Oscar S. Wyatt Jr., Wily Texas Oilman, Is Dead at 101

Oscar S. Wyatt Jr., a cunning and influential Texas oilman, has passed away at the age of 101, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable business deals, high-stakes diplomacy, and a conviction for corruption. Through his company, Coastal Corporation, Wyatt amassed billions of dollars in the energy sector, rubbing shoulders with presidents and dictators along the way.Born in 1921, Wyatt began his career in the oil and gas industry in the 1940s, eventually founding Coastal Corporation in 1955. Over the years, he grew the company into a major player in the energy sector, making savvy investments and forging strategic partnerships that yielded enormous profits.Wyatt's business acumen and charisma earned him a spot at the table with world leaders, including U.S. presidents and foreign dictators. He was known to have cultivated relationships with powerful figures, often using his charm and wealth to secure lucrative deals.However, Wyatt's success was not without controversy. In 2007, he was convicted of conspiring to pay kickbacks to the Iraqi government in exchange for oil contracts. The scandal, which involved the United Nations' Oil-for-Food program, led to a prison sentence and a tarnished reputation.Despite his later years being marred by scandal and imprisonment, Wyatt's impact on the energy industry and global politics cannot be overstated. He remained a significant figure in Texas and beyond, and his passing marks the end of an era for the state's oil and gas sector. Wyatt's remarkable life, marked by both brilliant business deals and ignominious scandal, serves as a testament to the complexities and contradictions of a bygone era.