ASHLAND'S ROBERT E. YANCEY SR. DEAD AT 69

Robert E. Yancey Sr., former president and a director emeritus of Ashland Oil Inc., died Jan. 27 in Russell, Ky. He was 69 years old. Yancey had a 38 year career with Ashland and served on the company's board of directors for 17 years before retiring in 1981. He began his career with Ashland in 1943 after graduating from Marshall University, where he majored in engineering.

Feb. 4, 1991

2 min read

Robert E. Yancey Sr., former president and a director emeritus of Ashland Oil Inc., died Jan. 27 in Russell, Ky.

He was 69 years old.

Yancey had a 38 year career with Ashland and served on the company's board of directors for 17 years before retiring in 1981.

He began his career with Ashland in 1943 after graduating from Marshall University, where he majored in engineering.

After a series of process and project engineering assignments at the company's Catlettsburg, Ky., refinery, he was named plant superintendent in 1952. The following year he became coordinator of sales and refining, then was promoted to general superintendent of refineries in 1954.

At 35, Yancey was elected vice-president for refining in 1956 and 3 years later became administrative vice-president. He was elected a company director in 1964 and senior vice-president the following year.

Yancey became the first president of Ashland Chemical Inc. upon the formation of that subsidiary in Columbus, Ohio, in 1967. He then was made chief operating officer for the corporation and the first president of Ashland Petroleum Co. when that division was formed in 1969. He was elected president of the corporation in 1972 and served 9 years until retiring.

In industry affairs, Yancey served as a director of the American Petroleum Institute and was later honored as director emeritus. He served the National Petroleum Refining Association as chairman, a member of its board of directors and executive committee, and a member of the National Petroleum Council.