BOARD
MEMBER JAMES J. NANCE Ohio-born and educated.
Sohioans Create Bigger, Better, Stronger Company in 1953
No matter where you look, 1953 was an historical year!
In Russia Stalin died.
In Korea the shooting war was brought to an uneasy truce.
In the U. S. more people were employed, more buildings were built than ever before. It was the most prosperous year on record.
In Great Britain a queen was crowned.
In India Mt. Everest was scaled.
And at Sohio it was also a year of achievement, of record, of change. Day by day, event by event, Sohioans and their company met new needs, grew bigger and stronger, and better prepared for the future.
Sohioans in action in 1953:
Began construction of a new $7-1/2 million catalytic platformer at the Lima Refinery.
Broke ground for a new $25.2 million sales terminal in Cleveland.
Drilled a promising discovery well in Fremont County, Wyo., and brought in their first oil well in Canada after three years of exploration in that country.
Built a new gas plant at Elmore City, Okla.
Placed a new alkylation plant on stream at the Toledo Refinery, and so increased Sohio's ability to meet civil and defense needs for aviation gasoline.
Coincident with the nation's celebration of 50 years of powered flight in 1953, Sohio was supplying aviation products to nine out of ten airlines serving the state. Appropriately the Sohioan recalled in a special magazine article the story of how the Wright brothers came to use Standard Oil products during their historic first flight.
The landmarks were many in 1953. It was the 25th year of existence for the Employees' Mutual Benefit Association, which paid out $2 million in benefits and administered 16,000 cases of employee welfare during its first quarter century of service.
The company-wide magazine, the Sohioan, also completed a quarter century of serving as a common meeting ground for all employees, no matter where they live, or what department they work in.
During the year five college scholarships were again made available for Sohio sons and daughters under Sohio's scholarship plan.
Sohio's ninth general pay increase since World War II was authorized by the board of directors. The 4 per cent pay hike increased base pay to an amazing 83 per cent over October 1945 levels.
Financially speaking, it was also a good year for the 7500 members of the Sohio Employees' Investment Plan who enjoyed three company contributions, equal to a one-third return on their contributions, during the first nine months of the year. Figures for the final quarter were not available at press-time. (Turn to Page 3, Col. 1)
Two More Armadillos (Page
4, Col. 2) The Sohio
News Meet "One-Shot Charlie"
(Page 3, Col. 2)
Vol. 8 JANUARY
1954 No. 1
Service Stations Introduce New Atlas Battery
A new Atlas battery, incorporating many features previously found only in premium-priced units, replaced the former "A" line at Sohio service stations beginning Jan. 1.
The Retail Sales TEA Unit, Home Office, presented detailed information concerning the new battery to retail sales managers of all divisions at a special meeting in Hotel Cleveland on Dec. 15. Additional meetings, to be held in each division during January, will acquaint other members of the field force with the battery's advantages. —
Known as the Atlas Perma-Ful, the battery is priced approximately $1 higher at the retail level than the line it replaces. It will be distinguished from the earlier line by the designation "AR" instead of "A." Its improved features permit addition of three months to the period for which the battery is guaranteed, raising the guarantee term to 24 months.
The Perma-Ful battery derives its name from its additional capacity for electrolyte solution above the plates, in. comparison with the former * type. As a result of this added capacity, the battery requires filling only three times a year in normal car use.
Other improvements in the battery's
construction and ingredients—all products of continuing Atlas research to provide
the best possible performance at a price within the average motorist's reach—include
a new, milder electrolyte; new microplastic separators; new ar-(Turn to Page
3, Col. 5)
Rumsey Is API Vice Chairman
L. T. Rumsey, manager of Aviation Sales, Home Office, is the new vice chairman of the aviation technical service committee of the American Petroleum Institute's Division of Marketing.
The committee, composed of aviation sales managers of various oil companies, assembles information on engineering and safety problems pertaining to delivery, storage, and distribution of aviation fuels and lubricants for military and commercial consumers.
Income Tax Down, Social Security Up As Year Starts
Beginning with the first pay received for work performed in 1954, nearly every Sohioan found his amount of "take-home pay" had increased or decreased in conformity with changes in federal income tax and Social Security tax regulations.
Effective Jan. 1, 1954, income tax decreased while Social Security tax increased on payrolls throughout the United States.
On that date, individual income tax rates declined approximately 10 per cent. This resulted from expiration of provisions of the Revenue Act of 1951, and brought the withholding tax rate down to the level existing prior to enactment of the law.
The 10 per cent decrease in withholding tax represents a decline from the tax rate of 20 per cent on earnings after exemptions, which has been in effect since 1951, to a rate of 18 per cent which will remain in effect throughout 1954 unless Congress authorizes further changes.
For example, for every $10 withheld
from an employee's wages for income tax in 1953. $9 will be withheld in 1954.
(Turn to Page 9, Col. 4)
No. 1 Fire Hits Cracking Coil
CLEVELAND - A spectacular fire hit the No. 1 Refinery's No. 4 cracking coil the morning of Jan. 11, putting the unit out of commission and causing an estimated $20,000 damage.
About 120 city firemen aided the refinery's specially trained workers in bringing the blaze under control in near-zero temperatures.
The fire broke out at a leak near the bottom of a cracking coil tower. It ruined insulation on piping and towers, cracked and split oil and steam lines and left them sagging, and destroyed electrical circuits on the unit.
Repairs will require at least two weeks' time. However, the refinery is circumventing the effects of shutting down the unit by restoring to service the No. 3 cracking coil, which had not been in operation for some time prior to the fire.
Elect Rec Club Officers
HOUSTON-Rec club mem bers at this production office recently elected Robert Ange-vine, president; H. K. Davis, vice president; Al Pfeuffer, treasurer; and Margie Moss, secretary.
Sohio Directors Elect J. J. Nance to Board
BOARD
MEMBER JAMES J. NANCE Ohio-born and educated.
New Director Is President Of Packard Motor Car
Co.
Election of James J. Nance as a member of Sohio's board of directors was announced this month by Chairman A. A. Stambaugh.
Mr. Nance, who is president and general manager of the Packard Motor Car Company, is the only board member who is not also serving as an operating executive or general counsel. His appointment fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Earl D. Wallace earlier this year.
Fifty-two years old, Mr. Nance is Ohio-born and educated. He received his A.B. degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and did graduate work at Ohio State University. He is now vice president of the board of trustees of Ohio Wesleyan and was recently honored at an Ohio Sesquicentennial "Native Sons Luncheon," at which Governor Frank J. Lausche presided.
Has Two Children
James and Laura Battelle Nance have a son, James B., 25; and a daughter, Marcia, 21. The family residence is on Lone Pine Rd., Bloomfield Hills, Midi.
Mr. Nance is also a member of the board of directors of the City National Bank of Chicago, and the Chicago 8c Great Western Railroad. Awarded an LL.D. degree by Lawrence College. Appleton, Wis., Mr. Nance is a member of the board of trustees, Northwestern University, and of the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation. He is a director, American Red Cross, Detroit Chapter.
Nationally famous as a dynamic business leader, James J. Nance began his career as a management trainee of National Cash Register Co. 30 years ago.
Winning special acclaim for his salesmanship, he rose through many marketing assignments and ultimately won top management posts with a number of companies.
(Turn to Page
3, Col. 3)
February 1 is
the last day sons and daughters of Sohioans may apply lor one of the company's
five new, four-year scholarships — providing full tuition and certain fees at
any one of 22 Ohio colleges.
Scholarship candidates are urged to
forward their applications immediately. Application cards are available at unit
offices.
Heads Grayville Chamber
GRAYVILLE, Ill.-J. R. Samples has been elected president of the local Chamber of Commerce for the coming year.
Mr. Samples, superintendent of Sohio Pipe Line, Tri-State, previously served on the board of directors — filling out C. E. Curry's unexpired term when Mr. Curry was transferred to the St. Louis Offices.
Investment Plan Members Receive Folders for Papers
Preservation and protection of each individual's Sohio Employees' Investment Plan papers were advanced this month with the announcement of a new SEIP folder.
Especially designed as a container for SEIP documents, the new folder will be distributed to each of the plan's 7500 members without charge. Manufactured from a highly serviceable stock, the folder contains several pockets sized according to needs.
One, for example, provides space for the individual annual statement and the annual report of the plan furnished to each member. Another pocket is planned to fit the important prospectus which is also issued annually.
Members who have been in the plan since it was begun in July of 1952 have enjoyed company contributions equal to more than one-third of their allotments. Membership in the plan is limited to Sohioans with two or more years of service.