# J. Larry Nichols

> J. Larry Nichols is the Oklahoma City-born co-founder and chairman emeritus of Devon Energy. Trained in geology and law, he clerked at the U.S. Supreme Court before joining his father to build Devon, served as CEO from 1980 to 2010, and later devoted substantial attention to Oklahoma City civic and cultural institutions.

- **Role:** Co-founder and Chairman Emeritus at Devon Energy
- **Organizations:** Devon Energy, U.S. Supreme Court (former law clerk), U.S. Department of Justice (former special assistant), American Petroleum Institute (former chairman), National Petroleum Council, Myriad Gardens Foundation, The Nature Conservancy in Oklahoma (lifetime trustee), Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority, Allied Arts
- **From:** Oklahoma City, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** High school, Casady School, B.A. in Geology, Princeton University, J.D., University of Michigan Law School
- **Known for:** Co-founded Devon and led it as CEO for thirty years., Led Devon through its 1988 public listing and a series of major acquisitions., Devon expanded horizontal drilling in the Barnett Shale following its Mitchell Energy acquisition.

## Career timeline

- **1967-1968** — Law clerk associated with Justice Tom Clark and Chief Justice Earl Warren at the U.S. Supreme Court.
- **After 1968, before Devon** — Worked in the U.S. Department of Justice, including as special assistant to William Rehnquist.
- **1971** — Co-founded Devon Energy with his father, John W. Nichols; company began operations.
- **1976** — Became Devon president; held the role until 2003.
- **1980** — Became CEO; served until June 2010.
- **1988** — Devon went public.
- **2000** — Became chairman.
- **2002** — Devon acquired Mitchell Energy, bringing Barnett Shale assets and expertise.
- **2010** — John Richels succeeded him as CEO; Nichols became executive chairman.
- **2016** — Retired from the board on June 8; subsequently identified as chairman emeritus.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Devon and led it as CEO for thirty years.
- Led Devon through its 1988 public listing and a series of major acquisitions.
- Devon expanded horizontal drilling in the Barnett Shale following its Mitchell Energy acquisition.
- Inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2001.
- Received the American Petroleum Institute Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement in 2015.
- Named University of Oklahoma Oklahoma Trailblazer in 2023.
- Honored as a 2024 Living Legend by the Oklahoma Geological Foundation.

## Latest updates

- **2025-12** — Listed as Devon chairman emeritus in the National Petroleum Council 2024/2025 membership roster included in its December 2025 report.
- **2024-11** — Received Oklahoma Geological Foundation Living Legend recognition at its November 7 dinner.
- **2023-11** — Named the University of Oklahoma Mewbourne College Oklahoma Trailblazer.

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Last updated: 2026-10-23