Charles F. Harding
Founder, Chairman of the Board

Charles F. Harding has amassed more than 50 successful years in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in the north and west regions of Texas.  Currently, he serves as Chairman of the Board of Harding Company of Dallas and Fort Worth, and continues to work with his son Rick in charting the future for the business.  He is listed in Who’s Who in America in Industry and Finance.

He started working part-time for 7-Eleven (then known as Southland Corp.) in September 1936, and became a fulltime employee in June 1937.  Within several years, he became Assistant Chief Engineer and Purchasing Agent.  In 1940, he was promoted to Chief Engineer and, in 1941, he was named Vice-President. 

In 1943, Charles Harding and his brother, Roy Harding, purchased Highland Furniture Company, an upscale retail furniture store in the Park Cities area of north Dallas.  Ten years later, they sold this company and entered the oil and gas business on March 31, 1953 (literally the next day).  In 1974, Charles established Harding Company and began working with his son Rick to build the exploration and production operations into what they are today.