Waite Phillips
Waite Phillips | |
---|---|
Los Angeles, California , U.S. | |
Occupation | American petroleum businessman |
Spouse | Genevieve Elliott |
Children | 2 |
Waite Phillips (January 19, 1883 – January 27, 1964) was an American petroleum businessman who created a fully integrated operation that combined petroleum producing, refining and marketing. With headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he also developed several office complexes and engaged in banking and ranching. Phillips was a philanthropist for both local Tulsa institutions and national causes. In Tulsa he built a 72-room mansion for his residence, which he later donated to the city; it became the Philbrook Museum of Art. He gave 127,000 acres (510 km2) of his favorite ranch in New Mexico to the Boy Scouts of America, together with an office building as part of its endowment. The ranch is now Philmont Scout Ranch, one of the largest youth camps in the world. Phillips also made a substantial bequest to the University of Southern California, which named a building after him.
Early life and education
Waite Phillips and his identical twin brother Wiate[2] were born near Conway, Iowa to Civil War veteran Lewis "Lew" Franklin Phillips and Lucinda Josephine "Josie" Faucett Phillips.[3] Waite, the younger twin, was the seventh of ten children born into the Phillips family.
In 1899, at age 16, Waite and Wiate left the 40-acre (160,000 m2) farm they called home, boarded a train and headed west. Their travels took them to most of the western and midwestern United States and parts of Canada. To support themselves, they worked a variety of jobs in fields such as
Career
Waite returned home to Iowa and, after six months of college studies, launched into an active business career. Under the guidance and help of his elder brothers,
In 1914, Phillips sold his oil interests to his elder brothers. He started out on his own as an individual oil producer, refiner and marketer. His fully integrated and extensive oil operations lasted almost 40 years. After 1918, he had his headquarters in
In addition to his oil business, Phillips was actively engaged in banking, city real estate developments and the operation of ranches in several
Philanthropy
Phillips sometimes allowed others to visit his ranch, including a few Boy Scout troops. In 1938 and in 1941, Phillips donated 127,000 acres (510 km2) of his Ranch to the
Phillips died in 1964 and a primary beneficiary of his estate was the University of Southern California. USC built a 12-story building, named the "Waite Phillips Hall", which was dedicated in 1968.[12]
In 1943, Phillips was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.[13]
Marriage and family
In 1909, he married Genevieve Elliott in Knoxville, Iowa. Waite and Genevieve had two children, Helen Jane (July 1, 1911 – May 19, 1963; age 52) and Elliott "Chope" Waite (January 11, 1918 – April 26, 2015).[14] Helen Jane married baseball player and attorney William R. Breckinridge.[15]
Waite Phillips died on January 27, 1964, at age 81. Waite and Genevieve Phillips are buried in
See also
References
- ^ "WAITE PHILLIPS, OIL MAN, WAS 81; Philanthropist, Noted for His Gifts to Boy Scouts, Dies". New York Times. 1964-01-29. Retrieved 2019-07-20.
- ^ "Phillips Family History". Philmont Scout Ranch. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
- ^ Andrea Martin, "Phillips, Waite (1883-1964)," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed April 15, 2015.
- ISBN 978-0-8061-4676-8.
- ISBN 978-0-7385-3352-0.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: date and year (link - ISBN 978-0-7385-3352-0.
- ISBN 978-0-7627-5348-2.
- ISBN 978-1-62585-989-1.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ "Villa Philbrook and The Phillips." Gilded Era Blogspot. June 14, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
- ISBN 0-8263-3118-1.
- ^ ISBN 0-8263-0438-9
- ^ Voices of Oklahoma; transcript
- ^ "Oklahoma Hall of Fame". Retrieved November 16, 2012.
- ^ "Elliott Waite "Chope" Phillips Obituary". Amarillo Globe-News. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- ^ "Longtime Tulsa Attorney Is Dead". Tulsa World. December 24, 1995. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
Further reading
- Michael Wallis, Beyond the Hills: The Journey of Waite Phillips, Oklahoma Heritage Association, 1995.
- Stephen Zimmer and Nancy Klein, Vision, Grace and Generosity: The Story of Waite and Genevieve Phillips and the Philmont Ranch, Boy Scouts of America, Philmont Scout Ranch, 2002.
External links
- Bio on Phillips
- "Phillps, Waite: Entrepreneur • – 1883–1964", Famous Iowans, Des Moines Register, 21 Nov 2009
- Listing of historic buildings, Tulsa Preservation Commission
- Waite Phillips Elementary School
- Boy Scouts of America, official site
- Voices of Oklahoma interview with Elliot & Virginia Phillips. First person interview conducted on May 5, 2009, with Elliot "Chope" and Virginia Phillips, son and daughter-in-law of Waite Phillips.
- Waite Phillips at Find a Grave