Release Date: January 18, 2003

HOUSTON, Texas--James L. Pate '63, a member of the Monmouth College board of trustees since 1990 and former Pennzoil-Quaker State Company chairman, died of cancer on Jan. 18, 2003. He was 67.

Born Sept. 6, 1935, in southern Illinois, Pate grew up on a farm near Monmouth. He served as an enlisted man in the U.S. Army (Airborne) from 1953 to 1961. In 1960, he received a direct commission. His last assignment was with the 101st Airborne Division. He was a master parachutist.

In addition to his B.A. from Monmouth College, Pate earned an MBA and a Ph.D. degree in business-economics from Indiana University. He taught economics at Monmouth College from 1965-68. He received an honorary degree from his alma mater in 1986 and was named to its Hall of Achievement in 1992. He had been a member of the executive committee of the college's board of trustees since 1999.

Pate's professional career also included positions as senior economist at the Federal Reserve, U.S. Government official, adviser to the President of the United States, and corporate executive. In 1974, President Ford appointed him as U.S. assistant secretary of commerce. As assistant secretary of commerce, Pate was the chief economist of the U.S. Department of Commerce, responsible for most of the nation's economic statistics and the U.S. Bureau of the Census. In 1976 Pate was appointed special adviser to the White House. Later in 1976, Pate joined Pennzoil Company, and in 1990 was named chief executive officer. He was elected chairman of the board in 1994.

In 1998, Pate became chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Pennzoil-Quaker State Company. He also served contemporaneously as chairman of the board of Devon Energy Company, Oklahoma City, Okla., from August 1999 to September 2000. Pate served on the boards of a number of corporations, academic institutions, and charitable organizations including Pennzoil Company, Pennzoil-Quaker State Company, Devon Energy Company (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Bowater Incorporated (Greenville, S.C.), and Crown Cork & Seal Inc. (Philadelphia, Pa.). He served on the Rice University board of governors, the Rice University Jones School Council of Overseers and the board of trustees at Monmouth College. He served as chairman of Houston's American Heart Walk, and honorary chairman of the Bill Liedtke Golf Tournament benefiting M.D. Anderson Hospital and the American Cancer Society. He was a member of the All-American Wildcatters.

During his lifetime, Pate received many awards and honors. He was a member of the Royal Economic Society and the first recipient of the Theodore H. Silbert Award for Economic Forecasting from Columbia University. He authored or co-authored three books and numerous professional articles.

Pate is survived by his wife of 47 years, Charlene (Sheets) Pate, their three children, David C. Pate, M.D., Gary L. Pate, and Jennifer E. Pate, M.D., all of Houston, Texas; and four grandchildren. His sisters, Mildred Wilson, Virginia Smith, Doris Dye, Patty Sloss, Terri Swan, and brother, Ronald Pate, also survive. His niece, Tara Sloss Hanson, is a 2000 MC graduate.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003, at 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Houston. Private family entombment will follow at Forest Park Westheimer. Honorary pallbearers will be Amb. Howard H. Baker, Amb. W. L. Lyons Brown, Gen. Robert Foglesong, Gen. Brent Scowcroft, Arnold Palmer, John Andretti, Michael Waltrip, James J. Postl, J. Larry Nichols, Alfonso Fanjul, Ernest H. Cockrell, Berdon Lawrence, Robert B. Weaver, Gerald Smith, H. John Greeniaus, Forrest R. Haselton, Lorne R. Waxlax, Wayne Harris, Jim Hermes, Barney Pinschenat and Robert Johnson.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be directed to the Children's Museum of Houston, 1500 Binz (77030); or the St. Luke's Texas Cancer Institute, St. Luke's Hospital, Houston.

Released by the Office of College Communications
Barry McNamara, Associate Director of College Communications
Phone: 309-457-2117
Fax: 309-457-2330

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