Legacy That Endures:
Phillips 66 and 50 Years of Support
For half a century, one name has appeared again and again in support of engineering education in Oklahoma: Phillips 66.
That story begins in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where Phillips Petroleum Company was founded in 1917. From its earliest days, the company was rooted not only in energy production, but in engineering innovation. Bartlesville quickly became one of the nation’s early centers of petroleum engineering, and Phillips played a central role in shaping that identity.
As the company grew, so did its impact. Phillips Petroleum became a major force in the American energy industry, expanding into refining, chemicals, and research. Its legacy includes not only industrial growth, but a long-standing commitment to the communities where it operated. In Oklahoma, that meant sustained investment in education, workforce development, and the institutions that support the engineering profession.
Longtime Commitment to Engineering Education
When the Oklahoma Engineering Foundation helped establish the Engineering Center in 1979, support from companies like Phillips was essential. The contribution made at that moment reflected a broader belief: Engineering education and collaboration were critical to the state’s future.
Over time, the company evolved. Phillips Petroleum merged with Conoco in 2002, forming ConocoPhillips. A decade later, in 2012, the downstream business was spun off as Phillips 66, creating the company that continues today. Through each transition, the commitment to community investment remained.
The company’s support of OEF’s programs has literally extended across decades. They are, in fact, OEF’s longest-standing and most loyal supporter. Like many enduring partnerships, it has not been defined by a single moment, but by consistency.
Despite the boom-and-bust nature of the oil and gas industry, the company’s support of engineering education has never wavered. We strive every day to be excellent stewards of their gifts and we remain grateful for every dollar they have granted.
50 Years and Counting
Fifty years after the Engineering Center was established, the names on the plaque still tell a story of shared purpose. Among them, Phillips stands out, not just for its longevity, but for what it represents. A company that began in Bartlesville. A legacy that has evolved with the industry. And a partnership that continues to invest in the future of engineering in Oklahoma.
On behalf of the thousands of middle school Bridge, Tower and Electric Motor Builders, rubberband powered car and Wacky Wonder Works creators and ping pong launchers we say thank you, Phillips, for being a friend to OEF for 50 wonderful years.
PHOTO CITATION: Phillips Petroleum Co. Building, postcard, Date Unknown; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1591790/m1/1/?q=Phillips%20petroleum%20postcard: accessed April 11, 2026), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.
“Opportunity follows those who are willing to take a chance.”
Frank Phillips, Co-Founder of Phillips Petroleum Company, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 1917
$50,000 for 50 Years
The Oklahoma Engineering Foundation was founded in 1976 by the Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers as a nonprofit to advance the engineering profession and strengthen Oklahoma’s future through engineering education, outreach, and workforce development. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees.
For 50 years, OEF has worked to expand access to engineering education and inspire the next generation of problem-solvers across Oklahoma. Today, that work matters more than ever.
