Rawleigh Warner Jr.

Rawleigh Warner Jr. (February 13, 1921 – June 26, 2013)[1] was an American business executive, who was president of Mobil from 1965 to 1969 and chairman and chief executive officer from 1969 to 1986. He was recipient of the 1984 Henry Laurence Gantt Medal.

Rawleigh Warner Jr.
Born(1921-02-13)February 13, 1921
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJune 26, 2013(2013-06-26) (aged 92)
Hobe Sound, Florida, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationPrinceton University (A.B.)
OccupationBusiness executive
Title
  • President of Mobil
    (1965–1969)
  • Chairman and CEO of Mobil
    (1969–1986)
Spouse
Mary Ann deClairmont
​
​
(m. 1946)​
Children2
Chairman and CEO of Mobil
In office
September 1, 1969 – February 1, 1986
Preceded byAlbert Nickerson
Succeeded byAllen E. Murray
President of Mobil
In office
January 1, 1965 – September 1, 1969
Preceded byHerbert Willetts
Succeeded byWilliam Tavoulareas

Early life

Rawleigh Warner Jr. was born February 13, 1921, in Chicago, Illinois, to Rawleigh Warner and Dorothy Haskins Warner.[2] He grew up in the northern parts of Chicago (Evanston and Winnetka).[2]

He attended Lake Forest Academy and graduated from the Lawrenceville School.[2] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Princeton University in 1943; completing his senior thesis titled "Labor Problems in the Petroleum Industry: With Special Reference to the Pure Oil Company".[3][4][5]

Career

Military service

He served in the United States Army during World War II as a Field Artillery officer with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy.[2] During his military service he was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. He left the army as a captain in 1946.[2][4]

Oil business

After a brief stint in finance, Warner was looking for a new career in 1948. As his father Rawleigh Warner Sr. was chairman of Pure Oil, the oil business seemed like a natural fit. Wishing to avoid the appearance of nepotism, Warner followed his father's advice and joined the financial staff of Continental Oil Company in Houston, Texas. Warner served as the assistant to the treasurer and remained with Continental until 1953.[6]

In 1953, Warner was recruited to join Socony-Vacuum Oil Company as the assistant to the vice president of finance in one of the company's divisions based in Fort Lee, New Jersey. He later transferred to the parent company as its economics department manager. Later he managed Socony's Middle East department and was elected regional vice president of Mobil International Oil Company, one of Socony's divisions, in 1964.[7] After only twelve years working for Socony, Warner was elected president of the renamed Socony Mobil Oil Company on January 1, 1965, replacing Herbert Willetts.[2][7] In his second year as president, the company again changed its name to Mobil and modernized its logo from a red Pegasus to the word "Mobil" in blue letters with a red letter "O".[2][8] On September 1, 1969, Warner was elected chairman and CEO of Mobil, replacing Albert Nickerson.[2][9]

He is attributed as leading Mobil's corporate sponsorship. Warner helped start Mobil's sponsorship of PBS's Masterpiece Theatre, a relationship that spanned from the 1970s to 2004.[2][8] He is also noted for working with his Vice President of Public Affairs Herbert Schmertz to publish weekly paid Op-Eds under Mobil's name in national newspapers in the 1970s and 1980s, including the New York Times.[8] He retired on February 1, 1986.[2][10]

Other efforts

Warner was heavily involved with Princeton University, including serving as a trustee of Princeton University from 1968 to 1972 and being a member of the Resources Committee from 1981 to 1996.[2] He was also a trustee of Barnard College, Lawrenceville School, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.[2] He was one of the original trustees of the Kennedy Center.[2]

He was chairman of the American Petroleum Institute.[2] He was appointed by President Reagan to the newly formed President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities in 1982.[2][11][12]

Personal life

Warner married Mary Ann deClairmont in 1946 and together they had two daughters, Alison and Suzanne.[2][3]

He was a devoted golf player.[3]

Later life

Warner died in Hobe Sound, Florida, on June 26, 2013, from complications of inclusion body myositis.[2]

Awards and honors

Warner received the following awards and honors throughout his life:[2][3]

References
  1. Laurence Arnold (July 2, 2013). "Rawleigh Warner, image-conscious Mobil Oil executive, dies at 92". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  2. "Warner Jr., Rawleigh". The Chicago Tribune. July 2, 2013. p. 8. Retrieved February 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Rawleigh Warner Jr. '44". Princeton Alumni Weekly. October 23, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  4. Martin, Douglas (July 2, 2013). "Rawleigh Warner Jr., Brash Chairman of Mobil, Dies at 92". New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  5. Warner, Jr (1944). "Labor Problems in the Petroleum Industry: With Special Reference to the Pure Oil Company". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. Arnold, Laurence. "Rawleigh Warner, Mobil CEO Who Shaped Company Image, Dies at 92". Bloomberg Businessweek. Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on July 4, 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  7. "Socony Mobil Elects Warner New President". The Chicago Tribune. October 23, 1964. p. 75 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Rawleigh Warner, 92; burnished Mobil's image". The Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. July 2, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Rawleigh Warner Jr. was named chairman of Mobil Oil Corp". The Los Angeles Times. May 1, 1969. p. 62. Retrieved February 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Trials, tribulations in the business world". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois. January 6, 1986. p. D. Retrieved February 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Appointment of 16 Members of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, and Designation of Chairman and Vice Chairmen". reaganlibrary.gov. June 15, 1982. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  12. Hall, Carla (September 22, 1982). "1st Meeting of Presidential Committee on Arts, Humanities". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  13. Ragan, Janine (April 23, 1984). "Speechwriters learn to find right words". The Chicago Tribune. p. B3. Retrieved February 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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