Burl Stevens Watson , Sr. ( 7 November 1893 – 16 August 1975 ) was the President and CEO of Cities Service Company during parts of the 1950s and 1960s . He became President in 1954 and was Chairman of the Board and CEO beginning in 1962 , taking the place of W. Alton Jones , who died in the famous plane crash American Airlines Flight 1 . Watson was extremely influential as the leader of one of the largest oil companies in the United States . He was quoted often in newspaper and magazine publications on his views on the status of the petroleum industry and served as a national leader of the American Red Cross and Salvation Army . Watson served for many years as the director of the American Petroleum Institute
American Airlines Flight 1
American Airlines Flight 1
Burl S. Watson