Herndon Oil

Herndon Oil Corporation's beginnings can be traced to the late 1950's when brothers C.S. Herndon and A.W. Herndon, both owners of small mom and pop grocery stores, decided to supply their own stores with petroleum products rather than purchase them from local petroleum supplier C.C. Murphy. This move allowed the brothers to lower the cost of those... products, which consisted mainly of gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene and motor oil. They began with a pickup truck and placed metal barrels in the rear of it to haul their products. Soon, other mom and pop owners approached them about supplying their locations. Local farmers soon followed and Herndon Oil Company was formed with the brothers being equal partners. They established an office in a service station building which was shared with Roy McKnight, who operated the service station. The pickup truck was replaced with a used tanker transporter, and as sales increased, so did the geographical area from which the company drew its customers. As the demand for their petroleum products grew, the brothers decided the best move was to divide the business. In 1966, Herndon Oil Company became C.S. Herndon Oil Company and A.W. Herndon Oil Company. C.S. Herndon relocated to his home in the Union community five miles south of Abbeville. A.W. Herndon retained the office in Abbeville which continues to be home for A.W. Herndon Oil to this day. After working out of his residence for a while, C.S. Herndon built a new two office block building directly across Hwy 95 from his residence. In 1970, C.S. Herndon's son, David, joined him in the business and the company's name was changed to Herndon and Herndon Oil Company with father and son as partners. In the early 1970's, the convenience store, a new concept in the marketing of petroleum products was introduced to the public. The convenience store combined the inside sales of snacks, beverages, tobacco and other impulse items with the sales of gasoline outside. Although similar to the old mom and pop operation, the convenience store ...Read More