Dean Werries
E. Dean Werries was an American businessman from Oklahoma. Werries previously served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce under Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating from 1995 to 1997. Prior to his service as Secretary, Werries served as chairman of Sonic and as chairman and chief executive officer of the Fleming Companies, Inc.
Career with Flemings
Werries joined the Fleming Companies, Inc, a Kansas, later Oklahoma-based supplier of consumer package goods to retailers, in 1955. In 1981, he came that firm's President. He remained in that position until 1988 when he became Fleming's chief executive officer. Werries retired as CEO in October 1993 to become the chairman of the board of directors for Fleming. He continued to serve as chairman until 1994, when he retired as the age of 64.Career with Sonic
While still CEO of Fleming, Werries was elected to the board of directors for Sonic Drive-In in 1991. When Werries retired from Fleming in 1994, Sonic shareholders elected him as the chairman of their board of directors. He remained with Sonic until his retirement in 2000. J. Clifford Hudson, Sonic's CEO, was elected as board chair to succeed Werries.Following his retirement, he was named director emeritus, which allowed him to participate in all meetings of Sonic's board of directors but not the right to vote.