THE OKLAHOMAN | OKLAHOMAN.
COM  Wednesday, July 17, 2019  A15
Angus McQueen, longtime CEO of Ackerman McQueen, is shown in this 1998 photo. [OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVES]
Angus McQueen
dead at age 74
By Steve Lackmeyer
Business Writer
slackmeyer@oklahoman.com
Angus McQueen, longtime
CEO of Ackerman McQueen,
the city’s largest and oldest
advertising agency, died
Tuesday after battling
cancer. He was 74.
By mid-day, a tribute to
McQueen was posted on the
company’s website.
“Angus McQueen was
a relentless champion of
dreams. Dreams for his cli-
ents, dreams for his company
and his employees, dreams
for his hometown, Oklahoma
City, and dreams for his
country,” the firm said in
a statement. “He spent his
career in earnest pursuit of
those dreams, and in the pro-
cess, raised the fortunes, the
standards and the aspirations
of everyone who joined him
in that pursuit.”
McQueen began his career
in 1962 as a producer and
director with television
MAMMOTH
From Page A14
prevented him from chal-
lenging what happened.
Short of that, his petition
seeks at least to get those
documents unsealed.
“In that way, Ellison will
at least have rudimentary
notice of the charges against
him and be able to test the
premise for the seizure,” his
petition reads.
U.S. attorneys are working
to have Ellison’s case moved
to federal court in Puerto
Rico.
“There is an ongo-
ing criminal investigation
involving FEMA’s PA (Public
Assistance) grant program,
the Puerto Rico Electric
Power Authority and con-
tracts awarded to Cobra,”
U.S. attorneys stated in a
brief filed in that case.
Ellison, a decorated
Army Ranger who served
in Somalia, Bosnia,
Afghanistan and Iraq, was
CEO of Cobra from January
2017 until June.
Before that, he served as a
CEO, executive vice presi-
dent and vice president
at other companies in the
utility industry during a
civilian career that spanned
18 years.
Under his leadership,
Mammoth’s Cobra secured
a series of contracts in
2017 and 2018 worth more
than $1.8 billion with the
Puerto Rico Electric Power
Authority to repair storm
damage caused by Hurricane
Maria to the island's electri-
cal infrastructure.
Mammoth Energy Services
officials confirmed Tuesday
they are aware of an inves-
tigation into Ellison, adding
they are “cooperating fully”
with authorities.
That differs from their
reaction in June, when they
declined to confirm whether
Ellison was being investi-
gated after a story broke
stations in St. Louis and
Houston. From 1965
through 1972 he directed
coverage of all Gemini
and Apollo missions at the
Manned Spacecraft Center
in Houston for NBC News.
McQueen also was a writer
and director with the U.S.
Navy Office of Information
in Washington, D.C., serv-
ing two years of active duty
during the Vietnam War.
As Managing Producer of
Broadcast Production with
the D’Arcy Advertising Co.
in New York, McQueen
wrote and produced televi-
sion advertising for Royal
Crown Colas, Lufthansa
German Airlines, General
Tire, Gerber Foods, SCM
Typewriters, Taylor Wines
and others.
In 1972, he directed net-
work pool coverage of
the Republican National
Convention in Miami
and other election-year
broadcasts with President
Richard Nixon’s White
that federal investigators
were examining contracts
the island’s power author-
ity had issued to companies
involved in rebuilding  the
grid.
The Wall Street Journal
reported then that Ahsha
Tribble, a high-ranking
FEMA official who previ-
ously obtained a doctorate
in meteorology from the
University of Oklahoma,
had been accused of direct-
ing business to Cobra.
While documents prompt-
ing the seizures remain
sealed, Ellison stated in a
declaration he made in his
case that he understands
from others that the govern-
ment may be investigating
whether he gave Tribble
inappropriate gifts that
could have included theater
and airplane tickets, rides on
company helicopters, jew-
elry, hotel rooms or other
things of value.
Ellison declared agents
hadn’t asked him whether
there was evidence that
Tribble, in fact, paid “for
certain items of the type they
have inquired about.”
He did note in the declara-
tion that Cobra had, at one
point, provided Tribble with
a helicopter ride and treat-
ment related to a medical
emergency she had experi-
enced on the island.
But he stated in the dec-
laration that Tribble had
reimbursed the company
for its expenses related to
that event.
In other occasions where
government officials would
meet Cobra employees
periodically to discuss ongo-
ing work and meals were
involved, Ellison stated he
remembered that Cobra
only paid for its employees’
meals.
“I do not believe the
government could be in
possession of reliable
information about me or
Cobra’s dealings in Puerto
Rico because it has never
obtained the necessary doc-
umentation from which an
House staff. He served as
vice president and general
manager of Lewis/Unitas
Advertising in New York,
introducing Ticketron com-
puterized ticketing in major
U.S. markets.
In 1973, McQueen joined
Ackerman McQueen, the firm
started by his father, Marvin,
and partner Ray Ackerman
when they took over the
George Knox Advertising
Agency. McQueen started
as vice president and creative
director and was promoted to
president in 1984 and then
CEO in 1987.
Over more than 30 years he
nurtured a relationship with
the firm’s biggest client, the
NRA, that led to the firm
opening offices in Dallas and
Washington, D.C. That rela-
tionship frayed over the past
few years and the 38-year
contract was terminated last
month by both sides amidst
lawsuits over billings and
alleged contract breaches.
Services are pending.
informed judgement could
be reached,” he stated.
In an affidavit filed made
by a federal agent as part of
the government’s request
to have the case litigated in
Puerto Rico, the govern-
ment confirmed it seized
about $71,000 from Ellison’s
checking account, about
$276,500 from Ellison’s
savings account, about
$100,306 from a joint sav-
ings account Ellison had,
plus $1 million from an
investment account Ellison
had.
Ellison’s suit challenges
the amount seized from
the investment account,
stating that federal authori-
ties actually seized about
$4.42 million from that one
account, alone.
Additionally, the federal
agent stated the government
seized a catamaran Ellison
had acquired for $666,640,
as well as a pickup he had
spent about $30,000 to
acquire.
Previously, Mammoth
stated its agreements to
restore the grid in Puerto
Rico were negotiated with
that island nation’s author-
ities and that its contracts
were proper and were
reviewed both by govern-
ment and independent
entities.
On Tuesday, Mammoth’s
statement declared its
executives remain proud of
the repair and replacement
work Cobra completed to
help Puerto Rico restore
its electrical system “in
an extremely challenging
environment.”
It reiterated past stories
have reported an indepen-
dent evaluation by the Rand
Corp. showed that Cobra’s
rates were reasonable, con-
sidering the “situational
uncertainty that prevailed”
after the hurricane struck the
island.
“We were one of very few
companies that answered
the call to help the people of
Puerto Rico in their time of
need,” its statement reads.
Q&A WITH DONALD BULLARD
Supreme Court rules actions
intentional vs. accidental in
employee injury case
Donald Bullard is the founder
of Bullard and Associates. The
Oklahoma Supreme Court
recently issued a decision in the
case of Wells v. Oklahoma
Roofing and Sheet Metal.
What was the case about?
The case involved an
employee of Oklahoma
Roofing and Sheet Metal
who was working on the
roof of a three-story build-
ing and died from a fall after
his employer required him to
unhook his fall protection.
What was the issue the
Supreme Court decided?
Oklahoma’s Workers’
Compensation law provides
a specified amount of dam-
ages to injured workers or,
in this case, their families for
accidental injuries arising from
work-related hazards. The
key word is accidental. The
Supreme Court was deciding
whether the directive from the
employer to remove the safety
device was an “intentional” act
and therefore the result was
not an “accident.” If inten-
tional, the statutory damages
would no longer apply and the
estate could proceed against
the employer in District Court
for significantly more money.
What was the outcome?
The Supreme Court ruled
the employer knew the injuries
were “substantially certain to
occur” and, therefore, rose to
the level of an intentional act.
IN BRIEF
TULSA
Three Oklahoma
companies recognized
Three Tulsa-based com-
panies have been named
to the Associated Builders
& Contractors’ list of the
150 top-performing U.S.
commercial and industrial
construction contractors.
Manhattan Construction
Co. topped the Oklahoma
companies on the list at No.
37. Flinto LLC landed at No.
1, while Cantera Concrete
Co. LLC was listed at No. 80.
Published as a supplement
to Construction Executive
WYNDHAM
From Page A14
promises of unrivaled hotel
luxury featuring 24 cabana
units surrounding a heated
pool, a presidential suite with
its own swimming pool, a
private club and ample con-
vention space.
The hotel hit hard times
during the 1980s oil bust, at
one point going into receiver-
ship with reported occupancy
at less than 30 percent.
JOHNSON
From Page A14
but he expects that potential
outcome ultimately could prove
inconsequential for investors,
and the company could bounce
back.
“As far as Wall Street is con-
cerned, this is much ado about
nothing,” Dollarhide said.
“Johnson & Johnson is not going
to go out of business because
of this ruling. Other compa-
nies, this could do them in, but
Johnson & Johnson is so much
more diversified.”
The state is seeking $17.5 bil-
lion from the company in its
lawsuit. A verdict in the nonjury
trial isn’t expected until the end
of August or early September.
This gives Oklahomans with
an eye on Johnson & Johnson
stock some time to mull over
their options.
“If you want to sell prior to
the verdict, it could be a way
Donald Bullard
is the founder
of Bullard and
Associates.
The injury was “not within the
scheme of the workers’ com-
pensation system” and allowed
for the workers’ estate to
pursue a case in District Court.
What does this mean for
Oklahoma employers?
Simply stated, with or
without this decision, owners
and supervisors should always
take steps to protect their
employees, especially in high-
risk industries. However, no
matter the precautions, acci-
dents will happen on the job.
The decision in Wells means
that under no circumstances
should employees ever be put
in a position where an injury is
substantially certain to occur.
Employers must establish
appropriate safety protocols
and require those protocols
be followed. Mandate the use
of appropriate safety equip-
ment. Issue reprimands if
necessary. No employer
wants to find themselves in
the position of the defendant
in this matter and concern
for the well-being of your
employees goes a long way.
 
Paula Burkes, Business writer
magazine, the list recognizes
the top 150 performers among
ABC member contractors
for achievements in safety,
quality, diversity and project
excellence ranked by work
hours, with special designa-
tions identified.
“ABC Top Performers are
leading the way in the merit
shop construction industry,
where diverse participants are
constantly striving to achieve
the highest levels of personal
and company performance
in an environment of fair and
open competition,” ABC CEO
Michael Bellaman said.
Staff reports
Online reviews show the
hotel has continued to strug-
gle from years of neglect that
includes numerous complaints
about worn-out furnish-
ings, cleanliness, backed-up
plumbing and a lack of hot
water.
Photos posted on review
sites show the pool still empty
and dirty as of late June. The
area surrounding the hotel,
however, has enjoyed a
revival in recent years and is
surrounded by newer hotels,
restaurants and entertain-
ment venues, including a Dave
& Buster’s.sub
to not ride down 10 or 20%,”
Dollarhide said. “If you believe
in Johnson & Johnson, it might
(become) a good time to buy in.”
If the ruling is heavily in
favor of Oklahoma, other states
may attempt similar lawsuits,
Dollarhide said, which could
then lead to more serious cause
for concern among shareholders.
“There could be a ton of set-
tlements,” Dollarhide said. “It
could be the start of a settlement
bonanza and could lead to the
consolidation and bankruptcy
of some of the smaller players.”
Johnson & Johnson boosted
its full-year sales forecast to a
range of $80.8 billion to $81.6
billion, up from its April forecast
of $80.6 billion to $81.2 billion,
the AP reported.
It also reaffirmed its April
forecast for full-year earnings
in the range of $8.53 to $8.63
per share. Industry analysts
have projected per-share annual
earnings of $8.61.
CONTRIBUTING:
The Associated Press