Waite Phillips
Encyclopedia
Waite Phillips 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 127000 acres (514 km²) of his favorite ranch in New Mexico
to the Boy Scouts of America
, together with an office building as part of its endowment. He made a substantial bequest to the University of Southern California
which named a building after him.
to Civil War
veteran Lewis "Lew" Franklin Phillips and Lucinda Josephine "Josie" Faucett Phillips. Waite, the younger twin, was the 7th of 10 children born into the Phillips family.
In 1899, at age 16, Waite and Wiate left the 40 acres (161,874.4 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 railroad building, mining
and lumbering, and spent one winter trapping fur animals in the Bitterroot Mountains
. Their adventure came to an end in Spokane, Washington
on July 16, 1902 when Wiate died as a result of acute appendicitis
.
in Iowa to petroleum operations in 1906, centered around Bartlesville, Oklahoma
. His brothers created the business which became known as Phillips Petroleum Company.
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 Tulsa, Oklahoma
. While in Tulsa, Phillips built several office complexes, such as the Philtower and Philcade. He also had a mansion built, the 72-room Italian Renaissance-style Villa Philbrook. In 1938 during the Great Depression
, Phillips donated his immense home to the city of Tulsa, which adapted it into the Philbrook Museum of Art
. Each of these buildings has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
In addition to his oil business, Phillips was actively engaged in banking, city real estate developments and the operation of ranches in several Rocky Mountain regions. His first choice of ranches was the UU near Cimarron, New Mexico
, acquired in 1922. After disposing of his other ranches, he developed the 300000 acres (1,214.1 km²) UU Ranch into diversified farming and livestock operations. Waite built the Villa Philmonte
as his summer house. On the ranch, he also built mountain trails, a hunting lodge and a fishing lodge, all of which he found to be restful retreats from business pressures in Tulsa.
, complete with water, mineral and timber rights. The only condition was that it be used "for the benefit of the members of the Boy Scout organization" and the second larger donation had only the condition that it pay its fair share of taxes on any portion devoted to competitive commercial operations. As an endowment, he donated the 23-story Philtower Building in Tulsa. These donations were made without any rights of management reserved by the donor. All equipment and livestock was included in the gift with the idea that diversified ranch operations would provide educational benefits to Boy Scouts and would add to the endowment income. In honor of Phillips, the Boy Scouts of America
renamed the newly donated land Philturn Rocky Mountain Scout Camp. Later the property was renamed Philmont Scout Ranch
His son Chope still visits frequently.
Phillips passed away 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.
. Waite and Genevieve had two children, Helen Jane (July 1, 1911 – May 19, 1963; age 52) and Elliott "Chope" Waite (January 11, 1918–).
Waite Phillips died on January 27, 1964 at age 81. Waite and Genevieve Phillips are buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
in Los Angeles, California
.
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
businessman who created a fully integrated operation that combined petroleum producing, refining and marketing. With headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, he also developed several office complexes and engaged in banking and ranching. Phillips was a philanthropist
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
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
Philbrook Museum of Art
The Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma is an art museum and former home of Oklahoma oil pioneer Waite Phillips and his wife Genevieve Phillips. , the museum has a staff of 60 and an operating budget of nearly $6 million....
. He gave 127000 acres (514 km²) of his favorite ranch in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
to the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, together with an office building as part of its endowment. He made a substantial bequest to the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
which named a building after him.
Early life and education
Waite Phillips and his identical twin brother Wiate were born near Conway, IowaConway, Iowa
Conway is a city in Taylor County, Iowa, United States. The population was 63 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Conway is located at , along the East Fork of the One Hundred and Two River....
to Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
veteran Lewis "Lew" Franklin Phillips and Lucinda Josephine "Josie" Faucett Phillips. Waite, the younger twin, was the 7th of 10 children born into the Phillips family.
In 1899, at age 16, Waite and Wiate left the 40 acres (161,874.4 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 railroad building, mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
and lumbering, and spent one winter trapping fur animals in the Bitterroot Mountains
Bitterroot Mountains
The Northern and Central Bitterroot Range, collectively the Bitterroot Mountains, is the largest portion of the Bitterroot Range, part of the Rocky Mountains, located in the panhandle of Idaho and westernmost Montana in the Western United States...
. Their adventure came to an end in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
on July 16, 1902 when Wiate died as a result of acute appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
.
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, Frank and L.E. Phillips, he moved from a short period of coal miningCoal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
in Iowa to petroleum operations in 1906, centered around Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Bartlesville is a city in Osage and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 43,070 at the 2010 census. Bartlesville is located forty-seven miles north of Tulsa and very close to Oklahoma's northern border with Kansas. It is the county seat of Washington County, in...
. His brothers created the business which became known as Phillips Petroleum Company.
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 Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. While in Tulsa, Phillips built several office complexes, such as the Philtower and Philcade. He also had a mansion built, the 72-room Italian Renaissance-style Villa Philbrook. In 1938 during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Phillips donated his immense home to the city of Tulsa, which adapted it into the Philbrook Museum of Art
Philbrook Museum of Art
The Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma is an art museum and former home of Oklahoma oil pioneer Waite Phillips and his wife Genevieve Phillips. , the museum has a staff of 60 and an operating budget of nearly $6 million....
. Each of these buildings has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
In addition to his oil business, Phillips was actively engaged in banking, city real estate developments and the operation of ranches in several Rocky Mountain regions. His first choice of ranches was the UU near Cimarron, New Mexico
Cimarron, New Mexico
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 917 people, 382 households, and 255 families residing in the village. The population density was 479.5 people per square mile . There were 449 housing units at an average density of 234.8 per square mile...
, acquired in 1922. After disposing of his other ranches, he developed the 300000 acres (1,214.1 km²) UU Ranch into diversified farming and livestock operations. Waite built the Villa Philmonte
Villa Philmonte
The Villa Philmonte is a large ranch manor located outside of Cimarron, New Mexico, on the Philmont Scout Ranch property of the Boy Scouts of America....
as his summer house. On the ranch, he also built mountain trails, a hunting lodge and a fishing lodge, all of which he found to be restful retreats from business pressures in Tulsa.
Philanthropy
Phillips sometimes allowed others to visit his ranch, including a few Boy Scout troops. In 1938 and in 1941, Phillips donated 127000 acres (514 km²) of his UU Ranch to the Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, complete with water, mineral and timber rights. The only condition was that it be used "for the benefit of the members of the Boy Scout organization" and the second larger donation had only the condition that it pay its fair share of taxes on any portion devoted to competitive commercial operations. As an endowment, he donated the 23-story Philtower Building in Tulsa. These donations were made without any rights of management reserved by the donor. All equipment and livestock was included in the gift with the idea that diversified ranch operations would provide educational benefits to Boy Scouts and would add to the endowment income. In honor of Phillips, the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
renamed the newly donated land Philturn Rocky Mountain Scout Camp. Later the property was renamed Philmont Scout Ranch
Philmont Scout Ranch
Philmont Scout Ranch is a large, rugged, mountainous ranch located near the town of Cimarron, New Mexico, covering approximately of wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Rocky Mountains of northern New Mexico...
His son Chope still visits frequently.
Phillips passed away in 1964 and a primary beneficiary of his estate was the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. USC built a 12 story building, named the "Waite Phillips Hall", which was dedicated in 1968.
Marriage and family
In 1909 he married Genevieve Elliott in Knoxville, IowaKnoxville, Iowa
Knoxville is a city in Marion County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,731 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County. Knoxville is home of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum located next to the famous dirt track known as Knoxville Raceway.-History:The site for...
. Waite and Genevieve had two children, Helen Jane (July 1, 1911 – May 19, 1963; age 52) and Elliott "Chope" Waite (January 11, 1918–).
Waite Phillips died on January 27, 1964 at age 81. Waite and Genevieve Phillips are buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
The Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery is a cemetery in the Westwood Village area of Los Angeles, California. It is located at 1218 Glendon Avenue in Westwood....
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
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 "Chope" and Virginia Phillips. First person interview conducted on May 5, 2009 with Elliot "Chope" and Virginia Phillips, son and daughter-in-law of Waite Phillips. Original audio and transcript archived with Voices of Oklahoma oral history project.