Harold E. Moulton; Chemical Engineer, Patron of USC

Harold E. Moulton, a chemical engineer who enjoyed a highly successful career in the oil and gas industry for more than 40 years and shared much of the wealth of that success with his alma mater--USC--has died in his Los Angeles home.

Moulton, retired executive of the Andrews Butane Co. and a major benefactor of hydrocarbon research at USC, was 98 when he died July 10 in Los Angeles.

He began his affiliation with the oil industry in 1919, shortly after graduating from USC, where he met his late wife.

Over the years he worked for Wallace Refineries (now Pacific Gasoline Co.), the Chanslor-Canfield Midway Oil Co., a subsidiary of the Santa Fe Railway and then was named superintendent of another Santa Fe subsidiary, the Coline Gasoline Corp. of Los Angeles in 1930.

With three partners, Moulton formed the Andrews company, which later merged with Oakford Gas and Appliance. After that company’s merger with Petrolane Inc. in 1952, Moulton became a consultant, retiring in 1964.

His major contributions to USC included a $3-million gift to the Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute, the nation’s only university-based institute dedicated to the study of hydrocarbons; $5 million to establish the Harold E. and Lillian M. Moulton Endowed Chemistry Fellowships, and $750,000 to remodel the school’s Organic Chemistry Wing.

Survivors include a son, Thomas, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Services will be held today at 11 a.m. at the USC United University Church.