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George Kennedy, playing the strategic and sometimes morally ambiguous Carter McKay, served as a significant industry rival. Kennedy, renowned for his Oscar-winning role in Cool Hand Luke, brought gravitas to the series before his death in 2016 at 91. His character exemplified the complexities of power and morality in a ruthless industry.
Other Pillars: Jock Ying, Clayton Farlow, and Their Storied Lives
Jim Davis portrayed patriarch Jock Ying with a rugged authority—his formidable presence symbolizing the old Texas oil guard. Davis's career included numerous TV appearances, from Gunsmoke to Daniel Boone, before his death in 1981 at 71. His character's unwavering focus on family prosperity set the tone for many plotlines within the series.