R.W. (Rick) Harding

R.W. (Rick) Harding has served as president and CEO of his family's independent oil and gas exploration and production company since 1983. Now known as Harding Company, it was founded as Harding Brothers Oil and Gas Inc. in 1953, by Charles Harding, family patriarch who died in 2011.   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.