Lee Bass
Lee Marshall Bass | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1956 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Yale University (1979), Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (MBA, 1982) |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, philanthropist, heir |
| Known for | Philanthropy, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department commissioner and chairman, El Coyote Longhorn Ranch operations |
| Spouse | Ramona Seeligson Bass |
| Children | Sophie, Perry, Ramona |
| Relatives | Perry Richardson Bass (father), Nancy Lee Bass (mother), Sid Richardson (great-uncle) |
Lee Marshall Bass (born 1956) is an American businessman, philanthropist, and heir.
Early life
Lee Bass was born to philanthropists Perry Richardson Bass and Nancy Lee Bass, and he is the great-nephew of the oil magnate Sid Richardson. He completed his undergraduate studies at Yale University in 1979 and later obtained an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1982.
Career
In 1989, Governor William P. Clements, Jr. appointed Bass as commissioner of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, a role he held for six years. Later, Governor George W. Bush elevated him to chairman in 1995 and renewed his appointment for an additional term. In 2001, Governor Rick Perry honored him with the title chairman-emeritus. Bass oversees operations at the historic El Coyote Longhorn Ranch located in Encino, Texas.
Philanthropy
Bass holds board memberships with the Sid W. Richardson Foundation, The Peregrine Fund, and Vanderbilt University. He is a founding board member of the International Rhino Foundation and serves as Chairman Emeritus of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth board.
In 1991, he contributed $20 million to Yale University to create a program focused on Western civilization, which was discontinued in 1995. Together with his wife, he established the Lee and Ramona Bass Foundation in 1993; this foundation donated $700,000 to the Intercollegiate Studies Institute during 2009–2010. As a Republican supporter, Bass has financially backed political figures including George W. Bush, George Allen, Phil Gramm, John McCain, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and donated $159,760 to Rick Perry.
Personal life
He is married to Ramona Seeligson from San Antonio, Texas, daughter of Arthur A. Seeligson Jr. and Linda Nixon. The couple has three children: Sophie, Perry, and Ramona. As of 2011, Lee Bass was ranked as the 595th wealthiest individual worldwide and 220th in the United States, with an estimated fortune of $2.1 billion. The family resides in Fort Worth, Texas.
Ramona S. Bass, LLC
Ramona Seeligson Bass comes from a family with deep roots in Thoroughbred racing and maintains this tradition through her company "Ramona S. Bass, LLC." Her father, Arthur Seeligson Jr., was influential in racing and breeding circles; he owned Avatar, who won both the 1975 Santa Anita Derby and Belmont Stakes. Additionally, he co-owned Hialeah Park Race Track and served on the board for the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
In collaboration with Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, Bass owned Witty, winner of the 2009 Railbird Stakes. She also owned Avenge, who secured consecutive victories in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes in 2016 and 2017. As a breeder, she produced Roy H., who captured back-to-back Breeders' Cup Sprint titles in 2017 and 2018 and earned American Champion Sprint Horse honors both years.
Bass contributed significantly to the creation of Texas Wild! at the Fort Worth Zoo, demonstrating her wider philanthropic interests.