William K. Warren Sr.
William K. Warren Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | June 11, 1990 (aged 92) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, benefactor |
| Known for | Founder of Warren Petroleum Corporation; philanthropist who founded Saint Francis Hospital system |
William Kelly Warren Sr. (December 3, 1897 – June 11, 1990) was an American entrepreneur and benefactor who established the Warren Petroleum Corporation of Delaware in 1922. His firm, based in Tulsa, specialized in the production and distribution of liquefied petroleum gas, a secondary product derived from petroleum refining and natural gas processing. In 1953, Warren sold his enterprise to Gulf Oil Corporation for $450 million, which was then the largest merger within the energy sector. Subsequently, he devoted himself to philanthropic efforts, notably founding the Saint Francis Hospital system in Tulsa.
Early life
Warren was born in Nashville, Tennessee to parents Thomas Hines and Amelia Elizabeth Cecil Warren. After his father passed away, he left school following the eighth grade. Growing up in modest circumstances, he undertook numerous jobs such as newspaper delivery, Western Union messenger, peanut seller, drugstore clerk, door-to-door sales representative, and dance instructor. His education included attendance at parochial schools in Nashville before departing in 1915 to work as a railroad clerk earning $40 per month. Inspired by Myrtle McDougal from Sapulpa, Oklahoma, he relocated westward in 1916 to seek opportunities within the oil sector. Initially employed briefly on a railway servicing oil boom towns, Warren gained valuable experience working with companies including Gypsy Oil Company, Gilliland Oil Company, Gulf Oil Corporation, Margay Oil Corporation, and McMan Oil and Gas Company across Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana. He also held the position of assistant to Patrick J. Hurley, then vice president of Gilliland Oil Company.
Warren Petroleum Corporation
In 1922, Warren left his previous employment to launch Warren Petroleum Company of Delaware with headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, initially staffed only by himself and his wife. The enterprise concentrated on producing and marketing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a derivative of natural gas processing. He also founded the Western Gasoline Company, which transitioned into Warren Petroleum Corporation by 1937. In 1930, Warren acquired Amerada Hess Corporation’s domestic gasoline production assets. Alongside Monterey Oil Company and J. R. Butler, Warren Petroleum co-founded the Transwestern Pipeline Company in 1957. On November 10, 1953, Gulf Oil Corporation acquired Warren Petroleum for $420 million, representing the largest financial deal within the industry at that time. In 1966, Warren held the presidency of the International Petroleum Exposition.
Later life and philanthropy
After divesting from his company, Warren committed considerable effort and resources toward charitable causes. In 1945, he created the William K. Warren Foundation aimed at supporting philanthropic, scientific, and healthcare projects, primarily benefiting Catholic institutions in Tulsa and nearby regions.
The Foundation was responsible for establishing Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa in 1959 as well as Laureate Psychiatric Hospital and Clinic in 1989. Saint Francis commenced operations in 1960 and has been administered by various religious organizations since its founding. The Laureate facility specializes in psychiatric treatment and research related to clinical neuroscience.
In 1988, the Foundation funded the inaugural Warren Clinic within the Saint Francis Health System to enhance primary care availability. This clinic network has expanded to over 70 locations staffed by more than 350 physicians serving northeastern Oklahoma.
By 2007, the Foundation supported two significant expansions: Saint Francis Hospital South—a 96-bed facility addressing population growth in southern Tulsa—and the Laureate Institute for Brain Research dedicated to advancing mental health studies.
Warren was also a notable benefactor of the University of Notre Dame, where Saint Liam Hall and the William K. and Natalie O. Warren golf course bear his and his wife’s namesakes.
Legacy
In 1961, William Warren Sr. was honored with induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, following the earlier recognition of his wife in 1959.
Marriage and family
During his time in Nashville, Warren became acquainted with Natalie Overall, the daughter of a Methodist minister. Their relationship endured across the distance throughout his career in the oil sector, culminating in their marriage on September 21, 1921.
Natalie Warren passed away at the age of 97 on September 4, 1996, at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa.
The couple had seven children: six daughters—Dorothy, Natalie, Marilyn, Patricia, Elizabeth (Libby), and Jean—and one son, William K. Warren Jr., who achieved success as a businessman and philanthropist. He took over leadership of the family foundation after his father retired and continues to reside in Tulsa.
References
External links
- Voices of Oklahoma interview with William Warren Jr. – A firsthand interview conducted on December 11, 2009; both audio and transcript are preserved by the Voices of Oklahoma oral history project.