Dean Werries

E. Dean Werries (born 1926) was an American business from Oklahoma. Werries previously served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce under Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating from 1995 to 1997. Prior to his service as Secretary, Werries served as Chairman of Sonic and as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Fleming Companies, Inc.

Career with Flemings

Werries joined the Fleming Companies, Inc, a Kansas, later Oklahoma-based supplier of consumer package goods to retailers, in 1955. In 1981, he came that firm's President. He remained in that position until 1988 when he became Fleming's chief executive officer. Werries retired as CEO in October 1993 to become the chairman of the board of directors for Fleming. He continued to serve as chairman until 1994, when he retired as the age of 64.

Career with Sonic

While still CEO of Fleming, Werries was elected to the Board of Directors for Sonic Drive-In in 1991. When Werries retired from Fleming in 1994, Sonic shareholders elected him as the Chairman of their Board of Directors. He remained with Sonic until his retirement in 2000. J. Clifford Hudson, Sonic's CEO, as elected as Board Chair to succeed Werries.^[1]

Following his retirement, he was named Director Emeritus, which allowed him to participate in all meetings of Sonic's Board of Directors but not the right to vote.

Secretary of Commerce

In 1995, Republican Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating appointed Werries as his first Secretary of Commerce. As Secretary, Werries oversaw the operations of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. He remained in that position until he resigned in 1997. Governor Keating appointed Ron Rosenfeld, a housing development expert, to succeed Werries as Secretary.^[2]

Personal life

Werries has served on the board of directors for Oklahoma Christian University and has served as a trustee of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Foundation.

External links

• Sonic Drive-In website

References

1. ↑ Journal Record Staff (2000-01-20). "Sonic names Hudson chairman of board". The Journal Record. 
2. ↑ Rodgers, Kim (1995-02-17). "Keating Picks Dean Werries for Commerce". The Journal Record. 

v t e Cabinet of Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating (1995–2003)   Cabinet Secretary of Administration Tom Brennan (1995-1997) Pam Warren (1997–2003) Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Howard (1995–2003) Secretary of Commerce Dean Werries (1995–1997) Ron Rosenfeld (1997-1998) Howard Barnett, Jr. (1998-1999) Russell M. Perry (1999-2000) Vacant (2000-2003) Secretary of Education Floyd Coppedege (1995–2003) Secretary of Energy Carl Michael Smith (1995–2002) Robert J. Sullivan, Jr. (2002-2003) Secretary of the Environment Gary Sherrer (1995–1997) Brian C. Griffin (1997-2003) Secretary of Finance and Revenue Tom Daxon (1995–2003) Secretary of Health and Human Services Ken Lackey (1995–1997) Jerry Regier (1997-2002) Howard Hendrick (2002-2003) Secretary of Human Resources Oscar B. Jackson Jr. (1995–2003) Secretary of the Military Stephen Cortright (1995–2003) Secretary of Safety and Security Bob Ricks (1995–2003) Secretary of Science and Technology W. Arthur Porter (1999–2003) Secretary of Tourism and Recreation Edward H. Cook (1995–1999) Jane Anne Jayroe (1999-2003) Secretary of Transportation Neal McCaleb (1995–2001) Herschal Crow (2001-2003) Secretary of Veterans Affairs Norman Lamb (1995–2003)