William Hoffman Hudson

William Hoffman Hudson, a resident of Dallas, Texas died in Dallas on Sunday, September 5th, 2010, age 80 of complications of prostate cancer. His passions were quail hunting and his love for the game of polo. Mr. Hudson was born in Oklahoma City on October 24, 1929 into a family with deep American roots. The family of his paternal grandmother founded Hartford Colony. His maternal grandmother's family, the Elder John Strong, arrived in America in 1630 on the "Mary and John." His grandfather was Major General Roy Hoffman, an aide to General Pershing in the First World War. His father, Hubert R. Hudson, had owned the Oklahoma Ada & Atoka Railroad. William Hudson attended Culver Military Academy in Indiana and Williams College, Massachusetts. His freshman year, he arrived at college with four feisty and agile polo ponies, which necessitated finding like-minded students who also wanted to have a polo team. Mr. Hudson decided to enlist in the army because of the Korean War. After returning from Korea with the rank of Captain, he resumed his interest in polo, spending the next ten years playing polo in America and Europe. Mr. Hudson founded the Lone Oak Polo Club, which hosted the first high goal polo tournaments in Dallas where Mr. Hudson was a driving force in Dallas polo. Bill Hudson was a veteran of the oil and gas business for over 50 years. He began his career at Tri-State Natural Gas Company, eventually becoming president, where he developed a significant portion of the San Juan field in New Mexico. His wildcatting spirit led to the discovery of the Rocanville field in Saskatchewan. He was also chairman of the GNC Energy Corporation and president of TJ Service Company, a contract drilling company with a fleet of 27 rigs. He was Director of the Colorado Rocky Mountain School, Director and President of the Dallas Opera, and member of the Brook Hollow Golf Club, the New York Racquet and Tennis Club, and Doubles. Mr. Hudson was predeceased by his parents Dorothy and Hubert R. Hudson and his brother Hubert R. Hudson, Jr. He is survived by his beloved wife Cathy, his children Andrew Hudson, Chris Hudson, Eugenia King and her husband Frank Paul, Courtney Nyhuis, his step children Callie Kincaid, Maggie Kincaid, and Sam Kincaid, Lindsay Ganz and her husband Jason. He is also survived by his former wife, Betty Hudson, his sister in NYC Caroline Hudson Firestone, and five grandchildren.