A Good Word: A Legacy of Influence

Frank Phillips’ Influence Continues to Live On

by Bob Fraser

Frank Phillips ... 1873-1950. They say you can judge a person’s life by what they achieve in that “dash” between birth and death. That probably holds true for most people, but it certainly does not apply to Frank Phillips, for his influence goes on and on and on. In Bartlesville, buildings, boulevards, and highways may still bear his name, but they do not come close to BOB FRASER telling his story. For more than 100 years, Phillips Petroleum Company (and their new entities) provided handsome salaries, benefits, and retirement plans to thousands and thousands of employees. Multiple generations of families have benefited, directly and indirectly, from the company founded by Frank Phillips. His vision and passion from an early age drove him to build, create and succeed. He loved his company ... and he loved his community.

Bob Fraser

A little four-year-old boy laid on a bench in the dome room of Woolaroc 64 years ago, watching the lights above him continue to change colors. Then 50 years later, after a career path from banking to real estate to working with the best minds at the Walt Disney Company, that little boy was given the opportunity of a lifetime when he was asked by the board of The Frank Phillips Foundation to oversee the operations at Woolaroc. Over the next 15 years, he led by trying to follow the simple guidelines laid out by Mr. Phillips for Woolaroc: 1. Preserve the history of the West 2. Educate 3. Entertain

Today, I still watch those lights change in the dome room ... and I hope Mr. Phillips has been proud of what we have accomplished and the care we have taken in preserving not only his ranch, but more importantly, his legacy.