Kenneth S. "Boots" Adams

Boots Adams
K. S. "Boots" Adams
Born	Kenneth Stanley Adams August 31, 1899 Horton, Kansas
Died	March 30, 1975(1975-03-30) (aged 75) Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Resting place	Memorial Park Cemetery 36°43′47″N 95°55′39″W / 36.72970°N 95.92750°W / 36.72970; -95.92750
Other names	K.S. Adams K.S. "Boots" Adams Kenneth "Boots" Adams
Alma mater	University of Kansas
Occupation	Business executive
Employer	Phillips Petroleum Company
Home town	Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Title	President of Phillips Petroleum
Term	1939–1964
Predecessor	Frank Phillips
Successor	Stanley Learned
Board member of	Chairman of the Board of Phillips Petroleum
Children	Bud Adams

External images

Portrait of Boots Adams as Phillips' chairman Painted c.1964 by Dwight D. Eisenhower (click on image 2)

What a Birthday Cake!

Photograph showing Boots Adams with Frank Phillips and Phillips' wife

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. Adams began his career with the Phillips Petroleum Company in 1920 as a clerk in the warehouse department. Twelve years later, he was chosen by founder and president Frank Phillips to fill the newly created position of Assistant to the President. On April 26, 1938, Adams was elected president of Phillips Petroleum Company by the unanimous vote of the company's Board of Directors.

Upon succeeding Frank Phillips as president, Adams, then 38 years old, became one of the nation's youngest leaders of a major corporation. He remained in continuous service as the company's chief executive until his retirement in 1964. Although he retired from company operations, Adams continued serving as its board chairman until 1968; finishing his affiliation as a board member from 1968 to 1970. During his tenure, Adams grew the business into a major corporation by investing in natural gas and synthetic rubber operations.

Kenneth Stanley Adams was born August 31, 1899 in Horton, Kansas; the son of John V. and Lavella Adams (née Stanley). His father was an engineer for the Rock Island Railroad. In 1902 the family provided room and board to many families affected by a flood, including some of John's co-workers. One of the male guests noticed that Kenneth had a pair of boots he wore even to bed. The man began calling him "Boots". From then on, Kenneth Adams adopted "Boots" as his nickname.

Adams graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1917, the same year brothers Lee Eldas "L.E." and Frank Phillips founded the Phillips Petroleum Company. After graduating, Adams moved to Dewey, Oklahoma and started his first job. He delivered ice in the neighboring town of Bartlesville. 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. He enrolled at the University of Kansas in the fall of 1917, and played on the university's football, baseball, and basketball teams. Although he would have graduated the following year, Adams dropped out of the university in 1920. He decided to place academics on hold and accept a position in the Phillips Petroleum Company.