ENID, Okla. (June 14, 2026) — John D. Groendyke, Chairman of the Board for Groendyke Transport, passed away Saturday, June 13 in surrounded by loved ones in his home at the age of 81.
The only child of Groendyke Transport founder Harold C. Groendyke, John Groendyke is survived by his wife, Virginia, his 4 children, 14 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
Funeral services are pending and will be released in a formal obituary from Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home in the coming days.
He was a man of many passions. An entrepreneur, collector, avid outdoorsman, and a rancher, he had a saying, “There’s no better fertilizer than a farmer’s footprints.”
John Groendyke’s footprints can be seen all over the United States and beyond.
John Groendyke was born on Aug. 17, 1944, to Harold and Pauline Groendyke. An only child, he grew up in Enid during the early years of his father’s company, witnessing and later assisting in its meteoric rise from upstart to one of the largest tank truck carriers in the nation.
At age 13, John Groendyke left Enid for Lexington, Mo., and Wentworth Military Academy, where he attended sixth grade through junior college. As with most things in his life, John Groendyke completed his schooling with distinction. Upon graduation in 1964, he had earned the rank of Cadet Brigade Commander, the highest possible rank at the time, and one that no longer exists today.
He then set his sights on a bachelor’s degree, enrolling at Oklahoma State University and joining the Sigma Nu fraternity, where he met several lifelong and influential friends. He graduated from OSU in 1966 and went on to earn a juris doctorate from the University of Oklahoma in 1969.
John Groendyke served in the Army from 1969 to 1971, beginning as a First Lieutenant and finishing as a Captain. He served in the transportation corps, but because he had a law degree, spent most of his time with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in the courthouse.
Even while busy with school and the military, John Groendyke always made time to stay involved with his father’s business, playing a key role in Groendyke Transport’s first load to Mexico in 1964 and receiving the title of Vice President in 1966.
Twenty years later, John Groendyke took over as CEO and chairman of the board for Groendyke Transport in the wake of his father’s death at the age of 78, and he took the company to new heights.
John Groendyke served on the board for National Tank Truck Carriers for decades, and as chairman in 2001, serving as a major benefactor for the entire tank truck industry. When he stepped down as CEO in 2019, Groendyke Transport brought in about $240 million in revenue and finished the year with 1,400 employees, 1,000 trucks and 1,600 trailers servicing 49 states, Canada and Mexico.
His commitment and accomplishments at Groendyke Transport, and in the tank truck industry, would be more than enough to keep most people busy for a lifetime, but not John Groendyke. His passions varied, and some of his most beloved pastimes were playing and working in the great outdoors.
The son of homesteaders, John Groendyke’s father, Harold Groendyke, was born in a sod house on 160 acres of land near Beaver, Okla., in 1908. Because of Harold Groendyke’s upbringing, John Groendyke grew up with a healthy respect and love for the land and wildlife, and that 160 acres is still in the family today thanks to him.
John Groendyke owned and operated several ranches over the years, taking great pride in working the land. He also had an unmatched love of bird hunting. He served as chairman and a member of the board of directors for the Grand National Quail Club and Foundation, continuing the massive annual Grand National Quail Hunt in his hometown. John Groendyke’s greatest honor in the outdoor arena started in 1976, when he began his first term as commissioner of District 8 for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. He earned Commissioner of the Year in 1991 and served six terms as District 8 commissioner. His 44 years of service in the position made him the longest-tenured commissioner in the nation’s history.
Considering John Groendyke’s love of the land and lifetime spent in Enid, it’s no surprise he held the town and the state dear to his heart. He kept Groendyke Transport’s headquarters in Enid even as other businesses uprooted to larger metropolitan areas. He also served on several local and state boards, and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to groups, nonprofits, religious organizations, and businesses in Enid and throughout Oklahoma.
His donations tallied in the millions of dollars over his lifetime, including national organizations and generous donations to his alma maters Wentworth Military Academy, OSU and OU, among other educational institutions.
Another big recipient of John Groendyke’s generosity coupled with another of his hobbies – his collecting and restoring of classic automobiles. On several occasions, he raised money for the American Diabetes Association by showing his classic cars at their charity events.
Over the years, John Groendyke put together one of the most coveted collections of classic cars in the country, and became a regular participant and winner at some of the most prestigious car shows in Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, Meadowbrook, and San Marino.
John Groendyke’s lifetime contributions are felt and seen throughout many industries, organizations, and people, and they did not go unnoticed during his lifetime. In 2008, he received induction into the Oklahoma State University Spears School of Business Hall of Fame, an honor followed up in 2015 with induction into the Oklahoma State University Hall of Fame. He joined the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2013 for his many contributions to the state. He is also a member of the Enid Hall of Fame, received a lifetime achievement award from NTTC in 2024, and had his name added to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s headquarters and the bell tower at Wentworth Military Academy.
John Groendyke lived a full life, and he will always be remembered by the many people whose lives he impacted.
About Groendyke Transport, Inc.:
Groendyke Transport, Inc. provides safe, superior transport solutions that deliver excellence and power the economy. Groendyke Transport is a privately held, family-owned tank truck carrier and a record nine-time NTTC North American Safety Champion for best overall safety record and program in North America. With headquarters in Enid, Groendyke Transport has almost 40 locations in 15 states, servicing 49 states, Canada, and Mexico.
