Rawleigh Warner, Jr.

Rawleigh Warner, Jr. (February 13, 1921 – June 26, 2013) was an American businessman. He was president of Mobil from 1965 to 1969 and chairman and chief executive officer from 1969 to 1986. During his tenure he transformed Mobil from a money losing operation, into the second largest oil company in the United States.

Early life
Rawleigh Warner Jr. was born Feb. 13, 1921, in Chicago and growing up in Chicago's northern suburbs. He attended Lake Forest Academy and graduated from the Lawrenceville School and his father's alma mater Princeton University. Graduating in 1943, he served in the United States Army during World War II as a Field Artillery officer. During his military service he was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. He left the army as a captain.

Oil business
After a brief stint in finance, Warner was looking for a new career in 1948. As his father Rawleigh Warner, Sr. was chairman of Pure Oil, the oil business seemed like a natural fit. Wishing to avoid the appearance of nepotism, Warner followed his father's advice and joined the financial staff of Continental Oil Company in Houston, Texas. Warner served as the assistant to the treasurer and remained with Continental until 1953.

In 1953, Warner was recruited to join Socony-Vacuum Oil Company as the assistant to the vice president of finance in one of the company's divisions based in Fort Lee, New Jersey. He later transferred to the parent company as its economics department manager. Later he managed Socony’s Middle East department and was named a regional vice president of Mobil International Oil Company, one of Socony's divisions. After only twelve years working for Socony, Warner was named president of the renamed Socony Mobil Oil Company in 1965. In 1966, the company again changed its name to Mobil.