Chesapeake Petroleum marks 50 years in business
Longtime WANADA Kindred -Line member Chesapeake Petroleum is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, a significant plateau, since only about 18% of companies in the U.S. survive 50 years.
Chesapeake Petroleum was started in 1961 by Rex Davis as a Quaker State oil distributor. Rex focused his efforts on supplying automobile dealers, providing them with oil tanks, spigots, and command systems on a loan basis. Soon Chesapeake Petroleum had about 70% of the car and truck dealer business in the area.
In the 1970s Davis saw that aftermarket products were a growing part of new car dealership retailing, so he brought in the Auto Armor line of polish and protection products and hired Paul Maymon to run the business. During this time, too, Rex became a leader in the Washington Area dealer organization, joining WANADAs Board, holding the Kindred-Line seat, from which he ultimately became WANADA treasurer, a position he held into the 1980s.
Chesapeake continued to grow through the 80s, though Rex would not live to see the full fruits of his efforts, as he passed away unexpectedly in 1988. Victoria McCullough, his daughter, would succeed him as chairman and Tony Santy would become president of the company. Among Santys first decisions was to purchase the local Mobil distributor, P&W lubricants, doubling the size of Chesapeake Petroleum.
In more recent times Tim Sullivan took over as president of Chesapeake and Tony Santy became Chief Executive Officer in 2007. Together, Tim and Tony decided the company needed to widen its market, so Skyline Oil located in Winchester, VA., was acquired. With Skyline came
Shell, Pennzoil and Quaker State products broadening Chesapeakes already impressive menu of nationally known brands of lubricants. An unexpected benefit of that purchase was that the company was able to become a Rotary Lift and Champion Compressor distributor as well.
Chesapeake Petroleum is now one of the largest independent suppliers of lubricants in the MidAtlantic States. It continues the theme that Rex Davis originated 50 years ago: Service and Quality are our two priorities for customers.
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