Clifton C. Garvin
Encyclopedia
Clifton C. Garvin, Jr. CEO of Exxon
from 1975 to 1986 is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia
and graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1943 with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering
. After graduation he served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II
in the Pacific theater for three years. He returned to VPI after his military service and received a Master's Degree from VPI in 1947.
After graduation in 1947, he went to work for Exxon
Corporation as a process engineer in their refinineries. He worked in the Baton Rouge Refinery
and ran Exxon's chemical operations. Garvin's corporate background is in transport, refining and marketing as well as chemicals—areas of the business that were important to Exxon at a time when governments in the Middle East and Latin America were squeezing the profits out of petroleum production. Garvin was marked as a comer at Exxon in the early 1960s. In 1965 he took over the company's chemical operations and helped turn them into the fastest-growing part of Exxon's business.
He became president of Exxon in 1972 and was selected chairman and chief executive officer in 1975 until his retirement in 1986.
In 1981, he was appointed to President Reagan's National Productivity Advisory Committee and later served on the President's Private Sector Survey on Cost Control.
He has honorary degrees from New York University
, Stevens Institute of Technology
and Georgetown University
.
He has been a member and director of numerous national and international corporations, including Georgia Pacific, Chevron
, Citicorp, Citibank
, Johnson and Johnson, J.C. Penney
, PepsiCo
, Inc, Sperry Corporation
, and TRW
, Inc.
In 1997, the Virginia Tech Board of Governors selected Garvin as the recipient of the William H. Ruffner Medal, the university's highest honor, for his selfless dedication and years of service to the university.
Garvin earned the Eagle Scout
rank in 1937.
Exxon
Exxon is a chain of gas stations as well as a brand of motor fuel and related products by ExxonMobil. From 1972 to 1999, Exxon was the corporate name of the company previously known as Standard Oil Company of New Jersey or Jersey Standard....
from 1975 to 1986 is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
and graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1943 with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
. After graduation he served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the Pacific theater for three years. He returned to VPI after his military service and received a Master's Degree from VPI in 1947.
After graduation in 1947, he went to work for Exxon
Exxon
Exxon is a chain of gas stations as well as a brand of motor fuel and related products by ExxonMobil. From 1972 to 1999, Exxon was the corporate name of the company previously known as Standard Oil Company of New Jersey or Jersey Standard....
Corporation as a process engineer in their refinineries. He worked in the Baton Rouge Refinery
Baton Rouge Refinery
ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge Refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is the second-largest oil refinery in the United States, with an input capacity of per day as of January 1, 2007 ....
and ran Exxon's chemical operations. Garvin's corporate background is in transport, refining and marketing as well as chemicals—areas of the business that were important to Exxon at a time when governments in the Middle East and Latin America were squeezing the profits out of petroleum production. Garvin was marked as a comer at Exxon in the early 1960s. In 1965 he took over the company's chemical operations and helped turn them into the fastest-growing part of Exxon's business.
He became president of Exxon in 1972 and was selected chairman and chief executive officer in 1975 until his retirement in 1986.
In 1981, he was appointed to President Reagan's National Productivity Advisory Committee and later served on the President's Private Sector Survey on Cost Control.
He has honorary degrees from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
and Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
.
He has been a member and director of numerous national and international corporations, including Georgia Pacific, Chevron
Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
, Citicorp, Citibank
Citibank
Citibank, a major international bank, is the consumer banking arm of financial services giant Citigroup. Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, later First National City Bank of New York...
, Johnson and Johnson, J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is a chain of American mid-range department stores based in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. The company operates 1,107 department stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. JCPenney also operates catalog sales merchant offices nationwide in many...
, PepsiCo
PepsiCo
PepsiCo Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Purchase, New York, United States, with interests in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of grain-based snack foods, beverages, and other products. PepsiCo was formed in 1965 with the merger of the Pepsi-Cola Company...
, Inc, Sperry Corporation
Sperry Corporation
Sperry Corporation was a major American equipment and electronics company whose existence spanned more than seven decades of the twentieth century...
, and TRW
TRW
TRW Inc. was an American corporation involved in a variety of businesses, mainly aerospace, automotive, and credit reporting. It was a pioneer in multiple fields including electronic components, integrated circuits, computers, software and systems engineering. TRW built many spacecraft,...
, Inc.
In 1997, the Virginia Tech Board of Governors selected Garvin as the recipient of the William H. Ruffner Medal, the university's highest honor, for his selfless dedication and years of service to the university.
Garvin earned the Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
rank in 1937.