Lodwrick Cook
Encyclopedia
Lodwrick Monroe Cook (born in Louisiana
on June 17, 1928) is an American businessman.
in 1950 and was also a member of the Sigma Chi Gamma Iota Chapter there. After service in the United States Army
, Cook returned to LSU and earned a second degree in petroleum engineering in 1955. He later received a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Southern Methodist University
which he attended in the evenings. Louisiana State University, Pepperdine University
, California Lutheran University
, and St. Augustine's College have awarded Cook honorary degrees for charitable work and contributions. Cook is the father of five children (all adults) and nine grandchildren. He and his wife Carole Diane Cook live in Sherman Oaks, California
.
and named the Lod & Carole Cook Alumni Center in honor of Cook's work. In addition to LSU, Cook is a member of the chancellor's court of benefactors for Oxford University in England and he is a Life Regent of Pepperdine University. He previously served on the board of advisors of the Carter Center of Emory University.
Cook is a trustee of the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation and a director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. His financial contributions and work with the Library Foundation of Los Angeles led to the dedication of the Lodwrick Cook Rotunda, an elegant marble rotunda within the library's downtown Los Angeles location.
In November 1994, upon appointment by Queen Elizabeth II
, Cook was invested by the Prince of Wales
with the Insignia of Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) for his contribution to Anglo-American relations and support for philanthropic projects around the world.
Mr. Cook was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2000.
Mr. Cook is also a member of Augusta National Golf Club
in Augusta, Georgia.
In January 1986, he became ARCO’s chairman and CEO, succeeding the legendary Robert O. Anderson. Under Cook’s leadership, the new ARCO was hailed as the best-managed U.S. company, with profit margins approached by few and returns on equity equaled by none. He remained in his position for nine years until, in June, 1995, he retired, becoming Chairman Emeritus.
In September, 1997, Cook became Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Pacific Capital Group, a venture capital, merchant banking group founded by Gary Winnick
. The following year, in April, 1998, Cook was installed by Winnick as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Global Crossing
, a position Cook held until he stepped down in 2002 during the company's bankruptcy proceedings. Cook also served as chairman of Global Marine Systems
beginning in 1999 and Asia Global Crossing in 2000.
In addition to ARCO and Global Crossing, Cook has served on the board of directors for Lockheed Corporation
(until 1995), Castle & Cooke
, the Kyle Foundation and Litex, Inc. He is also a member of the advisory committee of Aurora Capital Partners.
Cook remains Vice Chairman of Pacific Capital Group and maintains an office at their Los Angeles, California location.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
on June 17, 1928) is an American businessman.
Background and education
He received a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Louisiana State UniversityLouisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in 1950 and was also a member of the Sigma Chi Gamma Iota Chapter there. After service in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, Cook returned to LSU and earned a second degree in petroleum engineering in 1955. He later received a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
which he attended in the evenings. Louisiana State University, Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
, California Lutheran University
California Lutheran University
California Lutheran University is a university of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Thousand Oaks, California.-Mission statement:The University's mission statement is as follows:...
, and St. Augustine's College have awarded Cook honorary degrees for charitable work and contributions. Cook is the father of five children (all adults) and nine grandchildren. He and his wife Carole Diane Cook live in Sherman Oaks, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Memberships
Cook is a member of the LSU Alumni Association's Board of Directors, an organization he has actively worked with and contributed to financially for many years. Through direct personal donations as well as his own fundraising efforts, Cook donated the money used by LSU for construction of an alumni center. The 11000 square feet (1,021.9 m²), 128-room building was opened in a ceremony led by former president George H. W. BushGeorge H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
and named the Lod & Carole Cook Alumni Center in honor of Cook's work. In addition to LSU, Cook is a member of the chancellor's court of benefactors for Oxford University in England and he is a Life Regent of Pepperdine University. He previously served on the board of advisors of the Carter Center of Emory University.
Cook is a trustee of the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation and a director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. His financial contributions and work with the Library Foundation of Los Angeles led to the dedication of the Lodwrick Cook Rotunda, an elegant marble rotunda within the library's downtown Los Angeles location.
In November 1994, upon appointment by Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, Cook was invested by the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
with the Insignia of Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) for his contribution to Anglo-American relations and support for philanthropic projects around the world.
Mr. Cook was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2000.
Mr. Cook is also a member of Augusta National Golf Club
Augusta National Golf Club
Augusta National Golf Club, located in Augusta, Georgia, is a famous men's golf club. Founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts and designed by Alister MacKenzie on the site of a former indigo plantation, the club opened for play in January 1933. Since 1934, it has played host to the annual...
in Augusta, Georgia.
Employment
Beginning in 1956, Cook was employed with Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), the seventh largest oil company in the United States. Cook was hired as an engineer trainee, but went on to hold several management positions in labor relations, refining, marketing and planning, rising to become a Vice President of the company in 1970. After heading up ARCO’s West Coast refining marketing operations, he chaired the eight-company Owners’ Committee building the Trans Alaska Pipeline System. When the multi-million dollar pump station burned, Cook proposed a solution of injecting a drag reducing agent to speed the flow, a success when implemented and resulting in the savings several hundreds of millions of dollars.In January 1986, he became ARCO’s chairman and CEO, succeeding the legendary Robert O. Anderson. Under Cook’s leadership, the new ARCO was hailed as the best-managed U.S. company, with profit margins approached by few and returns on equity equaled by none. He remained in his position for nine years until, in June, 1995, he retired, becoming Chairman Emeritus.
In September, 1997, Cook became Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Pacific Capital Group, a venture capital, merchant banking group founded by Gary Winnick
Gary Winnick
Gary Winnick is an American financier with a global investment career spanning three decades. He is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Capital Group, a diversified private investment firm founded in 1985...
. The following year, in April, 1998, Cook was installed by Winnick as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Global Crossing
Global Crossing
Global Crossing Limited was a telecommunications company that provides computer networking services worldwide. It maintained a large backbone and offered transit and peering links, VPN, leased lines, audio and video conferencing, long distance telephone, managed services, dialup, colocation and...
, a position Cook held until he stepped down in 2002 during the company's bankruptcy proceedings. Cook also served as chairman of Global Marine Systems
Global Marine Systems
Global Marine Systems is a specialist-shipping company that installs, maintains and repairs submarine communications and power cables.- History :...
beginning in 1999 and Asia Global Crossing in 2000.
In addition to ARCO and Global Crossing, Cook has served on the board of directors for Lockheed Corporation
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
(until 1995), Castle & Cooke
Castle & Cooke
Castle & Cooke, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based company that was once part of the Big Five companies in territorial Hawaii. The company at one time did most of its business in agriculture...
, the Kyle Foundation and Litex, Inc. He is also a member of the advisory committee of Aurora Capital Partners.
Cook remains Vice Chairman of Pacific Capital Group and maintains an office at their Los Angeles, California location.
See also
- Global CrossingGlobal CrossingGlobal Crossing Limited was a telecommunications company that provides computer networking services worldwide. It maintained a large backbone and offered transit and peering links, VPN, leased lines, audio and video conferencing, long distance telephone, managed services, dialup, colocation and...
- Atlantic Richfield Company