- Great American Business Leaders of the Twentieth Century
J. Larry Nichols
Devon Energy Corporation
1980 - Present
Utilities & Energy
b. 1942
| Education |  |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Princeton University |
| Graduate | JD, University of Michigan |
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Born-Died | 1942 |
| Birthplace | Oklahoma (OK) |
| Race | White |
| Father | Head, Same Company |
Nichols and his father formed Devon Energy in 1971 to tap into the expanding need for new oil and energy sources. Through a series of acquisitions and investments, the business grew to be the fourth largest pure oil and gas producer in the US by 2001. A shrewd market timer, Nichols orchestrated the company’s most significant acquisitions - Pennzoil and Sante Fe Snyder in 1999 and 2000 respectively.