Dwight S. "Bo" Ramsay

1928 - 2022

Lafayette has lost an American hero, community icon and original Wildcatter. Dwight S. "Bo" Ramsay, member of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, died on May 19, 2022, at the age of 94, with family beside him. A Funeral Service with full military honors will be held at 11:00 am in the Henton Chapel at Episcopal School of Acadiana in Cade, LA on June 2, 2022. Arrangements are being made by Fountain Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery with visitation being observed at Fountain Memorial on June 1, 2022, during the hours of 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Additional visitation at E.S.A. will begin at 9:00 am the day of service and extend to service time. Interment will follow at Fountain Memorial. Officiating the service will be Father Michael Bordelon, Rector of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. Dwight S. "Bo" Ramsay was born February 13, 1928, in Fordyce, AR to Anice Love Banks, Mother, and John Allison Ramsay, Father. Bo Ramsay graduated from Pine Bluff High School. In 1945 upon graduation, he entered Henderson State College in Pine Bluff. After a year at Henderson, though, he wanted to honor his older brother Banks, an aviator lost in combat, and joined the U.S. Army under the G.I. Bill. While being shipped to Japan, WWII ended with the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki but he completed his tour of duty by joining the 11th Airborne to become a paratrooper. Following a return back to the States and a military furlough, Ramsay earned a B.S. in Geology from the University of Arkansas and was then sent to Korea in 1952, to complete two tours as 1st Lieutenant in a regimental tank company of the 40th California Infantry Division. Heartbreak Ridge was where he fought with valor in close combat and earned a Purple Heart. After service, Ramsay began his career in the oil and gas business working on drilling rigs in Arkansas, Wyoming and Montana. Years later cutting his teeth as a junior Geologist and working for companies such as Vickers Petroleum, Standard Oil and Gas, and Alco Oil and Gas he moved to Lafayette to become President of Alco. A merger shortly thereafter gave Ramsay the opportunity to go on his own and become an independent geologist, free to cut deals with whomever. With that flexibility, a rather big discovery in South Texas earned him the ability to make further investments and he chose the marine service industry forming Aries Marine Corporation, a 41 year old business still operating today with family management. In addition, the golf course he helped build in Carencro, Farm d'Allie Golf Club, known locally as The Farm, continues to operate under family management. A partial membership of professional and civic organizations include: Founding member of the Board of Directors to Southwest National Bank of Lafayette, Advisory Board Member of Iberia Bank, Chamber of Commerce, Krewe of Gabriel, National Ocean Industries Association, Offshore Marine Service Association, Lafayette Geological Society, American Association of Petroleum Geologists and Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists. Because of his extensive industry involvement, he was honored as LAGCOE "LOOEY" in 2011. Paul Hilliard, the founder of Badger Oil Corporation, recounts, "Bo and I met in the 1960's under adverse circumstances; we participated in a joint dry hole. Thereafter, we were strictly social friends sharing mutual interests in our community, particularly in elementary education. Bo was good-natured, as he had to be to endure the jibes of his many friends. He was one of the few men I've known who made the transition from geologist searching for oil and gas to the operator of a business servicing the oil and gas industry. His family and our community are the poorer for his passing." Ramsay was a consummate optimist, loved the joi de vivre of Acadiana and invested heavily into the area's nonprofits over the years. A few standouts of his many supported charities are as follows: Acadiana Symphony, Boys and Girls Clubs, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Lafayette Community Health Clinic, Bridge Ministries, United Way of Acadiana, UL Foundation, Special Olympics, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Episcopal School of Acadiana (ESA), Moncus Park, and many many more. In 2012, he was honored with the Civic Cup. Said Bob Lowe, a recent recipient himself, "When all the history books are put together, we are going to find out that Bo Ramsay was one of the most significant people to ever live in this community." As a philanthropist, Ramsay had few equals and his keen observations pinpointed and responded to the exact needs of worthy causes across the spectrum of religious and secular charities. Taking a particular interest in Secondary Education Ramsay gave generously to Public, Protestant and Catholic schools, alike benefitting children throughout our community. It is ESA, however, that stands out as a jewel beneficiary in Ramsay's legacy. As one of the founders, he was instrumental in the school's early and continued success. "Beyond Bo being a personal role model and mentor to me, without his leadership and vision to establish an Episcopal School of the highest caliber and national reputation right here in Acadiana, ESA would not exist," says Paul Baker, Headmaster of ESA. And continuing explains, "very last conversation I had with Bo was about how we (as a community) can encourage and recognize the next generation of civic leaders. He was a giant whose strong yet gentle leadership will be evident for many years to come and the trees he planted here will provide shade for generations." RAMSAY loved hunting and fishing and enjoyed destination trips to different parts of the World to sample cultures and sports. Also, a fervent supporter of his beloved Razorbacks he traveled to football games regularly but also enjoyed ULL and LSU games – just as long as they weren't against one of his Arkansas teams! RAMSAY is survived by his beloved wife of 17 years, Geraldine Boustany; his brother, Ward Jennings Ramsay; his two children, son, Courtney B. Ramsay and wife Kylie of Lafayette and daughter, Allison Ramsay Banks, also of Lafayette; grandchildren, Calvin Bayne Ramsay of Austin, Elsa Leigh Ramsay of Savannah and Abigail Claire Ramsay of Lafayette, and numerous dear nieces, nephews and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Wendell Banks Ramsay and his sister, Frances Joy Williams and his adored first wife of 43 years, Betty Pfankuch Ramsay. Pallbearers will be Calvin Bayne Ramsay, William Manley Hines, Jr., Christopher Robert Hines, Thomas Malcolm Howard, Jr., Chad Everett Friel, Ryan Parks Fagala, Christian Mark Chatterton, and Reid Gragson Williams. The family wishes to thank the dedicated caregivers that blessed Mr. Ramsay's life toward his end. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Dwight S. Ramsay's name to one or more of the above listed charities.