Carlton Carroll | 202.682.8114 | carrollc@api.org

WASHINGTON, November 30, 2011 — Claiborne Deming, who retired in 2008 as president and chief executive officer of Murphy Oil Corporation after a nearly three decade career, is the recipient of the American Petroleum Institute 2011 Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement, API's highest honor.

"Claiborne Deming is an outstanding leader of the U.S. oil and natural gas industry," API President and CEO Jack Gerard said.  "He has been a distinguished and accomplished chief executive officer and a strong supporter of education."

During Deming's tenure at Murphy Oil, he added to the company's reputation as an innovative, well run and socially responsible business.  He built a company that was respected for the competency and work ethic of its staff and the efficiency and scope of its operations, with a rich heritage spanning more than 60 years.

Deming joined Murphy in 1979 as a staff attorney after earning his juris doctorate that year from Tulane University.  He held numerous positions prior to his promotion to president of Murphy Oil USA in June 1989 and served as president and chief executive officer of Murphy Oil Corporation from October 1994 to December 2008.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of Murphy Oil Corporation and Chairman of the Executive Committee.  In addition, he served on the Board of Directors of the Entergy Corporation from 2002 to 2006 and was a member of the Arkansas State Board of Education from September 1999 to June 2002.  

Under Deming's leadership, Murphy Oil created the El Dorado Promise scholarship program for students at El Dorado High School.  He also co-founded the El Dorado Education Foundation, whose initiatives have further encouraged student achievement and progress in higher education.

API represents more than 490 oil and natural gas companies, leaders of a technology-driven industry that supplies most of America's energy, supports 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.7 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers more than $86 million a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested more than $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.