DALLAS – Caroline Rose Hunt, an international luxury hotel magnate and Dallas philanthropist, died Tuesday at the age of 95, WFAA has confirmed.
She suffered a stroke on Oct. 31.
Hunt, the daughter of Texas oil tycoon H.L. Hunt, founded Rosewood Corp. in 1979. The corporation was behind two of the most iconic hotels in Dallas – The Mansion on Turtle Creek and Uptown’s Crescent hotel.
The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek established Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a subsidiary of Rosewood Corp. that owned and operated 18 hotels worldwide before selling its interests in 2011, according to the Dallas Business Journal.
“Crescent is saddened to learn of the passing of Caroline Rose Hunt, and our deepest condolences go to the family,” the hotel told WFAA in a prepared statement. “Mrs. Hunt was a bold and visionary leader who built the most iconic building in Dallas, The Crescent, which launched what has now become Uptown Dallas. Known for her extraordinary graciousness, she led the hospitality and real estate industries in establishing world-class service in every project she touched.
“Several of our employees started their careers with her, and her passion for top-quality customer service is the bedrock that drives Crescent’s culture today. She will be greatly missed.”
Hunt’s net worth at one time surpassed $1 billion. Her father, who laid claim to the massive East Texas Oil Field, was once the world’s richest man and was the basis for the famous J.R. Ewing character in the TV show Dallas.
Among Caroline Rose Hunt's 14 siblings and half-siblings are Margaret Hunt Hill, the namesake of Dallas' grand and often-photographed bridge, as well as Lamar Hunt, a pro sports mogul who owned the Kansas City Chiefs as well as FC Dallas.
The Hunt family ranked No. 16 on Forbes’ list of America's richest families in 2016 with a net worth of $13.7 billion.
Among the The Caroline Rose Hunt family’s many distinctions were an induction into the Hall of Fame for the North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors (NTCAR), as well as the Texas Business Hall of Fame and Dallas Business Hall of Fame, according to the Dallas Business Journal. She was also named one of the 50 Most Influential Women by Ladies Home Journal.
Hunt was also a co-founder of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Foundation.
