18 Facts About Waite Phillips

Waite Phillips was an American petroleum businessman who created a fully integrated operation that combined petroleum producing, refining and marketing.

Waite Phillips gave 127,000 acres of his favorite ranch in New Mexico to the Boy Scouts of America, together with an office building as part of its endowment.

Waite Phillips made a substantial bequest to the University of Southern California, which named a building after him.

Waite Phillips and his identical twin brother Wiate were born near Conway, Iowa to Civil War veteran Lewis "Lew" Franklin Phillips and Lucinda Josephine "Josie" Faucett Phillips.

Waite Phillips returned home to Iowa and, after six months of college studies, launched into an active business career.

Waite Phillips's brothers created the business which became known as Phillips Petroleum Company.

In 1914, Waite Phillips sold his oil interests to his elder brothers.

Waite Phillips started on his own as an individual oil producer, refiner and marketer.

Waite Phillips's fully integrated and extensive oil operations lasted almost 40 years.

Waite Phillips had a mansion built, the 72-room Italian Renaissance-style Villa Philbrook.

In 1938 during the Great Depression, Waite Phillips donated his immense home to the city of Tulsa, which adapted it into the Philbrook Museum of Art.

That became their primary residence in Tulsa until Waite Phillips sold the building in 1942.

Waite Phillips sometimes allowed others to visit his ranch, including a few Boy Scout troops.

In 1938 and 1941, Waite Phillips donated 127,000 acres of his Ranch to the Boy Scouts of America, complete with water, mineral and timber rights.

Waite Phillips died in 1964 and a primary beneficiary of his estate was the University of Southern California.

In 1943, Waite Phillips was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

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.