Perry Richardson Bass
Perry Richardson Bass | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 November 1914 Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | 1 June 2006 (aged 91) Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Investor, philanthropist, heir, sailor |
| Years active | 1940s–2006 |
| Known for | Philanthropy, sailing achievements |
Perry Richardson Bass (November 11, 1914 – June 1, 2006) was a distinguished American investor, philanthropist, heir, and sailor.
Early life
Perry Bass was born in Wichita Falls, Texas to Dr. E. Perry Bass, an oil entrepreneur, and Anne Richardson Bass. He attended The Hill School in Pennsylvania and graduated from Yale University in 1937 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology.
Career
During the 1940s and 1950s, Bass was employed by his uncle, the oil wildcatter and rancher Sid W. Richardson. Following his uncle’s passing, he inherited substantial ranching and oil holdings worth several million dollars.
Philanthropy
By 2005, Bass had expanded his investment portfolio to amass a net worth of approximately US$1 billion, placing him as the 746th richest individual in the United States. He gained recognition as a major philanthropist, contributing to the establishment of the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth and donating $1 million to fifty different organizations in 1991. The Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Center located in Palacios, Texas, is named in his honor.
Together with his wife Nancy Lee Muse, he generously gifted significant artworks to the Kimbell Art Museum, including masterpieces by van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, Renoir, Matisse, Miró, Chagall, Rodin, among others.
Bass was an influential member of the syndicate behind the unsuccessful 1974 America’s Cup challenger Mariner, which was skippered by Ted Turner.
In tribute to them, Yale University completed the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Center for Molecular and Structural Biology in 1993.
Sailor
An avid sailor, Perry constructed his own wooden Snipe sailboat and secured the Snipe class world sailing championship title in 1935 while at Yale. He served as vice commodore of the Houston Yacht Club and was a longstanding member of the Del Rey Yacht Club. Additionally, he acted as honorary navigator on Ted Turner’s "American Eagle," which triumphed in both the Southern Ocean Racing Circuit and the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in 1972.
Personal life
In 1941, he wed Nancy Lee Muse. The couple had four sons—Sid Bass, Ed Bass, Robert Bass, and Lee Bass—each recognized as successful businessmen, philanthropists, and billionaires.
Death
Perry Richardson Bass passed away on June 1, 2006, in Fort Worth, Texas.