Harold J. (Bill) Haynes, the former chairman and CEO of Chevron Corp., San Ramon, Calif., (NYSE: CVX) has died at the age of 83.

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Haynes graduated as a civil engineer from Texas A&M University in 1947 after serving with the U.S. Navy in World War II. He joined Standard Oil Co.—which later became Chevron—in 1947. In 1956, he was named chief engineer of the company’s producing affiliate in Venezuela; two years later, he became vice president of that operation.

Haynes was elected to the board of directors in 1966 and, in 1969, elected president of the company. He assumed the role of chairman in 1974, retiring in 1981.

Haynes served as chairman of Bechtel Corp. and director of Bechtel Group Inc. He was also director of private investment company Fremont Group. Past directorships included Saudi Arabian Oil Co., better known as Saudi Aramco; Citicorp-Citibank; Hewlett-Packard; The Boeing Co.; Weyerhaeuser; and PACCAR Inc. He was also a member of the Business Council, an association of chief executives from the world’s biggest companies.

Said Chevron chairman and CEO David J. O’Reilly: “Bill drove tremendous growth in the company and solidified its preeminent position in the industry by the time of his retirement. He left an indelible mark on our company, and our industry, by encouraging open dialogue and challenging conventional thinking. He ushered in a new era of communication between the industry, public and news media on energy issues that was truly trendsetting. I speak for our board of directors and employees in saying we are deeply saddened by his passing.”

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