By Ben Tinsley
bent@texasjewishpost.com

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DALLAS — Ron W. Haddock is credited with helping create what is perhaps one of the most durable professional partnerships between Texas and Israel in existence.
The oil and gas industry CEO will receive the 2015 David Wiessman Bridge Builder Award for this accomplishment Thursday, Oct. 29.
It will be part of a special dinner and program — sponsored by Alon USA — at the Adolphus Hotel, 1321 Commerce St. The event starts with a 6 p.m. reception followed by the dinner and program from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Clare Freeman, president and CEO of the Texas-Israel Chamber of Commerce, said Haddock laid the foundation for the Texas-Israel partnership while president, CEO and chairman of Fina Inc.
Working with David Wiessman, chairman of Dallas-based Alon USA and president of the Alon Group in Israel, Haddock helped engineer the purchase of  Fina by Alon Israel Oil Co. Ltd. in August 2000.
“He was instrumental in getting that deal put together,” Freeman said.

Alon buys Fina

As part of the purchase, Alon USA acquired Fina’s 34.4 percent interest in SCS, which at the time was the biggest 7-Eleven license holder in the United States.
The company had stores in Wichita Falls, Big Spring, Midland, Odessa and El Paso, plus Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This in effect, was the birth of Alon USA Energy, Inc., the “powerhouse of convenience stores based in Dallas,” Freeman said.
Alon USA later became the 100 percent owner of SCS when it purchased the remainder of its licensed 7-Eleven convenience stores in West Texas and New Mexico from Permian Basin Investments.
The acquisition of Fina “created a gigantic partnership between Texas and Israel that continues to grow and flourish,” Freeman said. “That is why he’s our bridge builder this year.”
The Bridge Builder Award is presented annually to an outstanding business or leader (possibly both) who has had a significant impact on the capital growth of Texas and Israel.
Previous winners
The 2014 winner was John Sharp, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System.
Previous winners include David Wiessman of Alon USA; Chuck Davidson of Noble Energy; and Joe DePinto of 7-Eleven, Inc.
The event itself benefits the Texas-Israel Chamber of Commerce and the Israel-Texas Science & Education Foundation.
The honorary dinner chair this year will be Jeff Morris, member of the Alon USA board of directors. Dinner chair will be Blaine L. Nelson, chairman of the board, Texas-Israel Chamber of Commerce.
Haddock goes way back with his career in the oil and gas industry.
After graduating from what is now Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, he started with Exxon in 1963.
This led to various domestic and international senior executive positions with Exxon — and ultimately resulted in Haddock’s becoming president, CEO and chairman of Fina.
He currently serves on the boards of directors of Alon USA Energy, Trinity Industries, and Petron Corp. and as chairman of the boards of Safety-Kleen and Rubicon Offshore International.
Additionally, Haddock recently served as chairman of the American Heart Association.
He currently chairs the UT Southwestern Medical Center Board of Visitors and has served on numerous other civic and cultural boards.
Haddock and his wife, Sandi, live in Dallas. Their children include daughter Roni Sue Campey of San Jose, California; eldest son Mark of Dallas; and youngest son Rick of Dallas.
Both Haddock and his wife are philanthropists:
In December 2011 they gave $1 million to support construction of UT Southwestern Medical Center’s New University Hospital.
In June of that year, Haddock and his wife gave $1 million to the American Heart Association.
To inquire about attending the dinner and award ceremony, contact Luke Hopkins at 214-651-3622 or lhopkins@adolphus.com.