My Life- by Harold Bockelken

I was born on January 12th, 1927, in Bayside, Long Island, New York, and grew up there as the youngest of 3 brothers. I attended grammar and high school there, graduating in January of 1945, and was immediately drafted into the Army. After 20 months in the Army, the last 8 months of which were spent in Belgium. I was discharged as a Staff Sergeant.

I went to college and graduated from Adelphi University on Long Island in 1951 with a degree in Business Administration.

I then went to work for Cities Service Company, a major oil company with 17,000 CITGO service stations. My first position was in the Office Planning Division of the Personnel Department.

In 1954, I married Dorothy (Dottie), who also grew up in Bayside and attended the same schools I did.

In 1956, I was made the Personnel Assistant to the Personnel Manager.

In 1959, I became Manager of the Corporate Records Department, was elected Assistant Secretary of the Company, and was appointed Secretary of the Board of Directors.

In 1962, I was elected a Director of Cities Service Company and served on the Board for 3 years. I was included in the "Who's Who in America" during those years.

I was also a Director, President, Vice President, Secretary, and Assistant Secretary of over 100 subsidiary or affiliated companies.

Cities Service Company moved its headquarters office to Tulsa in 1974, and I subsequently became Secretary of the Company.

I retired at the end of 1985 after almost 35 years with the Company. During the last 26 years, I was Secretary at over 350 Cities Service Company Board Meetings, 28 stockholders, and numerous Committee and Chairman's meetings, with 7 different Chairmen of the Board and over 60 Directors. Working with the Board was a very interesting, rewarding, enjoyable, and important part of my life.

With all of the subsidiary and affiliated companies, I attended and was Secretary of several thousand Board meetings.

During our life together, Dottie and I always enjoyed traveling, golf, bridge, and the performing arts, especially after my retirement.

We traveled most of the lower 48 states, Alaska, Hawaii, lower Canada, and Mexico. We toured Europe 9 times, toured Israel, Egypt, China, and vacationed in Florida for 1 to 2 months most years. We also enjoyed 15 cruises.

We did a lot of volunteer work at church and with Meals on Wheels.

We sold our house and moved to Oklahoma Methodist Manor (later called Trinity Woods) at the beginning of 2013.

After fighting cancer for 2 years, Dottie passed away in January of 2014. We had 60 wonderful years of love and marriage together.

Memorial Services will be held at 10AM on Friday, August 16th at Trinity Woods Retirement Center's Chapel, 4134 E 31st St, Tulsa, OK 74135


Moore Southlawn Funeral Home 918-663-2233