Skip to main content

JOSEPHSON, Leigh D. (b. 1907)

Oral Histories

Oh 0688

Executive. Employment with Standard Oil of California, 1926-39; assignment to Bahrain and transfer to Caltex; construction of Ras Tanura refinery in Saudi Arabia; bombing of the Bapco refinery in Bahrain; refinery operations in Bahrain during World War II; early relationship, Bapco and Caltex; Bapco and the royal family of Bahrain; British influence in Bahrain and Bapco; Bapco’s postwar refinery expansion; training of local nationals; transfer to Philippines, 1952, as superintendent of the Batangas refinery; living standards for Caltex employees; transfer back to Bahrain, 1958; relations between Caltex (New York) and Bapco; production of under boiler fuel oil; military fuel oil contracts; Bapco’s decision-making process and organization; responsibilities as Bapco’s refinery manager; Bapco and the local economy; fringe benefits for local Bapco employees; Bapco’s role within worldwide Caltex operations; transfer to New York, 1962; role in construction of Cape Town, South Africa, refinery; transfer to Bahrain, 1964, as vice-president and general manager of Bapco; Bapco’s Changing role within Caltex system; appointment as president of Bapco, 1968; his personal relationship with the Bahraini royal family; OPEC and Arab oil embargoes, 1967.