Boots Adams was a Social sciences and society good articles nominee, but did not meet the good article criteria at the time. There may be suggestions below for improving the article. Once these issues have been addressed, the article can be renominated. Editors may also seek a reassessment of the decision if they believe there was a mistake.
The text of the entry was: Did you know ... that Bartlesville, Oklahoma, was officially renamed Bootsville for one day—honoring Boots Adams on his 66th birthday?
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Biography, a collaborative effort to create, develop and organize Wikipedia's articles about people. All interested editors are invited to join the project and contribute to the discussion. For instructions on how to use this banner, please refer to the documentation.BiographyWikipedia:WikiProject BiographyTemplate:WikiProject Biographybiography articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Kansas, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of the U.S. state of Kansas on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.KansasWikipedia:WikiProject KansasTemplate:WikiProject KansasKansas articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Oklahoma, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of the U.S. state of Oklahoma on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.OklahomaWikipedia:WikiProject OklahomaTemplate:WikiProject OklahomaOklahoma articles
U.S. Synthetic Rubber Program really deserves its own article. It was a large effort in which many individuals and companies participated... I've started a category to collect related articles. see [Category:U.S. Synthetic Rubber Program] AresLiam (talk) 20:51, 4 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]
I agree. When the redirect was created it was my intention to expand it into an article, (clearly needed), as soon as I had time. I am late following through on that, obviously, but the need remains. You are certainly welcome to create it, if you are interested; otherwise it is still a thing I intend to ensure. If you do create the article, I'll notice your efforts, and assist along the way where I can, so by all means, feel free to move this forward if you like. Cheers.—John Cline (talk) 23:37, 4 January 2014 (UTC)[reply]
I'm going down the list of BLP or corp pages under the Economics/business GAN list and this is next up, except for a couple paid editor noms and one by user:FreeRangeFrog I figured I would avoid to avoid speculation of quid quo pro editing. If not tonight, I should be able to start the review tomorrow morning. CorporateM (Talk) 02:00, 22 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
Greetings CorporateM. Sorrowfully, unanticipated circumstances have curtailed my availability for editing Wikipedia. I will not be able to participate in this review any further. I think it is fair of you to fail the nomination, and thank you for all that you have done throughout this process. As a direct result, the article has been significantly improved. Thank you again.—John Cline (talk) 09:46, 12 September 2014 (UTC)[reply]
I extended the lead's mention of Adams' election to company president to include mentioning who actually elected him. It is still presented in summary style however; I will ensure the article's body elaborates this point by further extenuation.—John Cline (talk) 04:42, 23 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
"When Adams succeeded Frank Phillips as president of Phillips Petroleum Company" Suggest trimming as redundant with the prior sentence about being elected to the position CorporateM (Talk) 03:21, 22 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
"During his tenure, through innovation, diversification, and streamlined operations, Adams transformed the successful oil production company; entrusted him, into the global industrial giant he would entrust his successor, Stanley Learned." Can we find a better way to describe this? Such as by explaining the growth under his tenure using revenue numbers, number of office, countries of operation, etc. CorporateM (Talk) 03:21, 22 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
I copyedited this sentence to improve its readability; reducing it to a fuller summation. The particulars regarding how this was achieved and the statistical specifics supporting its inclusion are included within the article's body. I will ensure the body is sufficient to carry the sentiments of the lead's summary.—John Cline (talk) 04:42, 23 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
Is the information in the final paragraph that significant? The Lead is a bit long and it looks like an easy trim at a glance. CorporateM (Talk) 03:21, 22 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
I have trimmed the lead by removing mention of his birthday/retirement celebration. The particulars of that event are adequately covered within the article's body, and arguably; the event does not rise to the defining level expected of lead worthy inclusions.—John Cline (talk) 04:42, 23 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
I had hoped to convey his propensity to donate personal funds to assist in developing and maintaining certain civic institutions within the town of Bartlesville. The introduction is made a bit awkward because Adams was not from Bartlesville, yet it is the town he is most associated with.[1][2]—John Cline (talk) 09:09, 29 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
"Six years after that, he was elected president of the company by the unanimous vote of the company's Board of Directors." Can we change this to a date as to avoid using a double reference point? CorporateM (Talk) 05:47, 29 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
Is the work he did in his retirement what he is best known for? The current Lead focuses heavily on his mundane work as a business exec CorporateM (Talk) 06:13, 29 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
Actually no. Adams died five years after leaving the Phillips board. Most of his sourced accomplishments surround his leadership of the Phillips corporation, and the philanthropy and university boosting, which I am aware of, occurred concurrently with his career. I intend to purchase The Boots Adams story, but its publishing date of 1965 assures it won't have much information about his "retirement years".—John Cline (talk) 09:09, 29 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
I modified the prose to reflect what I believe was being suggested. This modification should have addressed the first 3 bullets which is why I indented the second 2. I hope I achieved the clarity being recommended. Please follow on if more should be done.—John Cline (talk) 04:42, 23 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
Removed the speculative synthesis. Sources confirm that Adams both participated, and excelled in extracurricular programs, in particular: football, basketball, and baseball. The sources do not suggest any aspirations were connected to this participation.—John Cline (talk) 11:55, 23 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
"He would have graduated the following year but economic circumstances required him to place his academic aspirations on hold and instead, enter the workforce right away." Do the sources provide any explanation on what "economic circumstances" were at work? CorporateM (Talk) 03:21, 22 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
I was unable to source any specific circumstances. I copyedited the sentence to attribute it as a decision, without suggesting what may have underpinned it.—John Cline (talk) 06:43, 28 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
"In 1945, Boots and Blanche Adams divorced whereas. Boots Adams later married Dorothy Glynn Stephens the following year.[1][6]" CorporateM (Talk) 03:21, 22 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
CorporateM (Talk) 19:10, 16 August 2014 (UTC)
One last thing for this section: "Adams said he was happy that the work involved heavy lifting, because it helped him maintain his physical conditioning while he waited for classes to begin at the University of Kansas.[2]" Would it be better to say "school sports" or something? I presume the physical conditioning wasn't actually related to "classes" per se. CorporateM (Talk) 00:33, 17 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]
"Boots Adams helped organize and also played for the Phillips 66ers, a semi-professional basketball team sponsored by the Phillips Petroleum Company." Do we have a date/time-period for when this occured? CorporateM (Talk) 03:21, 22 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
"Because of his team affiliation, Adams was offered employment with the company." Sometimes the sources are not specific about this kind of information, but I think it would be useful to know (if available) how his being a player on the team led to his employment. CorporateM (Talk) 03:21, 22 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
The Life source states: "Phillips produces its championship teams by offering 'career jobs' to the [best prospects]". The same source also shows a picture taken in 1948, 27 years later, where the entire inaugural team was still employed in these "carrier jobs". Another source, Lawrence Journal-World, mentions that Adams met Bill Feist while delivering ice [to what another source identified as the YMCA]. It was there and from then that employment/team organization was propositioned, discussed, and ultimately accepted, by Adams. Another source, interestingly, shows that Adams arrived his first day wearing "coveralls" and work boots where he was met by Fiest and asked where he was going? To the warehouse department, Adams replied, when he was told they didn't really have a warehouse and the office he would work out of was located inside of the towns main bank. He was sent home where he put on his "Sunday best"; wearing a suit and tie to work every day thereafter. That is a bit of the back story.—John Cline (talk) 07:30, 28 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]
I did notice that you were pretty busy right now CorporateM, and I am not trying to hurry you (there is no time limit). I did want to shout-out hello to you, nevertheless. Cheers.—John Cline (talk) 05:51, 16 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not sure what this sentence means: "the teaming was considered as an odd couple managing the company's front office"
The source says, "... he and Phillips made rather an odd couple at the top of the chain of command." This because each man was the antithesis of the other, like Felix Unger and Oscar Madison were to each other in The Odd Couple (1970 TV series). I wikilinked the television show to allude to this type of comparison. I removed the link to front office as this does not correlate well with the "top of the chain of command", favoring "the company's highest office."—John Cline (talk) 01:45, 17 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]
"A conservative criticism of the relationship between Phillips and Adams suggests mildly that "They often disagreed as to how the company should be run."[11]" -> "According to _______ "They often disagreed...." or "Phillips and Adams often disagreed about"
"Just before becoming the president of Phillips Petroleum, Adams turned his attention to the company's amateur basketball team." Could probably be trimmed
"Boots Adams, remembering his days as a member of the Phillips 66ers, wanted to revive the program. " Also trimmable, we should always be cautious in including someone's alleged motives with a leniency towards not doing so. CorporateM (Talk) 19:21, 16 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]
At a glance, the following sentences come to mind as potentially trimmable
"Phillips instructed Adams: "I'm going to object to everything you do, but you go ahead and do it anyway." (redundant with the prior sentence, but might be ok)
"At the 1938, stockholders and board of directors annual meeting Phillips said he wanted K.S. Adams, "the fast-talking young man from Kansas with the big ideas, [to] be elected as the new president of Phillips Petroleum Company"."
"Although the 66ers lost the championship that year, 43–38, columnist Chet Nelson called the game "the greatest game Rocky Mountain fans ever witnessed."" - what made the game so great? CorporateM (Talk) 14:32, 17 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]
Added some details to hopefully reduce the ambiguity regarding this statement. To gain a fuller appreciation of the excitement this game generated, the reader would have to research the included source to gain further insight. To include the Nth detail here requires disproportionate prose and belies the summary writing style endeavored. I am open to suggestions, and further collaborative considerations if it is deemed to be needed.—John Cline (talk) 09:25, 18 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]
Some of this "visionary disciple" and "dream team" stuff I still think is promotional and un-informative, but I won't be a stickler for it. CorporateM (Talk) 13:22, 18 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]
I understand, and primarily agree. Here is my take on what happened: Because I researched the sources, I am aware of the "back story" which relates to each of these points. Their inclusion was originally more of a placeholder to me. To remind of a relevant chapter in the story of Boots Adams' life. I can see that these "placeholder points" do not fit well; standing alone. So, I will either produce the separate subsections of expanded prose which bears on these points, or I will remove the point until such time when I or someone else appends the clarifying prose these placeholders require. Fair enough?—John Cline (talk) 16:19, 18 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]
"Nevertheless, Adams was able to secure Frank Phillips' confidence, and the authority to move his ideas forward.[14][15]" Do we have any examples of his business accomplishments? This section has a really heavy focus on the amateur sports team and I just realized upon re-read doesn't say much about his work as an executive except regarding his relationship with the President. CorporateM (Talk) 02:31, 20 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]
The years which included his building of the 1937 team were his years as Assistant to the President. During that period, he was not at liberty or at large to decide or dictate policy. Assisting the president, and seeing his directives implemented, were the primary norm. Reconstituting the team is currently the only effort I know of where the buck stopped at his desk, before actually becoming president of the company. Aside that, his building the team, coupled with his participation as a player are cited for his induction into the AAU HoF. It also demonstrates his "Achilles heel"; a propensity of high expectations and meticulous attention to detail. Either a son, or a grandson is alleged to have committed suicide under the stress of trying to "make proud". Also his son Bud is quoted as saying, in effect: that he loved basketball but couldn't build a team because he could never meet his Dad's expectations; citing the 1937 team his father built. And of course, Bud instead pursued football, building the Houston Oilers as a charter member of the AFL, through all changes in city and name unto the Tennessee Titans. These form part of the reason it is included.—John Cline (talk) 08:25, 20 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]
"which he intuitively sensed as profitable" a bit metaphorical and editorialized. It could probably be trimmed as redundant with the following "he felt the company was well poised to capitalize one."
Firstly, I greatly appreciate the copyedits you have effected. The article can only benefit, and has, as a result. Also, it has become clear to me that the encyclopedic tone is negatively affected by the excessive metaphoric contrast and purple prose I originally used. I will next be looking at these suggestions, and looking ahead, to reduce this fact. And again, I appreciate where you have demonstrated some of these using live examples.—John Cline (talk) 21:21, 19 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]
"No longer could Big Oil depend on roughnecks alone to extract wealth by the stringency of their stamina and physique." This sentence sounds like advocacy and should be replaced.
The very last two sentences and the sentence starting with "He noticed the rapid growth" could use some copyediting/trimming. The "rapid growth" sentence seems to suggest he got the company involved in developing patents, but it is never stated.
Further in the article it does speak of patented discoveries the company owned, and there are others not currently mentioned. Nevertheless, I agree with you that a copyedit is needed. I will get to it this evening I hope, but don't have the free time right now. Cheers.—John Cline (talk) 16:31, 18 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]
A BLP's early life is almost always sterile, but typically it's around this point that they become CEO of a major oil company that their actions are under intense public scrutiny. If there are no criticisms in the source material, than so be it; I was just surprised not to see any mis-haps in his diversification strategy (some investments that do not pay off, or a spill related to trying something new)
There are published criticisms of Boots Adams, I'll have to look at incorporating a section to cover that aspect. I will set about doing this right away.—John Cline (talk) 23:11, 19 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]
"as it was clear that the war could not be won unless synthetic rubber could be produced in a sufficient quantity to support the war effort" - I think this may be crystal ball and/or a bit of dramatization CorporateM (Talk) 02:48, 20 August 2014 (UTC)[reply]
most CEOs like this list army or navy affiliations. yet he, as a very athletic guy reaching age 18 plop dab in the middle of WWI, never joined? was there some medical reason?
I have just modified 3 external links on Boots Adams. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.
This message was posted before February 2018. After February 2018, "External links modified" talk page sections are no longer generated or monitored by InternetArchiveBot. No special action is required regarding these talk page notices, other than regular verification using the archive tool instructions below. Editors have permission to delete these "External links modified" talk page sections if they want to de-clutter talk pages, but see the RfC before doing mass systematic removals. This message is updated dynamically through the template {{source check}} (last update: 5 June 2024).
If you have discovered URLs which were erroneously considered dead by the bot, you can report them with this tool.
If you found an error with any archives or the URLs themselves, you can fix them with this tool.
Done Hopefully some day you'll have time to come back to it! CorporateM (Talk) 13:02, 12 September 2014 (UTC)
Done