Grey Retires as President of Chevron
Citing health reasons, Chevron Corp. unexpectedly announced that, effective Tuesday, President John R. Grey had taken early retirement from the company that he had worked for since joining its El Segundo refinery as an engineer in 1944.
No immediate successor was announced for Grey, a 63-year-old native of Glendale.
“It is with deep regret that we accept Mr. Grey’s request for early retirement,” Chairman and Chief Executive George M. Keller said in a statement. “Jack has contributed much to the growth and success of our company for more than 41 years.”
A spokesman for the San Francisco-based oil company declined to elaborate on the nature of Grey’s health problems. Other sources said Grey was taken seriously ill and is hospitalized.
Stanford Graduate
As president, Grey coordinated reporting from the major subsidiaries of Chevron: Chevron USA, the company’s chief operating subsidiary; Chevron Chemical, its chief nonpetroleum unit; Chevron Oil Field Research, La Habra; Chevron Geosciences, Houston; Chevron Land & Development, San Francisco, and Chevron Research, Richmond, Calif. He also supervised exploration and production activities, human resources and public affairs.
Grey joined Standard Oil of California, Chevron’s predecessor corporation, after being graduated from Stanford University with a degree in chemical engineering. He progressed through a series of manufacturing assignments before being named chief corporate engineer in 1965. Four years later, he was appointed corporate vice president. He was elected a director in 1970 and became president in 1974.
