John Gavin Hurd

John Gavin Hurd of San Antonio died peacefully at home on September 6, 2001 at the age of 87. His wife, Nancy Smith Hurd, his son, John Radcliffe Hurd (Joan) of San Antonio, and three daughters, Sara Smith Hurd of Boerne, Patricia Hurd McGregor (John) of Pike Road, Alabama, and Victoria Hurd Goebel (Stephen) of San Antonio, survive him. Eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren also survive him. His first wife, Patricia Killam Hurd of Laredo, predeceased him. A student of Italian renaissance history in college, Ambassador Hurd was himself a renaissance man. He was a diplomat, a successful businessman, an Olympic athlete, a decorated war veteran, and a state political leader. Ambassador Hurd was appointed by President Nixon to serve as Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of South Africa in 1970. He served in that position until 1975. Because of his ability to communicate with all parties, he made an important contribution to the process culminating in South Africa's transition to majority rule. When necessary, he would depart from conventional diplomacy. For example, at one particularly difficult moment, he helped the process along by arranging for a purebred Texas bull to be air freighted to Chief Butalezze. After returning from World War II in 1946, Ambassador Hurd and Radcliffe Killam started Killam & Hurd, a Laredo-based independent oil and gas exploration and production company. In 1982 he established Hurd Enterprises, Ltd. in San Antonio to continue in the oil and gas business. Killam & Hurd was, and Hurd Enterprises continues to be, one of the most consistently successful independent oil and gas exploration companies in South Texas. Ambassador Hurd served as President of the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owner's Association and as a Director of the Texas Mid-continent Oil and Gas Association. He was a member of the All American Wildcatters Association. Ambassador Hurd was a member of the United States Olympic fencing team at the 1936 Olympic games held in Berlin. In 1934 he was Captain of the Harvard fencing team and Intercollegiate Fencing Champion (Foil). Ambassador Hurd's contributions to Harvard fencing were recognized by his election to the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame. Ambassador Hurd was a member of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps while an undergraduate at Harvard College. He was commissioned as an Ensign upon graduation in 1934 and entered active duty with the United States Navy in 1941. He spent World War II as a surface warfare officer on destroyer escorts in the North Atlantic. He received the Bronze Star with Combat V, and retired from the Navy with the rank of Commander in 1946. During the early 1950's, Ambassador Hurd became convinced that Texas could not move forward unless it developed a competitive two party political system. He became a leader of the Republican Party in Texas at a time when, as he once said, you could hold a county Republican convention at the neighborhood fire station in the space vacated by a single fire engine. Ambassador Hurd was a delegate to the 1964 and 1968 National Republican conventions. He was Deputy State Chairman of the Republican Party in Texas in 1967-68, and Chairman of the Texas Nixon for President Committee in 1968. In his later years Ambassador Hurd took great pride in the fact that the Republican Party had achieved equal footing with the Democrat Party in Texas. Ambassador Hurd was awarded a BA by Harvard College in 1934 and an LLB in 1937. Ambassador Hurd was a Trustee of the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research and the Texas Independent College Fund. He was a member of the San Antonio Country Club, The Argyle, and the Bohemian Club. SERVICE SATURDAY 11:00 A.M. PORTER LORING CHAPEL The Rev. Gary Lillibridge officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research. Interment in Sunset Memorial Park The family invites you to leave a message or memory in the Guest Book by going to www.porerloring.com and clicking on Remembrance Registry. Arrangements with