houston as a child and attended Highland Park High School. At Highland Park, he was captain of the varsity tennis team and was a state finalist. He attended Carlton College and SMU where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. College was interrupted by WWII where he served in France as an officer in the U.S. Army under the command of General George Patton supplying fuel for General Patton’s tanks. While in France, Roy met the beautiful and talented actress Evelyn Wall when she was on tour with the USO. They married and moved to Dallas and raised three children. The oil and gas business was Roy’s passion. In the late 1950's and early 1960's, Roy and his then partner Ted Shepard drilled dozens of oil and gas wells in south Texas. Starting in 1966, Roy built, owned and operated several oil and gas transportation pipelines with his pipeline partner Frank McGee. In 1989, Roy formed LaSalle Energy, which became the parent company for United Gas Pipeline Company. At that time United Gas Pipeline Company employed 1900 people and had approximately 9,800 miles of onshore and offshore pipeline. He continued to explore for oil and gas until late in his life. Roy was President of The Dallas Petroleum Club, and President of Brook Hollow Golf Club. Roy loved tennis and was a 5 time Brook Hollow men’s single champion. Although an amateur, he had the ability to play with the leading professional tennis players of his era, including Jack Kramer, Vic Seixas and Pancho Gonzalez. When Roy walked into the room it came alive. He loved people and never met a stranger. He was the first to lend a helping hand to a friend in need. He had a generous philanthropic spirit and gave joyously to several local and national charities.

He is survived by his three children and their families. Holt Bettis and his wife Chris, Valerie Bettis Krause and husband Kent, Carolyn Bettis Berry and husband Jim. His Grandchildren, Brinn Bettis, Caroline, Brett, Katherine and Blake Krause, Chris Conger and wife Kate, David Conger, Jack Conger and wife Jamie, Jimmy Berry and wife Rachael, and Ali Berry, two great grandchildren and former wife Margaret Wynne Bettis.

He was preceded in death by his parents Royal H. Bettis, Sr. of Houston and Valerie Bettis Prather of Dallas, his sister Valerie Bettis Schmidt of New York City, his granddaughter Rebecca Valerie Bettis and his former wife Evelyn Wall Bettis, both of Dallas.

A private family service was held in his honor. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (The Greater Dallas Chapter) www.alzdallas.org

image description

Memorials

absolute-header