T. Boone Pickens, Jr.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

T. Boone Pickens, Jr.

T. Boone Pickens, Jr.
Born May 22, 1928 (1928-05-22) (age 80)
Holdenville, Oklahoma
Occupation Financier; Chairman, BP Capital Management
Net worth US$3.0 billion (2007)
Spouse Madeleine Pickens
Website
www.boonepickens.com

Thomas Boone Pickens, Jr. (born May 22, 1928) is an American businessman who chairs the hedge fund BP Capital Management. He was a well-known takeover operator during the 1980s. With an estimated current net worth of about $3 billion, he is ranked by Forbes as the 117th-richest person in America and ranked 369th in the world.

Contents

[edit] Early years

Pickens was born in Holdenville, Oklahoma. His father worked in the oil business as an oil and mineral landman (rights leaser), and his mother ran the Office of Price Administration during World War II, rationing gasoline and other goods for four counties.[1] As his mother was about to give birth to Boone, doctors told his father that complications had arisen, and that they could save only Boone or his mother.[2] His father refused to accept the doctors' decision, and finally directed that they perform the first Caesarean section in the history of the Holdenville hospital.[2] His mother survived.[2]

Pickens was a child during the depression and although money was tight his family always had food on the table.[3] "My grandmother kept a large garden and some nights we had meat to go with the vegetables and some nights we didn’t, but we never went hungry. My mother and grandmother were frugal people, and they felt it was a real privilege to work and have a job. So I always worked."[3]

Pickens delivered newspapers as an 11-year old boy and quickly expanded his newspaper route from 28 papers to 156.[3] "I did that not by getting new customers," says Pickens, "but by merging with routes that were contiguous to me. That was my first introduction to expanding quickly by acquisition—a talent I would perfect in my later years."[3]

In the late 1930s the oil boom in Oklahoma was ending and Pickens' father decided to move the family to Amarillo, Texas.[3] Pickens didn't want to move but eventually adjusted to the larger city, helped in part by his skill at basketball and a coach who inspired him.[3] "He told us to play every game for all we’re worth," says Pickens, "but when the game’s over, it’s over. That taught me not to dwell too much on my losses or successes."[3]

Pickens attended Texas A&M on a basketball scholarship but lost the scholarship[3] and transferred to Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University), joining Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He graduated from Oklahoma A&M with a degree in geology in 1951.

The 1950s were difficult times for the oil industry and petroleum geologists.[3] After graduation Pickens was unemployed for a time and asked then Oklahoma State basketball coach Henry Iba for help.[4] Iba set Pickens up with two interviews for high-school basketball coaching jobs but he wanted something in return.[4] "If I get a job for you, you've got to send me a player," Pickens said Iba told him.[4] Although Pickens didn't end up becoming a coach, the favor Iba did for him was the impetus behind Pickens' decision 50 years later to make a $165 million donation to Oklahoma State University's athletic program.[4] "Mr. Iba, he would be very, very happy with my performance," Pickens said.[4]

Pickens finally got a job working for Phillips Petroleum and was one of only seven in his graduating class who found an oil-related job.[3] He stayed with Phillips until 1954.[5] After a period as a wildcatter, he struck out on his own founding the company that became Mesa Petroleum in 1956.[5]

[edit] The mergers and acquisitions years

Pickens was one of the first independent oilmen to grow his company by acquisitions rather than by just exploration. Before reaching the age of 40, Pickens led Mesa's first big acquisition, the Hugoton Production Company, which was 30 times the size of Mesa.[6]

By 1981, Mesa had grown into one of the largest independent oil companies in the world, and Pickens shifted his focus to acquiring other oil and gas companies. He spent much of the decade targeting undervalued companies, making solicited and unsolicited buyout bids and other merger and acquisition activity. This made Pickens a celebrity during the 'deal-making' 80s. His most publicized deals included attempted buyouts of Cities Service, Gulf Oil, Phillips Petroleum, and Unocal.[7] During this period, Mesa did complete successful acquisitions of Pioneer Petroleum and the mid-continent assets of Tenneco.

Boone Pickens Mar 4, 1985
Boone Pickens Mar 4, 1985

These as well as other deals placed Pickens at the center of controversy during the 80s. His celebrity rose so quickly after the Gulf Oil takeover bid that he appeared on the cover of Time magazine[8] and briefly considered running for president in the 1988 elections[citation needed]. During this period, he was often characterized as a corporate raider and greenmailer, as many of his deals were not completed though Pickens and the shareholders he represented received substantial profits through the eventual sale of their stock. His later takeover targets included Newmont Mining, a New York-based firm, Diamond Shamrock, and Koito Mfg., Ltd., a Japanese auto-parts manufacturer, making substantial gains in the process.[9] He was also a major force in the creation of the United Shareholders Association (USA), which from 1986 - 1993 attempted to influence the governance of several large companies. After nearly two years of periodic hearing and debate, in July 1998 the Securities and Exchange Commission voted 4-1 to approve a one-share, one-vote rule, a primary USA objective.

On the local level, Pickens chaired the Board of Regents of West Texas State University in Canyon and in 1987-1988 contributed to the restoration of the administration building known as "Old Main". He was also active in the Republican Party in Potter County. Pickens organized a campaign in the mid-1980s against the Amarillo Globe-News newspaper, for what he claimed was inaccurate reporting about his deals and Mesa. Although the newspaper owner, Morris Communications, replaced its publisher twice during the conflict, Pickens' attempts to have the paper change its editorial policy failed. Shortly thereafter, in 1989, Pickens and Mesa moved to a suburb of Dallas.[10]

[edit] Contributions and donations

[edit] Donations to Oklahoma State University

Boone Pickens Stadium at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma
Boone Pickens Stadium at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma

In recent years, Pickens has focused his energy on his alma mater, the Stillwater campus of Oklahoma State University (OSU). Through his contributions, Pickens has spearheaded an effort to create an athletic village just north of the existing campus. In order to do so, hundreds of homes were purchased by the OSU administration using Pickens' contributions. Pickens' gift remains the largest donation to a university's athletic program in collegiate history. His total contributions to OSU come to over $400 million dollars. Over $265 million, or 66%, of his donations have been towards athletics. Pickens also has made substantial academic gifts to Oklahoma State University, particularly to the School of Geology, which is named for him.

On December 30, 2005, Pickens made a $165 million gift to Oklahoma State University. The New York Times reported that "the money spent less than an hour on December 30 in the account of the university's charity, O.S.U. Cowboy Golf Inc., before it was invested in a hedge fund controlled by Mr. Pickens, BP Capital Management." [1] Pickens, who is on the board of the O.S.U. Cowboy Golf, waived any management fees for the OSU monies, however, and all profits of the fund go to growing the OSU gift. The gift is intended to help fund an upgrade of the football stadium and construction of an athletic village, but sparked controversy because OSU planned to use eminent domain to acquire residential property for the projects. [2] The donation comes after a $70 million gift from Pickens to OSU in 2003, which was similarly structured using O.S.U. Cowboy Golf, Inc. [3]

On July 28, 2007 the Board of Regents of Oklahoma State University approved a resolution to move $28 million from the OSU Foundation into Pickens' BP Capital Management company in Dallas. Oklahoma State has previously invested $277 million in the fund. Pickens has been waiving fees for the university's investments with his fund. [4]

On May 21, 2008, the day before his 80th birthday, Texas billionaire Boone Pickens made a historic gift of 100 million dollars to academics at Oklahoma State University. The gift will be matched dollar to dollar by the state hence the amount accounts for 200 million dollars.[11]

[edit] Political Interests and Contributions

Since 1980, Pickens has contributed over $5 million in political donations.[5]

Pickens and friend and fellow financier Harold Clark Simmons are financial supporters of President George W. Bush, having contributed heavily to both his Texas and national political campaigns. In 2004, Pickens contributed generously to 527 Republican groups, including a $3 million contribution for the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth attacking Bush's rival, John Kerry, and $2.5 million to the Progress for America advocacy group. Pickens has offered $1 Million to anyone who can prove any of the Swiftboat charges untrue. Kerry accepted the challenge and on November 17, 2007 said he would disprove the charges against him.[6] Pickens then added additional criteria to his initial challenge [7], asking for Kerry's service records, videos and tapes made during his service and his military journal. Kerry responded, saying Pickens had backtracked and offered again to meet him in a public forum to dispute his claims [8]. Pickens has yet to respond.

In 2005, Pickens was among 53 entities that contributed the maximum of $250,000 to the second inauguration of President George W. Bush.[12] [13] [14]

On July 16, 2007, Pickens wrote an article for the National Review supporting Rudy Giuliani for President. "In Rudy Giuliani, a gracious and committed public servant I’ve known for many years, we see that rare blend of big-picture vision and proven track record of achieving the “impossible.” We see a forward-looking, accomplished executive eager to tackle the challenges of today’s America and ensure that tomorrow we wake up stronger, freer, and more united than ever before."[9] Pickens is an executive-committee member of the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee.

Pickens chaired the celebration for the 40th anniversary of the American Spectator, a conservative U.S. monthly magazine covering news and politics.[15]

[edit] Humanitarian contributions

Pickens and employees of his BP Capital LLC donated $7 million to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. The Chronicle of Philanthropy lists Pickens as among its largest charitable givers 2005 and 2006. He has donated nearly a half a billion dollars to philanthropic causes during his career.

On May 16, 2007, Pickens donated $100 million to two University of Texas health care institutions. The gifts were donated to the UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The donations are required to grow to $1 billion within twenty-five years before they can be disbursed by the recipient institutions.

On August 23, 2007, Bizjournals.com reported that Pickens is donating $2.5 million to Happy Hill Farm Academy/Home, a residential school for at-risk children and teenagers, to build a training center and guest lodge. Pickens donated $1 million to Happy Hill Farm for the construction of a new academic campus at the residential school in February 2007. [16]

On December 5, 2007 the Dallas Business Journal reported that Pickens had donated $6 million to Jubilee Park located at S. Carroll Avenue and Lindsley/Parry Avenue in Dallas and would man a bulldozer to begin demolition of an abandoned building across the street from a kindergarten Head Start program in Jubilee Park.[17]

[edit] Recent interests

At 79 years of age, Pickens remains as active as when he made his fame in the oil industry more than 20 years ago.[18] When asked why he doesn’t retire, "I'm afraid I’ll die," says Pickens.[18] "I like to work and I like deals. I like to be associated with younger people. It keeps the motor running at a high rate of speed," he adds.[18] Pickens interests are running his multi-billion dollar hedge fund, promoting natural gas as an alterative fuel, building the world's largest wind farm, and promoting athletics at Oklahoma State University.

[edit] Hedge fund management

Pickens founded BP Capital and has a 46% interest in the company which runs two hedge funds, Capital Commodity and Capital Equity, both of which invest primarily in oil and natural gas. In 2006 Pickens earned $990 million from his equity in the two funds and $120 million from his share of the 20% fees applied to fund profits.[10]

[edit] Natural gas as an alternative fuel

Pickens has begun speaking out on the issue of peak oil, claiming that world oil production is about to enter a period of irrevocable decline. He has called for the construction of more nuclear power plants, the use of natural gas to power the country's transportation systems, and the promotion of alternative energy. Pickens' involvement with the natural gas fueling campaign is long-running. He formed Pickens Fuel Corp. in 1997 and began touting natural gas as the best vehicular fuel alternative because it's a domestic resource that, among many advantages, is clean (Natural Gas Vehicles or NGVs emit up to 95% less pollution than gasoline or diesel vehicles) and reduces foreign oil consumption. Reincorporated as Clean Energy in 2001, the company now owns and operates natural gas fueling stations from British Columbia to the Mexican border.

On September 19, 2007, Pickens told CNBC that the price of oil could rise to $100. "Demand is up and supply is flat, so it's got to go on up," said Pickens, whose company is betting on natural gas for vehicles. "I can give you an Oklahoma guarantee that natural gas will never sell above diesel and gasoline prices" as fuel for vehicles Pickens added.[19]

[edit] Trip to China

On July 20, 2007, the Wall Street Journal reported that Pickens, on his first trip to China, has announced that he is looking to find a local partner to set up a chain of retail natural-gas fueling stations in China. "Natural gas is cheaper and better for transportation," he told reporters in Beijing.[11]

The Dallas Morning News reported on August 1, 2007 that Pickens, back from his trip to China, had not made a deal to supply natural gas. "That's a long way to go when you've got plenty of deals in your own back yard to hunt for," said Pickens. Pickens added that his most lasting impression of Beijing was the smog. "Air quality is horrible. It was worse than I've ever seen in Los Angeles, even on its worst days 40 years ago. If they'd had the Olympics when I was there, that 100-yard dash would have been a relay." [12]

[edit] World's largest wind farm

In June 2007, Pickens announced that he intends to build the world's largest wind farm by installing large wind turbines in parts of four Panhandle counties. The project would produce up to four thousand megawatts of electricity. Pickens' Mesa Power LP will undertake the construction. If completed, the farm would generate more than five times the 735 megawatts produced at the present largest such farm near Abilene, according to Susan Williams Sloan, spokesman for the American Wind Energy Association.[20]

On August 16, 2007, Pickens' Mesa Power announced that it had filed documents with the state of Texas to add four thousand megawatts of electricity to the state grid. The filing with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) projected that the project would be completed in 2011 and would include up to 2,700 turbines on up to 200,000 acres (810 km²) in Roberts and adjacent counties in the Texas Panhandle. "We are now meeting with Panhandle landowners and negotiating wind lease and easement agreements," said Pickens. "We are excited at how quickly the pieces are falling into place." [21] In November 2007 elections were held to approve fresh water supply districts in Roberts and Kaufman counties. Only five people live within the proposed district's boundaries and will be able to vote in the election. If the special district is approved in the election, Pickens' company will need to work with land owners to secure leases for placing windmills on their properties.[22] On November 7, 2007 the Houston Chronicle announced that both of the people eligible to cast ballots for the creation of a Fresh Water Supply District in Roberts County endorsed the plan in the election.[23]

On January 30, 2008, The Oklahoman reported that Pickens is ready to start buying wind turbines for the project within a month, that he plans to buy between 1,700 and 2,000 turbines, and that they will cost from $200 million to $300 million.[24] Pickens added that he has been approached by twenty potential partners on the project but has not yet made a final decision.[24] "We have not picked any banker and we have not picked any partner," Pickens said.[24] "It is kind of nice ... I have decided I can get pretty far down the track” before having to make those choices."[24] Pickens predicted that similar wind farm projects could be built in the Texas Panhandle and the US-Canadian border in the future.[24]

On May 15, 2008, Pickens' Mesa Power announced that it had placed a first order for 667 1.5 megawatt turbines from General Electric.[25] The turbines will be delivered in 2010 and 2011.

[edit] Water rights

Pickens has recently begun buying up subsurface water rights in Texas. Pickens' new company, Mesa Water, bought ground water rights for 200,000 acres (800 km²) in Roberts County, Texas for $75 million and over a 30-year period expects to make more than $1 billion on his investment. Pickens wants to take the water from the Ogallala Aquifer and pump it to El Paso, Lubbock, San Antonio or Dallas-Fort Worth. [13] On November 6, 2007 voters will go to the polls to seat a five-member board of supervisors and to approve $101 million in revenue bonds to acquire rights-of-way for delivering water and wind-generated electricity.[26] Just two people, Pickens' ranch manager Alton Boone and his wife Lu, will cast ballots to confirm the creation of a Fresh Water Supply District in Roberts County as they are the only residents who live within the eight-acre water district and are its only eligible voters.[26]

[edit] Swift Boat challenge

Main article: Swift Boat challenge

On November 6, 2007, Pickens reportedly offered a million dollars to anyone who could disprove even a single charge made by the Swiftvets and POWs for Truth (SBVT), an anti-Kerry group he had supported in 2004.[27] John Kerry, whose military record and anti-war activism during Vietnam was the target of the group's book and media campaign, sent Pickens a letter on November 16, 2007, accepting the challenge, requesting that Pickens donate the money to the Paralyzed Veterans of America should he succeed in disproving any of the SBVT claims [27].

In response to Kerry's acceptance of the challenge, Pickens issued a letter the same day, narrowing the original challenge to the SBVT ads, and requiring Kerry to provide his Vietnam journal, all of his military records, specifically those covering the years after his active duty service, and copies of all movies and tapes made during his service. Pickens' letter also challenged Kerry to agree to donate $1 million to the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, if Kerry "cannot prove anything in the Swift Boat ads to be untrue." [28]

On November 20, 2007, Kerry issued a letter responding to Pickens' letter. He accused Pickens of "parsing and backtracking" on his initial offer and wrote that "I am prepared to prove the lie and marshal all the evidence, the question is whether you are prepared to fulfill your obligation." He concluded that "the only thing remaining now is to set the date for our meeting in an appropriate forum...." [29]

[edit] Personal life and interests

Pickens lives in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of north Dallas and owns a ranch along the Canadian River in the Texas Panhandle.

Pickens is married to Madeleine Pickens, widow of renowned Thoroughbred racehorse owner Allen E. Paulson.

Pickens was divorced from Beatrice Carr and from Lynn O'Brien.

Pickens has five children and twelve grandchildren.[14]

[edit] Pickens' son charged with securities fraud

One of Pickens' sons, Michael O'Brien Pickens, was arrested and charged with securities fraud, a "pump and dump" scam using junk faxes, in July 2005.[30] Michael pled guilty in October 2006.[31] On December 20, 2007 Reuters reported that Michael O'Brien Pickens was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to take part in a substance abuse program.[32] Pickens was also ordered to pay restitution of $1.2 million in connection with the fraud.[32] T. Boone Pickens attended the sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court in Manhattan and said he would pay the restitution.[32] "Because of Mike's courageous efforts in treatment and because I wanted to clear our family's name by making the victims whole, I have made full restitution on behalf of Mike," said T. Boone Pickens.[32] "I am thankful that it has forced Mike to truly confront his demons for the first time in his life," he said.[32]

[edit] Interest in Bobwhite Quail

Pickens has been interested in hunting quail and in keeping hunting dogs since he was a boy growing up in Holdenville, Oklahoma where his father always kept two dogs.[33] Pickens bought 2,900 acres (12 km²) of overgrazed pasture near the Canadian River in 1971 and Pickens would drive 100 miles (160 km) from Amarillo to hunt all day with his hunting buddies.[33] Pickens soon began creating artificial creeks on the property to benefit the quail and other wildlife.[33] "As any experienced quail hunter knows, the best hunting is along creek drainages," says Pickens.[33] "We had some good creek drainages on the ranch, but I got the idea of creating artificial creeks."[33] Pickens created artificial creeks by burying PVC pipe and pumping water through the buried water system where the water bubbled to the surface every 1,000 feet (300 m) to create waterholes for the quail.[33] Pickens added quail feeders for a winter food supply and placed the feeders in plum thickets for overhead protection from hawks.[33] "The system worked pretty well," Pickens says.[33] "We noticed better hunting wherever we put the water lines. Abundant water creates abundant insects, and insects are important food for quail chicks. Even when it doesn't rain, I think the quail dampen their feathers in the waterhole and return to the nest."[33] Pickens' ranch, called Mesa Vista, has now expanded to 68,000 acres (280 km²) with more than 24 miles (39 km) of frontage on the Canadian River.[33] "A lot of experienced hunters have said that Mesa Vista is the world's best quail hunting," Pickens said.[33] "I don't know if it's the world's best, but I'm convinced it's the best that my team could make it."[33]

[edit] Lobbying Efforts to Stop Horse Slaughter in the United States

Slaughterhouses in Texas and Illinois slaughter 100,000 horses each year to produce horsemeat that is sold in France, Belgium and Japan as a delicacy and Pickens is a strong opponent of the slaughter of horses for human consumption.[34] Pickens lobbyied for the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (HR 503) which would prohibit the slaughter for human consumption and the trade and transport of horseflesh and live horses intended for human consumption.[35] NBC5 reported on November 9, 2006 that Pickens was among those who opposed the slaughter of horses.[36] "The whole thing, it's a boondoggle on the American people," said Pickens.[36] "People that are for the slaughter should be forced to go down on that kill floor."[36] Equestrian Magazine reported on July 24, 2006 that Pickens would be testifying on July 25, 2006 to support the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503).[34] "The brutal slaughter of horses for consumption by wealthy diners in Europe and Japan cuts against our moral and cultural fiber -- it's just plain un-American," said Pickens.[34] During his testimony before Congress Pickens criticized Texas for being home to two horse slaughter plants.[37] "This is a black eye on our state and nation that demands action," Pickens said.[37] Pickens added that nearly all the horses sent to the plants are healthy young horses that the USDA has classified in "good to excellent" condition.[37]

Time Magazine reported in its July 25, 2006 issue that Pickens was pushing for passage of the bill to bar the slaughter of horses for human consumption and that he was being opposed by many of his friends in the cattle business.[38] "I don't like it," says Pickens, "and I'm going to do everything I can to stop it."[38] Pickens says that many horse sellers have no idea that their horses are going to be slaughtered after they are sold.[38] "They're thinking their horse will go to some nice family. But those killer buyers, when they buy at auction, it's just a matter of hours before the horse is slaughtered," Pickens says.[38] "You know they are killing a lot of stolen horses."[38] Pickens finds it even more outrageous that the three horse slaughterhouses in the United States are all owned by a Belgian businessman.[38] "We don't eat horsemeat here, so it does seem peculiar that someone from Belgium owns the kill plant and the meat is sent to Europe," Pickens says.[38] "Why not in their own countries? Why come to America to do the dirty deal?" Pickens also notes that the USDA spends millions of dollars supervising the slaughterhouses.[38] "Paula Bacon (the mayor of Kaufman, Texas) told me the kill plant had $12 million in gross revenues and only pays $5 in taxes but it clogs the sewage system up."[38]

[edit] Awards

On March 6, 2008 Park Cities Quail Unlimited honored Pickens as its 2008 Lifetime Sportsman Award winner.[39] "I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor than T. Boone Pickens,” says Joe Crafton, chairman of the Park Cities Quail Unlimited.[39] "He has an enduring passion for the outdoors, and has made considerable contributions to the restoration of quail habitat in West Texas."[39] Pickens' 68,000-acre (280 km²) Mesa Vista Ranch is considered a model for wildlife resource management.[39] "Quail hunting is a life-long passion tracking back to my father, who always kept two bird dogs in a pen out back of our home in Holdenville, Oklahoma," Pickens said.[39] "That was big, open, country — pretty good quail territory. I shot my first quail when I was about 13 years old. Today, I am driven by a desire to conserve and reclaim over-grazed land for quail habitat, and to develop long-term wildlife management plans that can be used to improve land values through an expansion of recreational opportunities."[39]

On March 19, 2008 the Association of Fundraising Professionals announced that Pickens had been chosen as the winner of the Association of Fundraising Professionals' top philanthropy award, the Paschal Murray Award for Outstanding Philanthropist.[40] "Part of being an outstanding philanthropist is being generous, and T. Boone Pickens is second to none in that regard," said Colette Murray, CEO of Paschal Murray.[40] "But his passion and innovation set him apart from others. He is willing to get deeply involved in issues and use his resources to inspire others to action. Paschal Murray is humbled to work with AFP in presenting the award to a most deserving individual."[40] Pickens to health and medical research; kids at risk; education and athletics; corporate health and fitness; and conservation and wildlife management.[40] "It's an honor to receive this recognition and I'm privileged to be in a position where I can be a contributor to a wide range of charitable activities," said Pickens.[40] "I have found the more I give, the more I make, so continuing to give is an easy call."[40]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

[edit] Citations

  1. ^ http://www.utsystem.edu/news/2007/PickensBio.pdf
  2. ^ a b c Wieberg, Steve. "Tycoon's $165M gift to Oklahoma State raises both hopes and questions", USA Today, August 15, 2006.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j The Horatio Alger Association. "Boone Pickens, Chairman, BP Capital Management in Dallas, Texas"
  4. ^ a b c d e Sporting News. "Pickens pleased with progress, sees winning as next step" August 24, 2007.
  5. ^ a b Pickens, T. Boone (1987). Boone. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-41433-4.  pp. 22-41.
  6. ^ Pickens, T. Boone (1987). Boone. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-41433-4.  p. 73.
  7. ^ Pickens, T. Boone (1987). Boone. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-41433-4.  pp. 149-260.
  8. ^ http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19850304,00.html March 4, 1985
  9. ^ T. Boone Pickens
  10. ^ T. Boone Pickens
  11. ^ The Daily O’Collegian » Boone Pickens announces $100M donation to OSU
  12. ^ Drinkard, Jim. "Donors get good seats, great access this week", USA Today, 2005-01-17. Retrieved on 2008-05-25. 
  13. ^ "Financing the inauguration", USA Today. Retrieved on 2008-05-25. 
  14. ^ "Some question inaugural's multi-million price tag", USA Today, 2005-01-14. Retrieved on 2008-05-25. 
  15. ^ American Thinker. "Happy 40th to The American Spectator!" by Christopher Alleva. November 5, 2007.
  16. ^ Dallas Business Journal. "Pickens gives $2.5M to residential school Augusut 23, 2007.
  17. ^ Dallas Business Journal. "Leppert, Pickens announce major donation" December 5, 2007
  18. ^ a b c Kansas City Star. "T. Boone Pickens remains active in deal-making at age 80" by Steve Gelsi. October 13, 2007.
  19. ^ Tulsa World. Pickens sees $100 oil, maybe in 2008" by Amy Strahan. September 20, 2007.
  20. ^ LubbockOnline.com - Pickens aims to build world's largest wind farm 06/14/07
  21. ^ Mesa Power's Plans for World's Largest Wind Farm Move Forward with ERCOT Filing
  22. ^ Dallas Business Journal. "Pickens' proposed fresh water district set for November vote." September 7, 2007.
  23. ^ Houston Chronicle. "Both voters endorse water district plan" November 7, 2007.
  24. ^ a b c d e The Oklahoman. "Boone Pickens shares his views on energy, politics, the Olympics, OSU's new president" by Jack Money. January 30, 2008.
  25. ^ UPDATE 2-Pickens' Mesa Power orders GE wind turbines | Reuters
  26. ^ a b El Paso Times. "Billionaire's district for private project almost a sure bet" by Betsy Blaney. October 31, 2007.
  27. ^ a b Johnson, Glen (2007-11-16). Kerry takes oilman Pickens up on $1 million Swift Boat challenge. Associated Press.
  28. ^ Rainey, James (2007-11-17). Kerry takes on 'Swift Boat' challenge. The Los Angeles Times.
  29. ^ Senator Kerry Responds to Pickens' Moving the Goalposts. John Kerry for U.S. Senate.
  30. ^ USA Today. "Pink Sheets scams may give investors nightmares" by Matt Krantz. November 10, 2005
  31. ^ Dallas Business Journal. "Dallas billionaire's son admits to securities fraud" October 31, 2006.
  32. ^ a b c d e Reuters. "T. Boone Pickens' son gets probation in fraud case" by Paritosh Bansal. December 10, 2007.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Dallas News. "Pickens' childhood passion for quail flourishes" by Ray Sasser. February 29, 2008.
  34. ^ a b c Equestrian Magazine. "T. Boone Pickens Takes on Horse Slaughter Issue with Congress" July 24, 2006.
  35. ^ http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/nation/4171519.html
  36. ^ a b c NBC5. "Illinois Horse Slaughter Makes Way To Senate" November 9, 2006.
  37. ^ a b c CBS11.tv "T. Boone Pickens Joins Horse Slaughter Fight" by Brooke Richie. July 25, 2006.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h i Time Magazine. "T. Boone Pickens To the Rescue" by Cathy Booth Thomas. July 25, 2006.
  39. ^ a b c d e f Lone Star Outdoor News. "Quail Unlimited honors T. Boone Pickens with Lifetime Sportsman Award" March 20, 2008.
  40. ^ a b c d e f The Earth Times. " Texas Businessman T. Boone Pickens Named Outstanding Philanthropist" March 19, 2008.