More changes, expansion occurred at Gulf Publishing Company

World Oil’s November 1957 issue announced that at age 32, William (Bill) G. Dudley had been elected V.P. of Gulf Publishing Company (GPC). For three years prior to his promotion, Dudley had worked in various capacities in the company. He had most recently been serving as the advertising sales manager for Petroleum Refiner and Refinery Catalog.

However, on Oct. 29, just as the November issue went to print and the announcement was made officially, Bill’s father, Ray—the president, founder and publisher of World Oil, Petroleum Refiner and Pipe Line Industry magazines—passed away at his Houston home. Ray L. Dudley was survived by his wife, Frederica Gross Dudley; son, Bill Dudley; and a daughter, Mrs. John E. Cashman. Ray Dudley had survived two other sons, who had been killed in service during World War II.

With Ray’s sudden passing, Bill’s position as V.P. lasted a mere week. It was announced in World Oil’s December 1957 issue that he would take over his father’s position as GPC president.

The news of Ray Dudley’s death was announced in an insert to World Oil in November 1957. The full-page insert contained an obituary honoring his life and career. Dudley was credited with growing the two family companies (Gulf Publishing Company and Gulf Printing Company) into leading firms. Bill Dudley went on to head the company that his father worked so hard to build for the next 311/2 years.

Meanwhile, in July 1954, GPC launched its third publication, Pipe Line Industry (PLI). The magazine focused on the construction, operation and maintenance of pipelines.

In October 1966, GPC added yet another trade journal, Ocean Industry, to its list of publications. The magazine was still in its early stages of development, and had been published previously by Ocean Industry Co. As the name suggests, the monthly publication reported on news and developments throughout the offshore oil and gas industry. Ocean Industry continued to produce news on offshore technology and development until November 1992, when GPC President Ray Cashman announced that it would be the last scheduled issue. 

PLI began making changes in the early 1990s. In January 1995, the name was lengthened to Pipe Line & Gas Industry, to better reflect the variety of coverage offered. Publication of the magazine continued until November–December 2001. In that last issue, Publisher George Ives, Jr., announced the publication’s demise, “citing current economic and market constraints” as reasons for ending the magazine’s 47-year run.