Inducted
1997
Degrees
- B.S. Chemical Engineering, West Virginia University, 1960
Retired, Paxon Polymer Company — Houston, Texas 77024
Bob Wotring, a native of Kingwood, received the degree of BSChE in 1960 from West Virginia University. Wotring is currently president of Paxon Polymer Company, formerly a joint venture between Allied Signal and Exxon Chemical that Exxon Chemical acquired in its entirety at the end of 1995. Paxon, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is one of the two or three largest high density polyethylene businesses in the United States.
Wotring joined Exxon, following graduation from West Virginia University in 1960, at the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Refinery and Chemical Plant. He held a number of positions ranging from entry level production engineer to group head of the Chemical Plant Process Design Group. In 1967, Wotring transferred to Exxon Chemical's U.S. Headquarters, then in New York City, as part of the Chemical Investment Evaluation Group and then to a district sales manager assignment in Chicago, Illinois, with responsibility for Exxon Chemical's polypropylene sales in the 28 western states. In 1972, he transferred back to New York City as a senior advisor to Exxon Chemical's executive in charge of the Worldwide Plastics businesses. In 1974, he was appointed polypropylene technology manager and in 1977 became the general manager of the U.S. Polypropylene business. In 1985, Wotring was appointed president of Al Jubail Petrochemical Company, a polyethylene business joint venture owned 50 percent by Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corp. and 50 percent by Exxon Chemical and located in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. In 1990, Wotring was appointed to the dual position of president of Exxon Chemical's Japanese Affiliate in Tokyo, Japan, and general manager of Exxon Chemical's Asia Pacific Polymers business. In 1994, Wotring returned to the U.S. to his current position.
Wotring is active in the Society of Plastics Industry and is a member of the executive committee of the Polymeric Materials Producers Division of the Society. Wotring and his wife, Billye, live in Baton Route, Louisiana. They have four children and seven grandchildren.