Trevor Rees-Jones (businessman)

Trevor D. Rees-Jones
Born	Template:Birth year and age University Park, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Lawyer, entrepreneur, philanthropist
Years active	1980s–present
Known for	Founder of Chief Oil & Gas

Trevor D. Rees-Jones (born 1951) is a Texas-based American lawyer, billionaire entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He established Chief Oil & Gas and holds an estimated net worth of around $4.4 billion.

Early life

Rees-Jones was born in 1951 and raised in University Park, Dallas, as the oldest among three siblings. His father practiced law at Locke Liddell & Sapp in Dallas, while his paternal grandfather, David Rees-Jones, was a Presbyterian clergyman who emigrated from Wales. His grandmother, Mary Edith Holmes, also hailed from England.

He completed his secondary education at Highland Park High School in University Park, Dallas. Rees-Jones earned his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and later obtained a Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law.

Career

Initially working as a bankruptcy lawyer in Dallas, Rees-Jones later concentrated on oil and gas restructuring law with Thompson & Knight. In 1984, he began investing in the oil and gas sector and went on to launch Chief Oil & Gas in 1994. The firm primarily conducts operations within the Barnett Shale region of the Bend Arch–Fort Worth Basin. He has held leadership roles including President of the Dallas Petroleum Club and the Dallas Hardhatters Committee, now known as the Dallas Wildcatters Committee.

Philanthropy

In 2006, Trevor Rees-Jones and his wife founded the Rees-Jones Foundation to fund initiatives aimed at enhancing life quality in North Texas. Major recipients of its support include the Boy Scouts of America's Circle Ten Council, the Dallas Arboretum, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center. The foundation granted over $40 million in both 2008 and 2010.

From 2010 to 2014, he served on Dartmouth College’s board of trustees and currently participates on the board of trustees for Texas Christian University as well as its Energy Institute advisory board.

The Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones Exhibition Hall at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, established by business associate billionaire Ross Perot, was made possible through a $25 million gift from Rees-Jones. Additionally, he has been a major contributor to fundraising efforts for the new facility at Parkland Memorial Hospital.

Political donations

Rees-Jones is recognized as a prominent supporter of the Republican Party, having donated $1 million to American Crossroads in 2010. In 2015, he and his wife contributed $2 million toward Jeb Bush's presidential campaign.

Personal life

Trevor and Jan Rees-Jones live in a 10,700-square-foot residence in Dallas valued at $13 million as of 2011. They are affiliated with the Highland Park Presbyterian Church and hold membership at the Dallas Country Club.

He owns Cook Canyon Ranch near Ranger, Texas, which has hosted notable events such as a 2010 gathering featuring Jon Bon Jovi and a 2011 60th birthday celebration with performances by Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi, the Blues Brothers Band, and The Eagles. The ranch’s private airstrip accommodated between 25 and 30 private jets for this occasion.

The couple has two sons. Their son Trevor Richard Rees-Jones, III wed Jennifer Hall Ebeier on October 18, 2014, at Cook Canyon Ranch.

External links

• Official site of The Rees-Jones Foundation