[2] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Princeton University in 1943; completing his senior thesis titled "Labor Problems in the Petroleum Industry: With Special Reference to the Pure Oil Company".

[3][4][5] He served in the United States Army during World War II as a Field Artillery officer with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy.

Wishing to avoid the appearance of nepotism, Warner followed his father's advice and joined the financial staff of Continental Oil Company in Houston, Texas.

Warner helped start Mobil's sponsorship of PBS's Masterpiece Theatre, a relationship that spanned from the 1970s to 2004.

[2][8] He is also noted for working with his Vice President of Public Affairs Herbert Schmertz to publish weekly paid Op-Eds under Mobil's name in national newspapers in the 1970s and 1980s, including the New York Times.

[3] Warner died in Hobe Sound, Florida, on June 26, 2013, from complications of inclusion body myositis.