Claude Brinegar
Encyclopedia
Claude Stout Brinegar was the third United States Secretary of Transportation
, serving from February 2, 1973 to February 1, 1975. Holding a Ph.D from Stanford in economic research, Brinegar had previously been an oil company executive. Brinegar was Secretary of Transportation during the 1973 oil crisis
.
Claude Brinegar was born Claude Rawles Stout on Dec. 16, 1926, to Lyle Rawles Stout and Claude Leroy Stout in Rockport, Calif., a small lumber town on the coast, 25 miles north of Fort Bragg. After her husband abandoned her and her toddler, Lyle Stout got a teaching job on an Indian reservation. Following her marriage, in 1932, to Butler Brinegar, the boy had a disjointed education, attending a different school each year as his stepfather moved around Northern California for jobs with the Works Progress Administration and other agencies. He legally took his stepfather’s last name in 1951. He served in the United States Army Air Forces
, 1945–47, then attended Stanford University
where he received a B.A. in Economics with Great Distinction (1950), an M.S. in Mathematics and Statistics (1951), and a Ph.D. in economic research (1953). He was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa. While pursuing his Ph.D., Mr. Brinegar was a Research Assistant with the Food Research Institute in Stanford, California
, and an Economic Consultant to the Emporium-Capwell Corporation in San Francisco, California
.
Brinegar joined the Union Oil Company
(later called Unocal Corporation) in 1953 as an Economic Analyst and held several positions in economics, planning and research until 1965, when he was elected Vice President for Corporate Planning. In October 1965, after Union Oil and the Pure Oil Company merged, he was appointed President of Pure Oil and remained in that position when Pure became Union 76. He was also elected Senior Vice President of the firm and a member of Union Oil's Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
Nominated to the post by Richard Nixon
, he also served under Gerald Ford
but when Ford said he intended to seek the Presidency, Brinegar resigned and returned to an executive position at Union Oil. In 1980-81, Brinegar was on Ronald Reagan
's transition team.
United States Secretary of Transportation
The United States Secretary of Transportation is the head of the United States Department of Transportation, a member of the President's Cabinet, and fourteenth in the Presidential line of succession. The post was created with the formation of the Department of Transportation on October 15, 1966,...
, serving from February 2, 1973 to February 1, 1975. Holding a Ph.D from Stanford in economic research, Brinegar had previously been an oil company executive. Brinegar was Secretary of Transportation during the 1973 oil crisis
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
.
Claude Brinegar was born Claude Rawles Stout on Dec. 16, 1926, to Lyle Rawles Stout and Claude Leroy Stout in Rockport, Calif., a small lumber town on the coast, 25 miles north of Fort Bragg. After her husband abandoned her and her toddler, Lyle Stout got a teaching job on an Indian reservation. Following her marriage, in 1932, to Butler Brinegar, the boy had a disjointed education, attending a different school each year as his stepfather moved around Northern California for jobs with the Works Progress Administration and other agencies. He legally took his stepfather’s last name in 1951. He served in the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
, 1945–47, then attended Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
where he received a B.A. in Economics with Great Distinction (1950), an M.S. in Mathematics and Statistics (1951), and a Ph.D. in economic research (1953). He was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa. While pursuing his Ph.D., Mr. Brinegar was a Research Assistant with the Food Research Institute in Stanford, California
Stanford, California
Stanford is a census-designated place in Santa Clara County, California, United States and is the home of Stanford University. The population was 13,809 at the 2010 census....
, and an Economic Consultant to the Emporium-Capwell Corporation in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
Brinegar joined the Union Oil Company
Unocal Corporation
Union Oil Company of California, dba Unocal is a defunct company that was a major petroleum explorer and marketer in the late 19th century, through the 20th century, and into the early 21st century. It was headquartered in El Segundo, California, United States.On August 10, 2005, Unocal merged...
(later called Unocal Corporation) in 1953 as an Economic Analyst and held several positions in economics, planning and research until 1965, when he was elected Vice President for Corporate Planning. In October 1965, after Union Oil and the Pure Oil Company merged, he was appointed President of Pure Oil and remained in that position when Pure became Union 76. He was also elected Senior Vice President of the firm and a member of Union Oil's Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
Nominated to the post by Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, he also served under Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
but when Ford said he intended to seek the Presidency, Brinegar resigned and returned to an executive position at Union Oil. In 1980-81, Brinegar was on Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's transition team.
External links
- White House press release, December 7, 1972., Gerald R. Ford Presidential LibraryGerald R. Ford Presidential LibraryThe Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library is part of the National Archives and Records Administration's presidential library system. The library is located at 1000 Beal Avenue on the north campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where Ford was a student and football player...
- Brinegar, Claude Stout . (via Google Books