Photo courtesy of OSU.

Long-time Preston Hollow resident T. Boone Pickens died at the age of 91. Dallas Morning News columnist Cheryl Hall wrote an obituary about the energy tycoon and philanthropist. But the most intimate and authoritative stories about Pickens were penned by recently deceased author Alan Peppard. Peppard gave us an exclusive glimpse of Pickens’ life in his 23,000-square-foot home in the Panhandle two years ago. “As a regular on CNBC’s Squawk Box and MSNBC’s Morning Joe, he’s known as the ‘Oracle of Oil,'” Peppard wrote. “When life presents obstacles, the 89-year-old does what he’s always done. He keeps moving. ‘I’ve been the underdog so many times I can’t count them.’”

Pickens had been selling off property and giving away more money than usual in recent years. Pickens’s most recent annual letter to Oklahoma State fans is particularly poignant: “At 91, I’m grateful for every added day, week, month and year,” he wrote. “However, I’m realistic about being close to the finish line. And I’m working diligently to complete projects as quickly as I can and tie up any loose ends.”

Here are five facts about Mr. Pickens:

  • He wasn’t a billionaire when he died because he’d given away more than $1 billion to philanthropic and educational causes. Most of that went to OSU, where the football stadium bears his name.
  • At last report, his net work was $500 million.
  • He began to downsize in 2017, when he put his Mediterranean-style Preston Hollow estate up for sale, asking $6.5 million for the 8,906-square-foot home. It sold in March 2018.
  • His last big celebration was at the Dallas Country Club in May 2018, when 500 guests wore OSU orange.
  • He will be buried at Karsten Creek Golf Club, home to the OSU golf team.

OSU will hold a public “Celebration of Life” ceremony for Pickens at Gallagher-Iba Arena. A date has not been set for the event.