Phillips 66

I grew up in Oklahoma in a city on Hwy 66 where Phillips 66 has a major influence. Here in Minnesota they are not very strong compared to Oklahoma. Did you ever ask where they got their name?

Most companies want to have a catchy name and a trademark people will notice. However, some trademarks come about in strange ways. Take Phillips 66, for example. Over the years, Phillips Petroleum has been deluged with inquiries about its choice of "66." Some believed that one of the company’s founders was sixty-six years old (he was really forty-four). Another fable alleges that co-founders Frank and L. E. Phillips had just $66 in their pockets when they first struck oil. One lady even protested that the "66" referred to the number of books in the Bible, which in her opinion was "bad taste commercialism."

With all of the erroneous stories floating around, surely there must be a logical reason the company chose "66." The truth is that Phillips was seeking a trademark for its first gasoline, which was to go on sale November 19, 1927. Like all businesses, the company wanted something catchy and descriptive, something that would arouse curiosity. Some of the scientists suggested "66" because that was the specific gravity of the new fuel. However, this was rejected since future gasolines might have different specific gravities. Then someone mentioned that Phillips’ first refinery was located on Highway 66. But that seemed to limit the gasoline to a regional area. On the evening of the meeting to select a trademark, a Phillips official hurrying to arrive on time exclaimed to the driver of his speeding vehicle, "This car goes like sixty on our new gas!" "Sixty, nothing," answered the driver, "we’re doing sixty-six!" "Where did this happen?" he was asked at the meeting. "On Highway 66." That settled it. The trademark became "Phillips 66."

If you’re looking for a catchy phrase, see what catches on. J. R. Lowell said, "Attention is the stuff that memory is made of, and memory is accumulated genius."

Hopefully when people come in contact with churches, they will go away with remembering Jesus.

You think about it!

Warmly,
Kevin Rayner
October 20, 2000