Paul Shankwiler
Dan ("Mr. Moulton") was my first boss at Chevron. He was always kind and fair. Here's just one example. One day in 1984 he was headed to a meeting when he stuck his head in my cubicle, asking me to print out some information and bring it to him at the meeting. I did so. When I briefly entered the meeting to hand him the printout, I discovered that this was a very high-level group. Every manager in the department was there. Later, after the meeting had already ended, I realized that the info I had printed out was completely wrong. I was horrified at the thought that Dan might have announced to this group of powerful managers that I had messed up his simple request. "My career is doomed," I thought. Later, I asked someone who had been at the meeting what Dan had said when he realized that I have totally failed. I was prepared for the worst. The person replied, "Oh, Mr. Moulton just said that he hadn't been clear in his request to you and that he would have to get back to them later." It wasn't like Dan to lie, but what he told the other managers was complete nonsense. And he knew it. His request had been totally clear. I had simply screwed up. But rather than throw me under the bus, he put the blame on himself. That's how Dan was. Kind, humble, generous, and warm. A very fine man. I worked for Dan at the time that his son was working at Chevron. I never knew a father who was prouder of his son. Dan beamed every time we spoke of him. One final remembrance: Dan claimed that he was badly color blind, and for that reason his wife always selected his outfits for him. This was at a time when Chevron had a nearly monochrome culture. Everyone wore grey or dark blue. But not Dan! Thanks to his wife, he was the most colorfully, stylishly dressed man in the office. He was by far the hippest dresser in the company. Wow, I doubt Dan ever expected the word "hip" would appear in his obituary. But Dan was a man full of surprises. I am sure his family and friends miss him very much. Paul Shankwiler (Chevron 1983- 2018) [email protected]