Bob L. Herd Biography

Mr. Bob L. Herd graduated from Mesquite High School, Mesquite, Texas, and went on to serve for four years in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict raising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. After completing his tour of duty, Mr. Herd came to Texas Tech University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1957.

From 1957 to 1964, Mr. Herd worked for Enserch Exploration, before founding Herd Producing Co., Inc headquartered in Tyler Texas. He later expanded his company by creating several affiliates, Ty−Tex Exploration, Inc., Horizon Natural Gas Corporation, and Petro Management, Inc. Herd Producing Co. now has 30+ employees and owns and operates wells in North Louisiana and East Texas.

A very dedicated citizen, Mr. Herd served on numerous civic committees in Tyler including the Marvin United Methodist Church, the East Texas Symphony Association, the Tyler Museum of Art, and the Tyler Petroleum Club. He also served on the board of directors for the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, the University of Texas at Tyler Educational Foundation, the East Texas Hospital Foundation, the United Way of Tyler, and the Interfirst Bank of Tyler. In 1994 Mr. Herd and his wife Pat started the Bob L. Herd Foundation which allowed them to support many of their civic endeavors and the creation of the Herd Family Intense Care Center at UT Health East Texas.   

His passion for the game of golf was well known and reflected by his involvement with several clubs both in Texas and in Colorado, the Hollytree Country Club, the La Costa Country Club, the Garden of the Gods Country Club, and possibly his favorite, the Willow Brook Country Club, where he served as a president several times.

On the professional side, Mr. Herd was a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, the East Texas Association of Petroleum Landmen, and the East Texas Geological Society.

Mr. Herd was very supportive of Texas Tech, having served on the President's Council and funding a Presidential Endowed Scholarship. He also was a member of the ExStudents Association, the Endowed Insurance Program, the Loyalty Fund, and the Building Expansion Project. While Herd's generosity touched numerous areas of the Texas Tech University System, his greatest gift came in 2008, when he donated $15 million to name the university's Petroleum Engineering department. The significant gift marked the first time Texas Tech had named an academic department in its 85-year history.

Among his many honors for his work in the industry, Mr. Herd received the Society of Petroleum Engineers 1993 Pioneer Award in the Field of Energy.  In October 1994, he was named a Distinguished Alumnus by Texas Tech University and in 1995 he was recognized as Distinguished Engineer by the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering. In 2009 he was named Patriot of the Year at The University of Texas at Tyler.

Sadly Mr. Herd died on December 13 2019 at the age of 91, his impact on Texas Tech and specifically on the Petroleum Engineering department will be indelible.

 

For an additional tribute to Mr. Herd's legacy at TTU

http://www.give2tech.com/news/article/texas-tech-remembers-bob-l-herd/