J. Paul Getty

Voices of Oklahoma

A Man’s Perspective on Business and Life was a film prepared for the employees of Getty Oil Company and Skelly Oil Company shortly before J. Paul Getty’s death on June 6, 1976, at age 83. James C. Leake and journalist Bob Gregory produced a 10-part series on Oklahoma oil men, which aired on KTUL Tulsa and KWTV Oklahoma City.
Harold Stuart, son-in-law of William “Bill” Skelly and former owner of KVOO Television and Radio, set up a series of interviews for Leake and Gregory which included J. Paul Getty. The announcer in this audio presentation, taken from the film, was the interviewer Bob Gregory.
It is believed to be Mr. Getty’s last interview, which was conducted at his estate in Sutton Place, England, where he died. At that time, Mr. Getty was known as one of the wealthiest men in the world.
A Man’s Perspective on Business and Life was donated to Voices of Oklahoma by Nancy Leake Sevenoaks and her husband Richard.
J. Paul Getty talks about coming to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, moving to Tulsa, and his fondness for William Skelly. Getty credits his father for his business success and shares his experience in the oil business on the oral history website VoicesOfOklahoma.com.