R. W.  (Rick) Harding
President, Chief Executive Officer

R. W. (Rick) Harding, President of the regional oil and natural gas exploration company since 1983, works with his father, the family patriarch, who started Harding Brothers Oil and Gas, Inc., now known as Harding Company, in 1953.  As CEO of the family-owned business, he is responsible for all operations and company growth.  Harding works along side of the members of his professional team on a daily basis and fosters an esprit de’ corps that results in success, strong work ethic, honesty and unblemished safety record. 

Long before international oil companies made their decisions to enter the Barnett Shale, Harding was directing a drilling program in multiple counties in the North Central and West Texas regions.  His emphasis has always been for the company to develop and utilize new technologies, including seismic for horizontal drilling.  A longtime member of the North Texas Oil and Gas Association (now the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers), Harding has served on its Natural Gas Committee and worked to bring fairness to natural gas pricing for the producer.   He has also been involved in bringing new natural gas pipeline markets to the Barnett Shale area which has resulted in stimulating competition.

Born and raised in Dallas, TX, Harding graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1975.  He first began working in the oil fields as a laborer during the summer at age 16.  He also has an accomplished career in sales, having managed men’s shoe stores in two regional malls. For several years, before taking the reigns as Harding president, he was corporate sales manager for Allied Van Lines in Dallas.  Family is important to him, and he proudly includes his wife Renee and two children, Ann and Rich, in many aspects of the Harding Company business.  A day rarely goes by when he and his father, now chairman of the board, don’t discuss business and together plan for the company’s continued growth and prosperity.