A Dallas-based geophysicist, he built a small fortune through his consulting work with oil companies. In addition to his professional success, he also emerged as a well-known local philanthropist. Before rising to prominence, he had followed the same path as his father in the field of mining. He pursued geophysics during his college years and spent his summers working with the U.S. Geological Survey. He was born in Greensburg, Kansas, where he grew up as the eldest of three siblings, the son of John and Narcissa Kagy Huddle DeGolyer.