Our Founders
They were men of character: humble visionaries, risk takers, leaders and hard workers alike.
The founders of Lubrizol instilled in their employees a sense of worth, that they were valued and appreciated for their contributions and loyalty to the company. These men not only laid the foundation for Lubrizol, but also set the bar for integrity, creativity and all the standards that our company still strives for today. The values passed down to us are the ones we still honor and believe in as we keep moving forward, continuing in the footsteps of their success.
The founders are gone, but we are fortunate to have had these men chart the course for Lubrizol. We continue to share in the legacy of their vision.
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Kent Smith
Lubrizol’s First President
Kent Smith is the eldest of the three Smith brothers and was elected the 1st president of the company. According to The Story of Lubrizol, Kent was the “talented administrator, guiding management teams and business operations and delegating responsibility with a sure hand.” Ever the entrepreneur, Kent started several other businesses, so he asked to be relieved of the presidency in April 1929, agreeing to serve as vice president.
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F. Alex Nason
Lubrizol’s First Vice President
Alex Nason started Lubrizol’s legacy when he developed a graphite lubricant and an applicator that sprayed the product on the bodies of automobiles to eliminate squeaking caused by rust. He convinced Kent, Vincent and Kelvin Smith, Thomas James and his father, Frank, to invest in a company to manufacture and sell the product. He and Tommy James made the first batch in Tommy’s garage. Alex was the company’s first vice president.
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Frank A. Nason
Lubrizol’s First Treasurer
Frank Nason, Alex’s father, was the company’s first treasurer. As sales increased, he not only mixed the batches of graphited lubricant in the old Manor Avenue garage, he kept jealous guard over the formula. The elder Nason had been a business manager of various enterprises, including a daily newspaper in Michigan and a Kalamazoo firm which manufactured engine packing products.
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Kelvin Smith
Elected President in 1951
Kelvin Smith, the youngest of the Smith brothers, was elected president of the company in 1951 and has been described as the shaper of policy. Whether in highly technical conversation with the company scientists or in business discussions with division heads and directors, he offered knowledgeable counsel. He was a strong advocate of continuing research and the development of new products to retain and expand business, a philosophy we still follow. During Kelvin’s presidency, Lubrizol became a worldwide enterprise, firmly established in the marketplace.
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Vincent Smith
Lubrizol’s First Secretary
Vincent Smith, a lawyer, served as the first secretary of the corporation and was, for many years, a member of the board of directors. He was the second of the three Smith brothers. In the late 1950s, he served as vice president—personnel and public relations. A warm & friendly person, he also was mayor of Gates Mills, Ohio.
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Tommy James
Introduced Lubrizol's First Gasoline Additives
Tommy James, along with Alex Nason, spearheaded the company’s expanding sales, including the introduction of its first gasoline additive, Solvenized Concentrate, which the Pocahontas Oil Company added to its Blue Flash gasoline. Tommy was adept at machine design, tool work and automotive repair. He obtained patents on several machinery inventions and had become somewhat an expert on carburetors.
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