Kehle to Take Top Positions at Hershey Oil

Hershey Oil Corp. said Wednesday that Ralph O. Kehle will become chairman and chief executive this September, succeeding A. L. Hershey.

Kehle, 52, joined the Pasadena company earlier this year as executive vice president in charge of exploration and corporate development.

The company said Hershey will become chairman of the executive committee in September and will continue to serve as a director.

Hershey founded the company in 1971 and served as president until 1976, when he assumed his present responsibilities as chairman and chief executive.

Dean W. Shepard, 56, president since 1976, will remain in that post.

Before joining Hershey Oil, Kehle was a partner in Avalon Oil Co. of Austin, Tex.