NFL's great friend, “Pete” Silas, is retiring. After 41 years with Phillips Petroleum and 9 years as CEO, Mr. C. J. Silas who led Phillips sure handedly through the effects of hostile takeover attempts and volatile oil markets, will leave the company in May.

“Pete” has had a distinguished career spanning such diverse fields as corporate leadership, technology, philanthropy, foreign relations, education, and athletics.

A dynamic executive with a deep feeling for people, Silas graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in chemical engineering. A great athlete, “Pete” played basketball in college and with the famous Phillips 66ers basketball team and was a member of the U.S. team which won the Pan-American Games in 1955. At Phillips Mr. Silas has served as senior Vice President in charge of Exploration and Production, Executive Vice President, President, and as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Very active in community, national and world affairs, Mr. Silas has served Junior Achievement, the Ethics Research Center Inc. and several medical and technological foundations. He is a trustee of the Georgia Tech Foundation, as well as the Frank Phillips Foundation Inc.

Mr. Silas served as member of the National Petroleum Council, the Conference Board, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Business Council and the Trilateral Commission.

He is past board chair of the American Petroleum Institute, the National Boys and Girls Clubs and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

He has been recognized by governments and associations: From Norway the "Royal Norwegian St. Olav's Order" (degree of Commander), "CEO of the Year" from the International Television Association and Georgia Tech's "Former Scholar-Athlete Total Person Award." He has been selected to the Georgia Tech Athletic Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Business Hall of Fame.

Mr. Silas was instrumental in forging the Phillips Petroleum/NFL partnership which provides major sponsorship of the Phillips 66 NFL National Finals and the Phillips/NFL communication outreach programs for urban and rural students, teachers, and schools. Although retiring from Phillips, "Pete" has agreed to serve on the NFL National Advisory Board which will help NFL seek funding and publicity.

All of NFL wishes a most rewarding retirement to Mr. Silas and our continued thanks for his unflagging support, keen interest and sound advice.