C. J. "Pete" Silas, former Chairman and CEO of Phillips Petroleum Company, passed away on Tuesday just before 5:00 PM. As his wife, Theo, aptly put, right at the end of a regular workday at Phillips.
Silas was born on April 15, 1932 in Miami, Florida, where he attended Miami High School, 1945-1949. There he was awarded the Junior Chamber of Commerce trophy as the school's outstanding athlete and scholar and was recruited for a full basketball scholarship to Georgia Tech. He received a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from Georgia Tech and joined Phillips as a trainee petroleum engineer in Bartlesville in 1953. During his first year at Phillips, the six foot, six inch Silas briefly joined the Phillips 66ers basketball team. In 1954, he served for two years in the U.S. Chemical Corps, attained the rank of first lieutenant and played on the army basketball team that went on to win the Pan-American games in Mexico City in 1955. Over the years working in gas and gas liquids, exploration and production, and chemical sales activities, he lived in Paris, Zurich, and New York City where he met and married his wife of 49 years, Theodosea Hejda, and then on to Brussels and London. Silas went to London from 1968 to 1976 to head Phillips' Europe-Africa division and directed much of the development of the Ekofisk operations in the Norwegian North Sea – one of the world's largest offshore oil and gas complexes. In the process, Silas gained the respect of industry and political leaders in Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium and France, and received the Norwegian government's royal Norwegian St. Olav's Order in the rank of Commander, recognizing his contributions to Norway's energy industry.
In 1976, Silas returned to corporate headquarters in Bartlesville as vice president, gas and gas liquids. Two years later he was elevated to senior vice president of natural resources. By 1980, he was an executive vice president. In 1982, at the age of 49, he became president and chief operating officer, and the youngest man to hold this job since Boots Adams. In May of 1985, Silas was elected chairman and chief executive officer and during this time he successfully guided the company through two hostile takeover attempts. He retired in 1994 at the age of 62 with a 41 year career at Phillips.
Throughout his career and retirement, Silas was an active and generous participant of many boards and philanthropies – to name a few, chairman of the board of the American Petroleum Institute, Chairman of the board of the National Boys and Girls Clubs of America, member of the board of directors of Halliburton Co., a member of the board of directors of COMSAT, a member of the board of directors of the Reader's Digest Association, Inc., chairman of the board of National Junior Achievement, Chairman of U.S. chamber of Commerce, a trustee of Frank Phillips Foundation, Inc., a member of the board of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, a member of the board of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, member of the board of the Oklahoma Nature Conservancy which established the Tall Grass Prairie, and many more. Silas was a recipient of Georgia Tech's 1988 Former Scholar–Athlete Total Person Award.
Also, Silas and his wife, Theo, were both instrumental in establishment of the OK Mozart Festival and The Price Tower Arts Center, where Silas was Chairman, building it to what it is today – a museum, hotel and a source of cultural pride and philanthropy to the city of Bartlesville. In 2013, the Bartlesville Community Center honored the Silas family through its Legacy Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife, Theo Silas; children, Karla and Sean Slade and grandchildren, Amelia, Natalie, and Henry; Drs. Peter and Stephanie Silas and grandchildren, Thomas and Michael; Michael and Sandra Silas; and Drs. James and Megan Silas, and grandchildren, Cate and Robby. He is also survived by his nieces and nephew, Anne, Linda, Barbara and David Silas.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Price Tower Arts Center, 510 S. Dewey Ave., Bartlesville, OK 74003.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, December 20th, at 11:00 AM in the First Presbyterian Church, Bartlesville
Arrangements are under the direction of the Arnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral Home, Bartlesville. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Examiner-Enterprise from Dec. 18, 2014 to Jan. 17, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for C.J. Silas

12 Entries

Pat ( Moore) Freels Saul

January 17, 2015

I was shocked to learn of Pete's death the other day from another of our Miami High School '49 classmates. We were very good friends in High School. He was also a member of the same high school fraternity of my first husband, Jim Freels. When Jim died in 2000 after a long bout of pre-senile dementia, I was a widow for four years after which I married another classmate of ours, Dr. C. Dudley Saul, a retired Navy Captain. Dudley joins me in sending prayers and condolences to the Silas family.

Sincerely,

Pat (Moore) Freels-Saul

Lenny Booth

January 16, 2015

Sorry to hear of one of Miami Hi's top graduates. He was truly an icon. Lenny Booth '52

Markus

January 14, 2015

I'm so sorry for the loss, my condolences to the silas family. May you all keep everything in prayer and find relief in the God of comfort and peace.

Jeanne Lee

December 31, 2014

While watching the Mississippi State vs Georgia Tech football game, I was reminded of my first cousin Pete. I went to my iPad and googled him as I would do on occasion to see his many accomplishments. I was saddened to see that he had passed away on December 16. My sisters and I were related to Pete through our father Jack who was a younger brother to his mother, our beloved Aunt Trixie. Aunt Trixie resided in Florida where we lived and we frequently visited her when passing through Florida's panhandle. Although Pete was grown and gone and already traveling the world, we always heard about his life through his proud mother. Unfortunately, we lost touch with Pete, but he was always kind to remember our mother with a note and a Christmas card until her death in 2003.

As members of the "Carver" side of his family, we have always followed his life and were so proud of his many accomplishments. by reading the notes of personal expression, I can see he was not only a successful businessman and philanthropist, but a wonderful father and uncle as well. We are saddened by his passing, and for your loss.

Jeanne Carver Lee, Phyllis Carver Galsky and Sandra Carver Craft

Jerry

December 31, 2014

I am very sorry for your loss. May the God of all comfort be with you during this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort. My heartfelt condolences to the family during this time of sorrow. (1Corinthains 15:26) (Isaiah 61:1,2) Please find peace in knowing that He understands your grief and He cares. 1 Peter 5:6,

Anne Silas

December 20, 2014

The long entry with the storybook is from me, Pete's oldest niece, who typically forgot to sign it.

December 20, 2014

Uncle Pete was an important man in the world, but to me as a child he was the fascinating uncle who visited when he wasn't traveling the world for Phillips, bringing odd souvenirs like picture postcards from Switzerland that could be played on a phonograph. When I was four or five years old, my favorite storybook was "Tuffy the Tugboat", about a bathtub toy that wants to go to sea. I used to cry at the climax of the story. The grownups weren't sure whether it was the narrative line or the illustration of a huge hand reaching down to pluck Tuffy from a stormy sea that triggered this. Being scientists, they did an experiment: Uncle Pete read me the book but continued the story without turning the page at that point. I burst into tears on cue. Success! It was the story, not the picture (turned out I was upset at the ruin of Tuffy's dream).

Mother always said that Uncle Pete should get married because he would make a great father. He said he was holding out for someone special, and he found her -- as it should be, because he was someone special. Love and condolences to Aunt Theo and to Karla, Peter, Michael, and James.

He was a rock when our father died young, and he has always been there for me in particular. Knowing that he was always busy and had a growing family of his own, I hesitated to intrude and didn't keep in touch as much as I wanted to -- we always think there will be enough time until there isn't. So thank you, Uncle Pete. I love you. Ave atque vale.

Alan Eastman

December 19, 2014

At one point, I was James' soccer coach. It was very impressive to me that a high executive like Pete would drive up to the soccer field in his executive limo, hop out, take off his coat and tie, and come help the boys. Bartlesville has lost not only a business leader, but a true gentleman in all the best senses of that term.

Pete, Theo and Barbara, Hong Kong 1998

Barbara Silas

December 19, 2014

I won't ever be teased with "Weabe me awone" again, which makes me very sad. When I was very small, Uncle Pete scared me because he was so enormous, and I ran away shouting that. He reminded me of that all the time. He was an important anchor in my life and helped me many times, for which I will always be grateful. One of my fondest memories is when he and Aunt Theo came to meet me in Hong Kong while I was living in mainland China. Being abroad and living on my own for the first time was an intense experience, and having someone from home come see me was a wonderful thing. Much love to Aunt Theo, cousins Karla, Peter, Michael, and James and all your families and my deepest sympathies and condolences.

Linda Silas

December 19, 2014

One memory:
1976 or so. Uncle Pete brought some British oil execs, I think from BP, to the US. He wanted them to see an American Football game and brought them to OSU, arranging a visit with me there where I was studying Mechanical Engineering.

At the appointed intersection, the white stretch limo pulled up, full of men in suits, and picked me up in my jeans and T-shirt, stashing my guitar in its paisley canvas case in the roof luggage compartment. They seemed excited to talk to a typical American college kid.

We went to the Student Center and up to the 4th floor cafe for lunch - not exactly your high-end dining. I remember the Brits exclaiming about the concept of ICED tea.

At some point Uncle Pete and I grabbed a chance for a private conversation on the balcony. For my future, he advised me to first choose where I wanted to live, then find a job there rather than the other way round. And to follow my passion - the money, he said, would follow.

Today I am doing things I love and, though not wealthy, able to support myself and travel around the world some. He was, for me, a font of loving wisdom and advice.

Linda Silas

December 19, 2014

I have many loving and funny memories of Uncle Pete. He was always there for me, and it is difficult to comprehend his absence. Much love to Aunt Theo and my cousins.

Skip Thompson

December 18, 2014

Karla your dad was clearly a pretty amazing man- what an inspiring story of his life. So many wonderful memories and stories you and your family must have of your father.

So terribly sad for your loss. All of my deepest thoughts and prayers for both you and all of your family.

All my love,
Skip

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