Kenneth Stanley "Boots" Adams (August 31, 1899 – March 30, 1975) was an American business executive, University of Kansas booster, and civic philanthropist of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
Upon succeeding Frank Phillips as president, Adams, then 38 years old, became one of the nation's youngest leaders of a major corporation.
During his tenure, Adams grew the business into a major corporation by investing in natural gas and synthetic rubber operations.
Adams said he was happy that the work involved heavy lifting because it helped him maintain his physical conditioning which he would need as a college athlete.
Lastly, he recruited local favorites, Ray Ebling and Dave Perkins to complete the 1937 team.
[15][16] At the 1938 stockholders and board of directors annual meeting, company President Frank Phillips announced his plans to retire.
Adams, "the fast-talking young man from Kansas with the big ideas, [to] be elected as the new president of Phillips Petroleum Company".
After Adams became president of Phillips Petroleum, the company increased its acquisition of natural gas mining rights.
In 1938, natural gas was burnt off at the wellhead as a waste product of oil exploration and the mining rights were cheap.
By 1955, the Phillips company had a "commanding share" of natural gas reserves, 13.3 trillion cubic feet worth approximately US$931,000,000 (equivalent to $10,589,113,043 in 2023).
He advocated that research and technical expertise was needed for companies to compete in the emerging technological society.
Adams was concerned because two processes showed an equal potential to emerge as the preferred manner of production.
[20] At the beginning of the US involvement in World War II, the supply of natural rubber from Southeast Asia was abruptly cut off.
Either sufficient quantities would be produced, giving the Allies a fighting chance or demand would not be satisfied, guaranteeing an inability to prevail.
Boots Adams joined the consortium, dedicating the resources of Phillips Petroleum Company to the effort dubbed GR-S (Government Rubber-Styrene).
The first tangible product derived from the patents was a durable HDPE polyolefin plastic marketed as Marlex.
Marlex was the material Wham-O contracted for use to produce its Hula Hoop,[25] a 1950s toy that sold over 25 million units in its first four months on the market.
[26] The chemical subsidiary maintained its viability and continues returning profits to its parent company from Bartlesville.
He contracted the architectural firm of Neville and Sharp of Kansas City, Missouri to build a 12-story, 457,000 square feet multipurpose headquarters.
The following year the city of Bartlesville organized a parade and civic holiday to honor Boots Adams on his 66th birthday – and give thanks with a public celebration.
A huge birthday cake was mocked up to resemble an oil storage tank, and the Phillips 66 logo "stood tall" in its own pair of boots.
[31] W. Clarke Wescoe, the University of Kansas' (KU) 10th chancellor attended as well; thanking Adams for his alumnus support, and philanthropic goodwill.
In appreciation, Wescoe announced the university's decision to name its planned on-campus residential complex, the Adams Center.
[34][35] Stanley Learned, Boots Adams' successor as president of Phillips, as well as a KU alumnus himself, showed his support of the university's decision by donating US$100,000 (equivalent to $966,843 in 2023) for use "at the chancellors discretion".