W. Alton Jones
Encyclopedia
W. Alton Jones who served as president of the oil
and gas
conglomerate
Cities Service Company (now CITGO
), was an influential industrialist, philanthropist
, and close personal friend of United States President
Dwight D. Eisenhower
.
W. Alton “Pete” Jones was born into a poor Missouri
farm family of seven in 1891. In 1920 he became an executive with the energy company Cities Service Company, serving as president from 1940 to 1953. He rose to become one of the highest paid CEOs in the United States
.
During World War II
, he was a hero of war production by building a secret dynamite
production plant in Arkansas
, an aviation fuel
refinery
in Louisiana
, and over 3,000 miles of oil pipelines from Texas
to the East Coast
that were vital to the war effort.
As an important supporter of the Republican Party
, he met and became a very close personal friend of President Eisenhower. Jones was killed in the crash of American Airlines Flight 1
in New York City
on March 1, 1962, while on his way to join Eisenhower on a fishing trip.
In 1944 he founded the W. Alton Jones Foundation
"to promote the well-being and general good of mankind the world". The foundation supported various causes, such as the arts, education, and environmental activism, but split into three separate funds in 2001.
Immediately after his death, Jones' heirs donated his private hunting and fishing retreat (which had hosted President Eisenhower and the King of Nepal) to the University of Rhode Island
, creating the W. Alton Jones Campus.
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
and gas
Gas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
conglomerate
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
Cities Service Company (now CITGO
Citgo
CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a United States-incorporated, Venezuela-owned refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de...
), was an influential industrialist, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, and close personal friend of United States President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
.
W. Alton “Pete” Jones was born into a poor Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
farm family of seven in 1891. In 1920 he became an executive with the energy company Cities Service Company, serving as president from 1940 to 1953. He rose to become one of the highest paid CEOs in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
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...
, he was a hero of war production by building a secret dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
production plant in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, an aviation fuel
Aviation fuel
Aviation fuel is a specialized type of petroleum-based fuel used to power aircraft. It is generally of a higher quality than fuels used in less critical applications, such as heating or road transport, and often contains additives to reduce the risk of icing or explosion due to high temperatures,...
refinery
Refinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
in Louisiana
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...
, and over 3,000 miles of oil pipelines from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
to the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
that were vital to the war effort.
As an important supporter of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, he met and became a very close personal friend of President Eisenhower. Jones was killed in the crash of American Airlines Flight 1
American Airlines Flight 1
American Airlines Flight 1 was a domestic, scheduled passenger flight from New York International Airport , New York to Los Angeles International Airport, California that crashed shortly after take-off on 1 March 1962. All 87 passengers and eight crew died in the crash...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on March 1, 1962, while on his way to join Eisenhower on a fishing trip.
In 1944 he founded the W. Alton Jones Foundation
W. Alton Jones Foundation
The W. Alton Jones Foundation was a charitable foundation, and a sponsor of environmental causes. It was originally involved in sponsoring the arts, particularly theatre....
"to promote the well-being and general good of mankind the world". The foundation supported various causes, such as the arts, education, and environmental activism, but split into three separate funds in 2001.
Immediately after his death, Jones' heirs donated his private hunting and fishing retreat (which had hosted President Eisenhower and the King of Nepal) to the University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
, creating the W. Alton Jones Campus.
See also
- The W. Alton Jones Cell Science CenterThe W. Alton Jones Cell Science CenterThe W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center was a non-profit research and education center on 10 Old Barn Road in Lake Placid, New York. The Center was established by a gift of of land and $3 million dollars to the Tissue Culture Association from the W. Alton Jones Foundation through efforts of...
- Burl S. WatsonBurl S. WatsonBurl Stevens Watson, Sr. was the President and CEO of Cities Service Company during parts of the 1950s and 1960s. He became President in 1954 and was Chairman of the Board and CEO beginning in 1962, taking the place of W. Alton Jones, who died in the famous plane crash American Airlines Flight 1...
, Jones' successor and President during his tenure as CEO.
External links
- W. Alton Jones Campus, University of Rhode IslandUniversity of Rhode IslandThe University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
- The Whispering Pines Conference Center—official site