# William E. (Bill) Greehey

> William Eugene “Bill” Greehey is an American businessman and philanthropist based in San Antonio. Valero’s founding CEO and chairman, he helped develop the company from its natural gas origins into a major North American refiner, later chaired NuStar Energy, and founded Haven for Hope. His family foundation and support for St. Mary’s University connect his business career to education and community service.

- **Role:** Founder and Chairman Emeritus at Haven for Hope
- **Organizations:** Valero Energy Corporation, NuStar Energy, Haven for Hope, The Greehey Family Foundation, St. Mary’s University, United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, Boy Scouts of America
- **From:** Fort Dodge, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Business Administration, accounting, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio
- **Known for:** Helped negotiate the $1.6 billion LoVaca settlement that led to Valero’s creation., Led Valero’s expansion from a regional pipeline business into North America’s largest refiner by his retirement., Led the roughly $101 million fundraising effort for Haven for Hope’s 22-acre campus.

## Career timeline

- **1954** — Joined the U.S. Air Force; served at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.
- **1960** — Graduated from St. Mary’s University and began working at Price Waterhouse.
- **1963** — Joined Coastal States Gas after working as an Exxon auditor.
- **1970s** — Led LoVaca Gathering during its natural gas supply and litigation crisis; helped negotiate the settlement that created Valero.
- **1980** — Became founding CEO and chairman of Valero when it began operations on January 1.
- **2003** — Established The Greehey Family Foundation with Louree Greehey, according to the foundation’s own history.
- **2005** — Gave $25 million to St. Mary’s University; its business school was named in his honor. Ended his tenure as Valero CEO in December, with the transition effective January 2006.
- **2006** — Led the effort with city leaders to establish Haven for Hope as an independent nonprofit.
- **2007** — Left Valero’s chairmanship; continued chairing NuStar following its separation from Valero.
- **2010** — Haven for Hope’s campus became fully operational in June.
- **2022** — Stepped down as NuStar chairman in October and Haven for Hope board chairman in November; became chairman emeritus.

## Achievements

- Helped negotiate the $1.6 billion LoVaca settlement that led to Valero’s creation.
- Led Valero’s expansion from a regional pipeline business into North America’s largest refiner by his retirement.
- Led the roughly $101 million fundraising effort for Haven for Hope’s 22-acre campus.
- Made the $25 million gift in 2005 that led to the naming of the Greehey School of Business.
- Horatio Alger Award recipient, Class of 2001.
- Inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 2002.

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — The Greehey Family Foundation appointed its inaugural executive director, Kim Harle Solis, effective May 11; its board lists Bill as founder and chair emeritus.
- **2026-05** — St. Mary’s announced Lois Traynor as the first South San Antonio ISD student accepted into the Greehey Scholars Program, funded through Greehey’s giving.

## Links

- Website: https://greeheyfoundation.org/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/bill-greehey
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23