The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 31

THE SUNDAY OKLAHOMAN March 28, 1976 Shareholders Suit Brings Woman to Phillips Board By Judith Serrln Knight News Service EAST LANSING, Mich. Seated on the curved white sofa in Mrs. Clifton Wharton's living room, an Oklahoma oil company executive and two lawyers talked with her about the oil business and public duty. The men hoped to persuade Dolores Wharton to accept a' nomination to the board of directors of Phillips Petroleum the 25th largest corporation In the United States. She was being sought to comply with a recent aettlement in suit shareholders brought against the company Involving illegal campaign contributions.

The company agreed to the selection of a number of new directors who would not be officers or employees of the company. Both sides in the suit were present at Cowlcs House, the Wharton residence here: William K. Martin, chief executive of Phillips, and two attorneys from the Center for Law in the Public Interest, John R. Phillips and Brent N. Itushforth.

The visit was an Indication of the recent twist in Mrs. Wharton's life. In the past two years, she has entered the world of business at a level few women could reach in a lifetime of corporate work: as a member of the boards of directors. At a time when corporations are under pressure to demonstrate their regard for women, Mrs. Wharton was appointablo.

She is black, the wife of Dr. Clifton Wharton, president of Michigan State University, a director of half a dozen cultural groups, articulate and compatible with the bus iness world. She became a director of the Michigan Bell Telephone Co. in January 1974, of Michigan National Bank of Lansing in July 197-1 and of the Kellogg cereal company in February 197G. Still, Mrs.

Wharton hesitated about the oil company. "That one I weighed very carefully," she said. The oil people have not been loved recently. And I like to be loved, like everyone else." Furthermore, she was concerned that any affiliation with a corporation involved in illegal political contributions litigation might reflect badly on her husband and the university. "She was troubled," said Phillips, one of the public interest lawyers.

"I think she saw a challenge, the opportunity, and I think the only reason that she considered not accepting It was that It might reflect unfavorably on her husband. "We really leaned on her very heavily. Wo thought this was a public responsibility." After several days, with the support of her husband, Mrs. Wharton accepted. "This is out of a sense of duty," she said.

"I do not know the oil business," she said. "But I am a consumer, and my position on that board will be as a consumer. They've already got people who come from big business." When Mrs. Wharton attends her first board meeting in Bartlesville, April 27, she will become the first woman and the first black person on the Phillips board. Mrs.

Wharton recognizes that her sex and her Cont. on Pago 8-B, Col. 8 Mrs. Delorcs Wharton Natural Gas Line Bought By City Firm ByGleuBaylcss Cities Service Gas Co. announced Saturday purchase of a 475-mile pipeline to tie in with a new transmission lino to deliver natural gas from Southern Wyoming to Cities Service customers in Oklahoma and surrounding states.

The Oklahoma City-based natural gas company said it will seek authorization from the Federal Power Commission to buy the Arapahoe Pipa Line line from Colorado to Eastern Kansas, and to build a line from gathering areas in southern Wyoming. 3 Oilmen Investing In Building The nlne-square-block area of -the Williams Confer in downtown Tulsa is outlined in black. The 5 1 -story Bank of Oklahoma Tower is undor construction within the boundaries. OFFICE, ENTERTAINMENT PACKAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION Williams Center 'The Talk of Tulsa Cities Service will buy Arapahoe's IS-inch main line from Merino, to Schurr, and the 20-inch main line from Schurr to Humboldt, Kan. "The Arapahoe pipeline will become an integral part of our future Wyomlng-to-Kan-sas gas transmission Map on Page 8-B system currently estimated to cost more than $100 million," said John W.

Morton, president of Cities Service Gas. Cities Service serves 502 communities in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Morton said future construction will include an extension from Merino to near Rawlins, a new gathering system west of Rawlins to tap new wells, and Installation of booster compressors. He said the Arapahoe oil pipeline will be converted to natural gas transmission to begin operations in 1979. The line will have a capacity to move 185 million cubic feet of gas per day.

Morton said the pipeline project tics in with plans announced earlier to increase Cities Service gas supplies with production from Wyoming. Cities Service has contracted with Amoco Production Co. to acquire up to three trillion cubic feet of gas in southern Wyoming. It also signed up with Colorado Interstate Gas Co. to deliver into Cities Service system in the Oklahoma Panhandle and southwestern Kansas through Colorado Interstate linos.

By Glen Bayless Three Oklahoma City oilmen have invested In the City Center Building now under reconstruction at Broadway and Main, and will lease space in the new quarters when the building is opened by the end of the year. Chan Sweetser, project manager of the former City National Bank Building, said Saturday the investors aro W. A. Yinger, an independent producer, George Mothershed, president of Post Oak Oil and H. K.

Calvert of Calvert Drilling Co. Swceiser Oklahoma City representative of Spauldlng Slye the New England property management firm which with the Howell-Kerr Enterprises jointly owns tho City Center Building. William Howell and Brcene Kerr acquired the bank building two years ago in an exchange and purchase arrangement with Globe Life Insurance Co. Globe acquired I ho City Bank Tower and the Petroleum Club buildings, and In turn Howell and Kerr obtained the City Bank Building and the site of tho demolished Huckina Hotel. Rebuilding of the bank building began last fall.

When completed it will add more than 100,000 square feet Cont. on Page 8-B, Col. 1 Cos. and the Bank of Oklahoma offices. The building will be tha tallest in Oklahoma and will have 1.1 million square feet of office space.

The bank will move into its new space in November and The Williams Cos. will move in January 1977. Other tenants will move into the new tower early next year. The privately financed development is a blend of people, business and fund ambience billed as Tulsa's answer to downtown upgrading and renovation. The Williams Center came about from a merger of deeds purchased from the Tulsa Urban Renewal Authority by Williams Realty a subsidiary of The Williams a widely diversified company that grew out of the oil and gas pipeline business.

The philosophy behind the Williams Center is that people, nature and buildings can be tastefully blended to revitalize neglected downtown Tulsa. Downtown Tulsa did not die, promoters say. It was only neglected until the By Andrea Chancellor Staff Writer Tulsa's $200 million office and entertainment packago called the Williams Center is the talk of the town. And promoters and city officials hope the town talks it up so much that well-established local businesses mako it thoir new home. They foresee a return to the downtown area in droves and Jiopo out-of-state corporations are so Impressed with the leasing "sell job" many will locate in Tulsa.

First phase of the Williams Center Is reaching to the sky on a nine-square-block area encompassing 30 per cent of the heart of downtown Tulsa. It is designed for quality office space at luxury prices. With the tower go a $19 million performing arts center, a large hotel, specialty shops, restaurants, abundant parking and a 2'2-acre park known as The Green. In the center of the development is the 51-story Bank of Oklahoma Tower now under construction. It Is international headquarters for The Williams city acted In the 1960s to build a modern and massive Civic Center for the police department, county courthouse, city-county library, city hall and assembly center.

The renovation and construction make sounds that are a Jar cry from that of panicked retailers who, in the 1950s abandoned the business district in an exodus to the suburbs. Another downtown project, scheduled to begin this summer, is the turning of seven blocks of retail area into a landscaped outdoor mall. The $2.2 million project will include outdoor fountains, benches and trees providing shoppers a restful and somewhat traffic-free atmosphere. Over $900 million has been sunk Into downtown or near-downtown construction and redevelopment projects, the Urban Renewal Authority estimates. Over $700 million of that represents private investments including the Williams Center.

Thomas E. Wilkerson, marketing projects manager for Williams Realty said, "We are acting on faith that the impetus of what we are doing will attract and bring Tulsans back downtown." lie said the office space in the center and good hotel accommodations ought to entice businessmen to relocate downtown. He said a lease has been signed by Western International Hotels, owners of the Piaza in Now York, Houston Oaks in Houston, Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta and Crown Center in Kansas City. The Williams Plaza Hotel will be 12 stories with 400 rooms. "We have to give shoppers and businessmen a reason to drive past Utica Square and other shopping areas to the downtown area," ho said.

To that end, The Williams Cos. is launching a marketing campaign to court local businesses and out-of-state corporations. The 1.1 million square feet of office Cont. on Page 8-B, Col. 8 Travel Agencies Boom as More Can Afford Trips Rainbow, one of the largest agencies in Oklahoma City, is but one of more than a dozen that book individual and group tours.

Organizers include alumni associations of universities and colleges, professional and fraternal organizations, and some business firms. Liberty National Bank and Trust Co. is promoting its eighth annual tours to Europe this spring. Hank officials regard the enterprise as both good institutional advertising and profitable. Oklahoma Bancorporallon reported to stockholders that Rainbow is aircraft and packaged tours make travel less expensive and thus within reach of the mass of people.

"Last year was good," said Springall, "and this year so far is between 10 and 15 per cent ahead of last year." Denner said his business increased 30 per cent last year and business so far this year is even better. A spokesman for Rainbow Travel Service, a subsidiary of First Oklahoma Bancorporntion, reported total billings of $7.4 million. He expects 1976 business to increase some $1.5 million over last year. By Jim Bold Oklahoma's travel agencies are enjoying a boom season. People in Oklahoma City who arrange tours and cruises say the travel business is improving by leaps and bounds.

Tho reason, they say, is that more citizens in the middle-income brackets are heading for exotic places. "People who have never traveled abroad before are going now," said Nick Dcnner of Denner World Travel. Bill Sprlngall of Springall Travel-Tour, agreed. lie said the jet profitable, and the holding company is reluctantly going to sell off the agency under directive of the Federal Reserve Board because Rainbow is a not a bank-related activity. Liberty runs its tours through outside agencies.

John Fish of Evelyn Sea-grave Travel, also reported substantial increase in bookings this year. So did Bcntley Hedges of Bcntloy Hedges Travel Service. "Since about a year and a half ago," he said, "a lot of people have been spending more money on themselves while they're younger. lar. Tho Rainbow spokesman said the cruise business is Increasing because of "intelligent promotion by the industry." He said that for the past year the steamship lines have been refunding a portion of the traveler's air fare tc the port of embarkation.

Tho latest promotion, he said, 1 the flexible charter tour where a traveler does not have to stay wit! the group. This plan is called forelgr independent travel or FIT. He said tours to Europe aro gain Cont. on Pago 8-B, Col. 1 They're taking one long trip a year, or two shorter ones." He said most of his customers are in the middle-income bracket.

Fish said people today are looking past the price tag to see what is included in a tour. "They are buying better tours," Fish said. This trend started two years ago, he said. Most travel agency rcpiosenta-tives agree that Hawaii is the most popular vacation spot. Mexico is second and Europe third.

Caribbean cruises are also popu.