J. Gendron, Oil Executive, Dies
John Gendron, a retired Atlantic Richfield Co. executive, former president of the Western Oil & Gas Assn. and a 40-year veteran of the oil industry, has died of cancer, an Arco spokesman said this week.
He was 65 and died June 15 at his Santa Barbara home.
Gendron had been Arco’s senior vice president of public affairs from 1975 to 1982, heading the company’s public and government relations departments. In 1982 he became executive-in-residence at Arco’s Executive Seminar in Santa Barbara, retiring last year.
Gendron entered the oil business in 1946 with the Tidewater Oil Corp., now Getty Oil, as the assistant general manager of its eastern division. He moved to Richfield Oil Corp., an Arco predecessor, in 1959 as general manager of transportation and supplies.
He graduated from the University of Oregon and attended the University of San Francisco and Georgetown University law schools.
In lieu of flowers, Gendron’s wife and three children are asking contributions to the Santa Barbara Cancer Foundation.
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