2010 Hall of Fame Inductee
Geologist and businessman.
Upon graduating from T.H.S., Mr. Barrett attended Kansas State two years, returning home after his father suffered an illness. Soon afterwards he entered the Army during the Korean Conflict. Under the G.I. Bill he received his BS and MS degrees in geology from K-State. Immediately after school he worked for several natural gas and petroleum companies. In 1981 he formed Barrett Energy Co. (later Barrett Resources Corp.), named No. 1 for wealth creation, 1990-2000, by the Wall Street Journal and Oil and Gas Investor Magazine. Selling it in 2001 for $2.8 billion, in 2002 he formed the Bill Barrett Corp. (on the NYSE) with gas projects in the western U.S. Mr. Williams and wife Louise have seven children, some in the business.