Background
Claude Brinegar was born Claude Rawles Stout on December 16, 1926, to Lyle Rawles Stout and Claude Leroy Stout in Rockport, California, a small lumber town on the coast, 25 miles north of Fort Bragg.
Claude Brinegar was born Claude Rawles Stout on December 16, 1926, to Lyle Rawles Stout and Claude Leroy Stout in Rockport, California, a small lumber town on the coast, 25 miles north of Fort Bragg.
Bachelor, Stanford University, 1950. Master of Science, Stanford University, 1951. Doctor of Philosophy in Economic Research, Stanford University, 1954.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), Elmira College, 1997.
Holding a Doctor of Philosophy from Stanford University in economic research, Brinegar had previously been an oil company executive. Brinegar was Secretary of Transportation during the 1973 oil crisis. He served in the United States Army Air Forces, 1945-1947, then attended Stanford University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with Great Distinction (1950), an Master of Surgery in Mathematics and Statistics (1951), and a Doctor of Philosophy in economic research (1953).
He was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
While pursuing his Doctor of Philosophy, Mr. Brinegar was a Research Assistant with the Food Research Institute in Stanford, California, and an Economic Consultant to the Emporium-Capwell Corporation in San Francisco, California.
Brinegar joined the Union Oil Company (later called Unocal Corporation) in 1953 as an Economic Analyst and held several positions in economics, planning and research until 1965, when he was elected Vice President for Corporate Planning. In October 1965, Union Oil and the Pure Oil Company merged.
Brinegar was appointed President of Pure Oil and remained in that position when Pure became Union 76.
Political Brinegar was nominated to the post of United States Secretary of Transportation by Richard Nixon. He also served under Gerald Ford, but when Ford said he intended to seek the Presidency, Brinegar resigned and returned to an executive position at Union Oil. In 1980-1981, Brinegar was on Ronald Reagan"s transition team
Chairman California Citizens Compensation Commission, 1990-2002. Member regional selection panel White House Fellows Program, 1976-1983, chairman, 1983. Head Ronal Reagan's Transportation Transition Team, Washington, 1980-1981.
Member American Petroleum Institute (board director 1976-1985, 88-91, honorary life director 1992), Georgetown Club, Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi.
Married Elva Jackson, 1950 (divorced). Children: Claudia, Meredith, Thomas. Married Mary Katharine Potter, 1983 (deceased 1993).
Married Karen Bartholomew, 1995.