Founder Profile
L.E. Phillips
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is L.E. Phillips?
L.E. Phillips is a founder of Phillips 66, which was founded in 1917 with Frank Phillips.
- Company founded
- Phillips 66
- Founded
- 1917
- Co-founders
- Frank Phillips
Background
Worked as a teacher and insurance salesman in Iowa before moving to Oklahoma to join his brother in the oil business.
Founding Story
L.E. Phillips (1876-1944) co-founded Phillips Petroleum Company with his brother Frank in 1917. Serving as the company's long-time Vice President and General Manager, he was the primary architect of its conservative financial strategy, ensuring the company maintained massive cash reserves. This financial discipline allowed Phillips to survive the brutal oil market collapse during the Great Depression while aggressively acquiring distressed competitors. L.E. Phillips was born in 1876.
Sources
This profile does not yet cite a source specific to L.E. Phillips. The sources below document the company company rather than the person, so check them against the claims above.
- Phillips 66 FY2025 Form 10-K (Phillips 66)
- Phillips 66 Corporate Governance (Phillips 66)