04:15 PM CDT on Thursday, June 1, 2006

By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News

Perry Richardson Bass, the Fort Worth businessman, conservationist and philanthropist who was the low-profile bridge between two more visible generations both known for their Midas touch, died Thursday. He was 91.

Perry Bass

Mr. Bass rescued the family fortune amassed by his uncle, the legendary oil, land and cattle baron, Sid W. Richardson, after the wildcatter’s death in 1959. He then groomed his four sons to carry on his vision. Collectively known as the Bass brothers, his sons became internationally acclaimed for their business and philanthropic prowess.

Mr. Bass was a successful businessman with a passion for both fishing and the fine arts. He was chairman emeritus of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission and a past member of the National Gallery of Art’s Trustees’ Council.

Collectively, the Bass family revitalized downtown Fort Worth as the crown jewel of a lifetime in business success and inspired philanthropy.

In 1998, the Nancy Lee & Perry R. Bass Performance Hall opened as a visible monument to the family’s efforts.

Mr. Bass directed much of his philanthropy through the Sid Richardson Foundation, which has given $279 million to the arts, education and medicine since it was endowed in 1965.

Separately, Mr. Bass and his wife, Nancy Lee Bass, have given generously from their personal holdings, embracing causes that benefited everything from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., to redfish swimming in the Texas bays of the Gulf of Mexico.

In 1991, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by giving $1 million each to 50 different institutions. At the time, officials with the National Gallery of Art described the gift as "a staggering gesture in the history of philanthropy.”

Under Mr. Bass’ leadership, his family led the transformation of downtown Fort Worth from a collection of deteriorating storefronts to a sterling example of urban rebirth.

Tarrant County Judge Tom Vandergriff described Mr. Bass as a “great gentleman” and “tremendous citizen.”

"He was for any and everything that tended to give us betterment for the city, for the region,” Judge Vandergriff said. “He was a model citizen if ever there was one. How fortunate we were to have him in our midst for such a long span of time."

Despite his material accomplishments, Mr. Bass said he treasured his family most. Shortly after his 70th birthday, Mr. Bass was asked his proudest accomplishment. He responded, “My four boys.”

Mr. Bass was an outdoorsman who was passionate about the environment, said Andrew Sansom, former executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

“His favorite saying was ‘tight lines and screaming reels,’” Mr. Sansom said. “He would sign letters with it.”

Mr. Bass devoted much of his time to angling and protecting fish populations. He watched over legislation that saved the red drum, also known as redfish, Mr. Sansom said.

“Over the past 20 years, he was a patriarch of the traditional conservationist,” Mr. Sansom said. “He was almost like a father figure to us.”

Mr. Bass maintained a front-row seat at Texas Parks and Wildlife board meetings and was ever present in Austin when the redfish legislation was being discussed by the Texas Legislature. The 1981 law prohibited sale of redfish and spotted sea trout caught in Texas waters, preserving the species for sport fishermen.

“That bill probably would not have passed without that kind of dedication,” Mr. Sansom said.

The state fish hatchery in Palacios, Texas, is named in honor of Mr. Bass’ years of support.

“Every time I stand down in the flats down at Port O’Connor or Port Mansfield catching redfish, I always say thanks to Perry Bass,” Mr. Sansom said.

Mr. Bass also championed Atlantic salmon, working to preserve that species on both sides of the Atlantic. He had been a trustee of the Atlantic Salmon Federation since 1993.

E-mail jsimnacher@dallasnews.com