Forrest Lucas
American businessman (1942–2025)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Forrest Lucas (February 1, 1942 – August 23, 2025)[1] was an American businessman, known for being the founder of Lucas Oil and the founder of Protect the Harvest that opposed animal rights legislation.
Forrest Lucas | |
|---|---|
Lucas in 2011 | |
| Born | February 1, 1942 Ramsey, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | August 23, 2025 (aged 83) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Charlotte Lucas (m. 1982) |
| Children | 7 |
Early life
Lucas was born in February 1942,[2] in Ramsey, Indiana, where he grew up, the eldest of four children.[3] His parents Raymond and Marie had a small farm in Elkinsville, where he and his three sisters lived in "rural deprivation".[4]
He was educated to a high school level.[5]
Career
Lucas bought his first truck when he was 19, and his first semi-trailer at 21.[5] He got a job with Mayflower Transit. He built up a fleet of 13-14 trucks, and started freight brokerage. Following the deregulation of freight in 1980, he was the first to get a full licence to deliver freight in 48 states.[6][1]
In 1988, he founded Lucas Oil.[5] In 2018, he founded Forrest Films, a film production company.[7][1]
Protect the Harvest
Lucas was a founder of Protect the Harvest, a nonprofit organization which opposes animal rights. It is particularly opposed to the Humane Society of the United States, which it claims is "a wealthy and successful attack group".[8]