Obituary of William Arthur Hudson II

William Arthur Hudson II, 86, departed this world on March 20, 2024 after living a life filled with wit, joy, and humor. A true Texas gentleman and great-great-grandson of early Fort Worth pioneer John Peter Smith, Bill was a respected lawyer, a successful oilman, a seasoned sailor, and an avid outdoorsman. Fondly known as “Bill,” he was born in Fort Worth on May 24, 1937, to Edward Randall Hudson and Josephine Terrell Hudson. The middle child of three, Bill could walk from his home on Pembroke Drive to Lily B. Clayton Elementary School and Paschal High School. In middle school he met the woman that he would later marry, Betty Cheek, while horseback riding at a Dude Ranch. As Bill liked to say, “We rode off into the sunset together.”

Between early school years and beginning his career and married life, Bill went to Austin and received both his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from The University of Texas in just six years. A member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, he served the chapter as president twice.

Bill married Betty in 1961, and they moved to New York City. While living in a rent-controlled apartment on Fifth Avenue, Bill expanded his professional credentials by adding an LLC in tax, federal, and estate law from New York University.

The couple returned to Texas where Bill began his dual career in the legal and energy fields. In 1965, Bill and Betty welcomed their daughter, Emily. Bill worked with his brother, father, and uncle at Hudson & Hudson, an independent oil production company focused on southeastern New Mexico. Within a few years, John McMackin hired him to join the law firm McGown, Godfrey, and Decker. Bill also spent time working at Tarpon Oil Company with Buck Closuit and then moved back to Hudson Oil to partner with his brother Eddie. In 1998, Bill, Betty, and Emily founded Zorro Partners. He sat on the Board of Directors for the Bank of Commerce.

His professional commitments were just one aspect of his varied interests and experiences that illustrate his full, rich life. The Hudson’s second home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, nestled in the Sangre de Cristo foothills, provided the setting for many evenings enjoying the spectacular New Mexican sunsets with friends and family. There, he also loved hiking with his daughter and mushrooming with his wife.

Bill treasured being on the water. Some of his happiest moments were spent sailing with Dick Williamson and writing logs of their trips. His “The Log of the Yacht ‘Temptation:’: Miami—Montego Bay” is a memorable recounting of one such blue water journey, including hilarious descriptions of the antics of wayward crew member Buzz Cranz. Bill Hudson also considered himself to be a cowboy poet, a limerick aficionado, a perennial reciter of Robert Service poetry, a lover of Texan colloquial turns of phrase, and a passionate amateur expert in Mayan history.

Bill was an active member of the Exchange Club, the Fort Worth Club, the Steeplechase Club, River Crest Country Club, and the Arlington Heights Cribbage Club. He was formerly a member of the now-closed Petroleum Club. He served his community in the non-profit sector on the board of Streams of Valleys for two years and as a contributor to and member of the Kimbell Art Museum and the Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art.

Above all, Bill Hudson was an adored and beloved husband, father, and grandfather. He was a lifelong friend to many, with deep attachments to those who affectionately call him “Huddy Boy.”  Bill is survived by his wife, Betty C. Hudson; daughter, Emily Terrell Hudson; grandchildren, Anand William P. Hudson and Anjali Josephine P. Hudson; nephew Edward Randall Hudson III ( and his wife, Carolyn); and nieces, Frasher Hudson Pergande ( and husband, John) and Terrell A. Ledford ( and husband, Ryan). The family wishes to thank Dr. Alan Kelly, Claudia Williams, Yvonne Moncho, and Precious Agudike for their dedicated service.

Funeral Service: 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 3401 Bellaire Dr. South, Fort Worth.  Interment: Oakwood Cemetery.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial contributions to be given to Bill’s favorite charities: Streams and Valleys, Meals on Wheels, and the Tarrant County Food Bank.