R. Gene Dewey '61

R. Gene Dewey graduated from the University of Arizona in 1961 with a B. S. in Business Administration, a major in Production Management with scholastic honors. He and his wife Lynne have one son, Mark.

In 1967 Gene began working for Molycorp: a major rare earth, molybdenum and niobium producer, which was acquired by Unocal in 1977.   He became the President and CEO of Molycorp, Inc. in 1985 and was appointed  VP of Unocal Carbon and Minerals and President & CEO of Molycorp in 1991 with responsibility for worldwide mining and exploration activities, graphite operations and marketing of Unocal’s calcine coke, green coke, needle coke, and solvents. He retired in 2000.

Brother Dewey was a member of the Board of Directors of The National Mining Association from 1986 to 2000 and Chairman of the Audit Committee. He also served as a member of Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) since 1969 and has served as the Los Angeles section chairman. He is a founding member of the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum, member of the Board of Trustees and past Director, member of the SW Mining Association, The Mining and Metallurgical Society of America, The Institute for the Advancement of Engineering.

Gene & Lynne endowed a scholarship at the U of A Lowell Institute of Mining to support an outstanding graduate student in mining, metallurgical or geologic engineering, with at least one year of work experience in the mining industry pursing a Ph.D.

While as an undergraduate he served as a hasher at the house for two years, house manager and pledge trainer for several semesters. He was also active in intramural sports.

Gene says, “Sigma Phi Epsilon Arizona Beta has been a major factor in my life. Over a half century ago at this very location I pledged the fraternity and thanks to the fraternity leadership I graduated from the U of A. It was here that I met my wife Lynne some 56 years ago and It was here that I made lifelong friendships.”