- Great American Business Leaders of the Twentieth Century
Otto D. Donnell
Ohio Oil Company
1927 - 1948
Utilities & Energy
b. 1883
| Education |  |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Case Western Reserve University (Case School of Engineering) |
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Born-Died | 1883 - 1961 |
| Birthplace | Ohio (OH) |
| Race | White |
| Father | Head, Same Company |
When Donnell took over the presidency of Ohio Oil in 1927, the company had over $104 million in assets with $7 million in net profits. Donnell began a program of expansion in 1930, purchasing various oil companies and service stations. By 1948, Donnell had nearly doubled the value of the company’s assets, which then stood at $203 million. Under Donnell, Ohio Oil produced 39 million barrels of gross oil, boasting a profit of $68 million, a near tenfold increase from when he began his presidency.