Early Life and Education
Timothy Marvin Dunn was born in 1955 in Big Spring, Texas. Growing up, he was the youngest of four boys and became an Eagle Scout. Dunn graduated from Big Spring High School in 1974 and earned a degree in chemical engineering from Texas Tech University in 1978. He was involved in student council and athletics, and played guitar in a band during his high school and college years.
Rise to Success
Dunn began his career as an engineer at ExxonMobil from 1978 to 1980. He then worked in banking at First City National Bank in Midland until 1987, eventually becoming the head of commercial lending. From 1987 to 1995, Dunn was an executive at Parker & Parsley Petroleum, where he became chief financial officer. In 1996, Dunn founded CrownQuest Operating, an oil and gas company, and serves as its CEO. CrownQuest became the eighth-largest oil producer in Texas in 2022. Dunn sold CrownQuest to Occidental Petroleum in December 2023 in a deal valued at $12.4 billion.
Key Business Strategies
Dunn's success stems from strategic acquisitions of cheap leases in the Permian Basin before fracking became widespread. He has focused on operational efficiency and strategic growth, building CrownQuest into a major player in the oil and gas industry. In 2013, he was named top CEO of a large company by the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association and Texas Monthly magazine.
Philanthropy
Dunn is involved in various philanthropic initiatives. He founded the Midland Classical Academy, a non-profit Christian school, and serves on its board. He is also on the board of the Grace School of Theology and the First Liberty Institute. Dunn is a significant donor to conservative causes, including contributing $5 million to Donald Trump's campaign.
