Philip Blamey, 82; Unocal Exec Helped Foil Pickens’ Takeover Bid

Philip Blamey, 82, the former chief financial officer of Unocal who helped thwart a 1980s takeover by T. Boone Pickens’ Mesa Petroleum, died of natural causes Nov. 22 in La Habra.

Blamey was on the elite executive team tapped by Unocal Chairman Fred L. Hartley when Pickens started buying company stock in late 1984.

After months of litigation and negotiation, Unocal bought back stock and remained independent.

Rising through the ranks from mail room employee, Blamey spent his entire career at Unocal except while serving in the military.

He was a navigator in the Army Air Forces in World War II and the Air Force in the Korean War.

As vice president of finance and chief financial officer, Blamey arranged refinancing during Pickens’ attempted hostile takeover. He also testified before congressional committees on such issues as financing of the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve.