| (1918
- 2007) |
| Inducted: |
1984 |
| Region: |
MidWest |
| Industry: |
Manufacturing
|
|
John Swearingen built Standard Oil of Indiana into an aggressive and profitable major oil company. Before he took charge in 1960, the company was inefficient. Its production of crude oil amounted to less than half its refining capacity. Swearingen reorganized the company, modernized the equipment, and launched a massive effort to boost production. He also became a major player overseas. He confounded the rest of the industry by finding oil in Egypt. By 1982 his company ranked first in return on sales and second in return on equity among the seven largest U.S. oil companies. |
