Wayne Allen is the former chairman and CEO of Phillips Petroleum Co. As a highly skilled professional, he began planning and preparing his dream of becoming an engineer while in high school in Stillwater. He received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1959 and his master’s degree in industrial engineering and management in 1969, both from OSU.

After two years serving in the Army artillery at Fort Dix, N.J., he accepted an engineering position with Phillips in 1961. He worked in Oklahoma and Texas before promotions and a personal focus on international business took him abroad. During his career, he served as director of drilling and production for the Europe-Africa division, operations manager of the Ivory Coast region, regional manager for the United Kingdom, general manager of the Western division, vice president of international exploration and production, and executive vice president of worldwide exploration and production. Wayne was elected to the Phillips board of directors in 1989 and named president and chief operating officer in 1992. He was promoted to chairman of the board and chief executive officer in 1994. He retired in 1999 after a 38-year career with the company.