William G. Lowrie

Bill was born in Painesville, Ohio on November 17, 1943 to the late Kenneth and Florence (Strickler) Lowrie. As a boy, Bill played baseball (Little League through high school), started golfing at age 8, loved the Cleveland Indians, and excelled in school.

A graduate of Riverside High School, Bill entered Ohio State University in 1961 with the aim to pursue a career in the chemical industry. A discussion with his beloved Uncle Buck led him in the more specific direction of chemical engineering. During college summer vacations, Bill worked as a deckhand for Cleveland Cliff Iron, as a laborer for Lubrizol, and most notably, as a roustabout and engineering trainee for Pan American Petroleum (a subsidiary of Standard Oil of Indiana). While a student at Ohio State, the College of Engineering featured a five-year degree program, not an uncommon practice among universities at that time. Largely as a result of the extra year’s study, Bill had the opportunity to take a number of courses in petroleum engineering, which in retrospect would have a “profound impact” on his life. The lessons learned from his highly respected professors, faculty, and mentors left Bill valuing “the significant role that leadersplay in developing and inspiring people.” This principle would resonate within Bill his entire life.

Immediately after graduation in June 1966, Bill joined Standard Oil (renamed Amoco Corporation in 1985) as an engineer. For the next five years, he served in various petroleum production and reservoir engineering positions in Lake Charles and New Orleans, La. It was during his time in New Orleans that Bill met and subsequently married his wife and partner in life, Ernestine (Ernie) on February 1, 1969. In 1971, Bill was transferred and joined the petroleum engineering staff in Tulsa, Okla, where he and Ernie welcomed their older daughter, Kristen, He then proceeded through a series of promotions as Area Engineer and Area Superintendent in Lake Charles. Their younger daughter, Kimberly, was born in Lake Charles, LA and shortly thereafter Bill was transferred to become the Assistant Division Engineering Manager, and Division Production Manager in Denver. In 1979, Bill was transferred to Chicago and began his ascent through levels of corporate management to become President of Amoco Corporation until 1998 when the company merged with British Petroleum. He then served as Deputy CEO of BP Amoco in London until his retirement in 1999.

Bill’s contributions to the oil industry were broad. He distinguished himself as an innovator and strategic leader where his influence was global. His worldwide responsibilities for Amoco led Bill to meetings with world leaders and fellow industry titans. Throughout his success in his career, Bill remained humble, and despite his career obligations, Bill gave freely of his time, expertise, advice, help, & accumulated knowledge. He served on dozens of boards over the years including, but not limited to: Junior Achievement of Calgary, Canada, The United Way of Chicago, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Board of Directors of Bank One (Chicago), Central DuPage Hospital Board Chairman, Northwestern Memorial Hospital Board (Chicago), Chicago United Board, Junior Achievement Worldwide Board, 4-H Board Chairman, American Petroleum Institute Board, OSU Foundation Board Chairman, OSU Dean’s Advisory Committee, Williams Company Board of Directors (Tulsa), WPX Board Chairman (Tulsa), Nature Conservancy of South Carolina Chairman, Brays Island Board, OSU Koffolt Campaign, OSU “But For Ohio State” Campaign, and SCR Technologies Chairman.

The tenets of thoughtful leadership, philanthropy, of giving back and paying it forward were a vital part of Bill’s DNA. His devotion and support of the College of Engineering at OSU was evidenced a myriad of times throughout Bill’s lifetime. Substantial gifting, participation on numerous university committees, boards, programs, and fundraising efforts earned Bill most every award achievable at OSU, including: The Texnikoi Outstanding Alumnus Award (1979), a College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award (1985), The Benjamin G. Lamme Meritorious Achievement Medal (1992), The Everett D. Reese Medal (2005), The Alumni Medalist Award (2008), and The Gerlach Award (2017).

On February 6, 2009, the culmination of many years of planning and a generous gift to OSU by Bill & Ernie was realized. The William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, within the new Koffolt Laboratories building, opened. Bill’s humility shone with his insistence that the new state-of-the-art building remain named for Joe Koffolt, who taught Bill the true meaning of loyalty during his undergraduate years in the College of Engineering.

After Bill’s retirement in 1999, he and Ernie moved from the hustle and bustle of the Chicago area and moved to Brays Island in South Carolina. There he enjoyed many of his favorite activities including golfing, sport/game shooting, and everything nature. Bill took enormous pride in his beautiful camellia trees that he planted, cultivated, propagated, and shared with the community. He became involved with The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina where he served as Chairman and modeled inclusive leadership and generosity of spirit. Despite being “retired,” Bill was always sought after to serve, work, and share his experience, strength, and hope for the future. Having trouble staying away from work and the industry he gave so much to, he returned to the world of oil, gas, and energy to serve on the boards of Williams Companies and its spin-off WPX Industries in Tulsa, Okla. Bill was very proud of the growth and direction for the future of these companies he was able to contribute to during his years of service.

Family was always the reason Bill worked so hard to make the world a better place than he found it. He is survived by his devoted wife of 53 years, Ernestine Lowrie, his daughters Kristen Kernohan of Columbus, OH; Kimberly Jenkins of Naperville, IL; his sons-in-law Matthew Kernohan and Chris Jenkins; his beloved granddaughters Raychel and Sarah Edelsberg; and his younger brother Robert Lowrie and sister-in-law Carolyn Lowrie of Arizona. Bill was also uncle to 8 nieces and nephews scattered over the world.

Memorial Service will be held at 12 PM on Friday, November 4, 2022 at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST, 1740 Zollinger Road, Upper Arlington, Ohio 43221, where reception will follow from 1-3 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina in Bill’s name.

https://preserve.nature.org/page/81523/donate/1

or

Checks can be sent to:

TNC-SC

1417 Stuart Engals Blvd.

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464