How J. Howard Pew's intense and unwavering belief in the oil
sands created an industry. This article appears in the August
issue of Oilsands ReviewBy Peter McKenzie-Brown If he is
remembered at all, Americans interested in business history
think of J. Howard Pew as an industrialist who created what was
once one of the world’s largest energy companies. For Canadians,
though, he was the legendary force behind the harnessing of the
oilsands. Though his efforts in the oilsands sector were a cash
drain for his company – at the time, one of the 20 largest in
the United States – for this country he created an industry. The
thumbnail sketch of his life is this: Born in 1882, J. Howard
Pew graduated from high school at age 14, from university at 18
and became president of Sun Oil at age 30. With his brother
Joseph he transformed Sun (founded by his father; now called
Sunoco) by introducing new refining, marketing, and distribution
techniques. He was astute. During the First World War he
responded to the war-time deman