Buddy Fogelson
Encyclopedia
Elijah E. "Buddy" Fogelson (February 16, 1900 – December 1, 1987) was an American lawyer, Army Colonel
, businessman, horse and cattle breeder, and philanthropist. Although born in Lincoln, Nebraska
, he spent a large part of his life in Texas where he attended Texas Christian University
in 1919 and 1920. He went on to make a fortune as a wildcatter
in the oil
industry.
In 1941 Buddy Fogelson acquired the Forked Lightning Ranch along the Pecos River
about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico
on which he raised Santa Gertrudis cattle
. Over time he acquired adjacent parcels of land to swell the size of his ranch to 13,000 acres (53 km²).
. Rising to the rank of Colonel, he served on General Eisenhower's
staff and was the head of oil procurement for the Allied Forces
. Immediately following the surrender of Germany in May 1945, Fogelson was part of the United States Military Mission in Moscow. Discharged from the Army, Fogelson returned to business in Texas where in 1947 he co-founded the Pan American Sulphur Company which developed and operated a major sulfur
mine in Jaltipan, Veracruz
, Mexico.
A friend of actor Peter Lawford
, on a visit to Hollywood in 1948, Lawford introduced Buddy Folgelson to actress Greer Garson
and the two married a year later. Their marriage lasted almost forty years until his death. Buddy Fogelson supported Garson's theatrical
interest and formed Santa Fe Productions, Inc. that backed several Broadway plays. He is personally listed as the theatrical producer of The Golden Age (1963) and The Passion of Josef D. (1964). http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=21712
The couple maintained homes in Dallas and Los Angeles and spent a great deal of time at their Spanish style hacienda on the Forked Lightning Ranch. An owner/breeder of Thoroughbred
racehorses
, in 1971 Fogelson purchased Ack Ack
from the estate of Harry F. Guggenheim. The horse earned the 1971 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
as well as the most prestigious United States Horse of the Year
award. His nephew and adopted son, Gayle David Fogelson, is today involved in breeding and racing Thoroughbreds.
On Buddy Fogelson's death in 1987, the Forked Lightning Ranch was divided between his widow and his son. In early 1991, failing health forced the elderly Greer Garson-Fogelson to sell her portion of the ranch property. It was acquired by the Conservation Fund http://www.conservationfund.org/ who donated it to the National Park Service
. This portion of the property is now part of Pecos National Historical Park
while another 5.5 thousand acres (22 km²) was purchased by actor Val Kilmer
.
they made large cash donations, built the E. E. Fogelson Library, and provided funding for scholarships for underprivileged students. Through the E. E. Fogelson and Greer Garson-Fogelson Charitable Foundation, the Fogelson Honors Forum at Texas Christian University
was created through a $1 million gift. The E. E. "Buddy" Fogelson Scholarship is awarded to previous Field Scovell Scholarship Foundation recipients currently enrolled in college. There is the E. E. Fogelson and Greer Garson-Fogelson Distinguished Chair in Urology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and the University of Texas Health Science Center Distinguished Chair in Medical Research.
Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
in 1982, Buddy Fogelson died in Dallas in 1987.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, businessman, horse and cattle breeder, and philanthropist. Although born in Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, he spent a large part of his life in Texas where he attended Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
in 1919 and 1920. He went on to make a fortune as a wildcatter
Wildcatter
A wildcatter is an American term for a person who drills wildcat wells, which are oil wells drilled in areas not known to be oil fields. A wildcatter notable for his success was Texan oil tycoon Glenn McCarthy....
in the oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
industry.
In 1941 Buddy Fogelson acquired the Forked Lightning Ranch along the Pecos River
Pecos River
The headwaters of the Pecos River are located north of Pecos, New Mexico, United States, at an elevation of over 12,000 feet on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in Mora County. The river flows for through the eastern portion of that state and neighboring Texas before it...
about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
on which he raised Santa Gertrudis cattle
Santa Gertrudis cattle
Santa Gertrudis cattle are a tropical beef breed of cattle developed in southern Texas on the King Ranch. They were named for the Spanish land grant where Captain Richard King originally established the King Ranch. This breed was officially recognized by the United States Department of...
. Over time he acquired adjacent parcels of land to swell the size of his ranch to 13,000 acres (53 km²).
World War II service
During America's participation in World War II, Fogelson served with the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Rising to the rank of Colonel, he served on General Eisenhower's
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
staff and was the head of oil procurement for the Allied Forces
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
. Immediately following the surrender of Germany in May 1945, Fogelson was part of the United States Military Mission in Moscow. Discharged from the Army, Fogelson returned to business in Texas where in 1947 he co-founded the Pan American Sulphur Company which developed and operated a major sulfur
Sulfur
Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element with atomic number 16. In the periodic table it is represented by the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow...
mine in Jaltipan, Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, Mexico.
A friend of actor Peter Lawford
Peter Lawford
Peter Sydney Ernest Aylen , better known as Peter Lawford, was an English-American actor.He was a member of the "Rat Pack", and brother-in-law to US President John F. Kennedy, perhaps more noted in later years for his off-screen activities as a celebrity than for his acting...
, on a visit to Hollywood in 1948, Lawford introduced Buddy Folgelson to actress Greer Garson
Greer Garson
Greer Garson, CBE was a British-born actress who was very popular during World War II, being listed by the Motion Picture Herald as one of America's top ten box office draws in 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, and 1946. As one of MGM's major stars of the 1940s, Garson received seven Academy Award...
and the two married a year later. Their marriage lasted almost forty years until his death. Buddy Fogelson supported Garson's theatrical
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
interest and formed Santa Fe Productions, Inc. that backed several Broadway plays. He is personally listed as the theatrical producer of The Golden Age (1963) and The Passion of Josef D. (1964). http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=21712
The couple maintained homes in Dallas and Los Angeles and spent a great deal of time at their Spanish style hacienda on the Forked Lightning Ranch. An owner/breeder of Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorses
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
, in 1971 Fogelson purchased Ack Ack
Ack Ack (horse)
Ack Ack was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. He raced with success at age two to four, scoring wins in the important 1969 Withers Stakes and Arlington Classic. In 1971 at age five, Ack Ack blossomed into the year's most dominant horse...
from the estate of Harry F. Guggenheim. The horse earned the 1971 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
The title of American Champion Older Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a stallion or gelding, four years old and up. Prior to 1971, this award was referred to as "Champion Handicap Male Horse", and was open to any horse, three years old and up...
as well as the most prestigious United States Horse of the Year
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
The American Award for Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. It has been awarded since 1887 to the horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year is deemed the most outstanding....
award. His nephew and adopted son, Gayle David Fogelson, is today involved in breeding and racing Thoroughbreds.
On Buddy Fogelson's death in 1987, the Forked Lightning Ranch was divided between his widow and his son. In early 1991, failing health forced the elderly Greer Garson-Fogelson to sell her portion of the ranch property. It was acquired by the Conservation Fund http://www.conservationfund.org/ who donated it to the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
. This portion of the property is now part of Pecos National Historical Park
Pecos National Historical Park
Pecos National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is located about east of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The site was originally designated Pecos National Monument on June 28, 1965. In 1990 new lands were added to the park and the official designation was...
while another 5.5 thousand acres (22 km²) was purchased by actor Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! , then the cult classic Real Genius , as well as blockbuster action films, including a supporting role in Top Gun and a...
.
Philanthropy
The Fogelsons were financial supporters of Santa Fe opera and theatre. As benefactors to the College of Santa FeCollege of Santa Fe
Santa Fe University of Art and Design is an institution of creative and performing arts based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The university offers programs in creative writing, theatre, art, graphic design, moving image arts , music, and photography, based on a liberal arts core curriculum...
they made large cash donations, built the E. E. Fogelson Library, and provided funding for scholarships for underprivileged students. Through the E. E. Fogelson and Greer Garson-Fogelson Charitable Foundation, the Fogelson Honors Forum at Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
was created through a $1 million gift. The E. E. "Buddy" Fogelson Scholarship is awarded to previous Field Scovell Scholarship Foundation recipients currently enrolled in college. There is the E. E. Fogelson and Greer Garson-Fogelson Distinguished Chair in Urology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and the University of Texas Health Science Center Distinguished Chair in Medical Research.
Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
in 1982, Buddy Fogelson died in Dallas in 1987.