Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/668677
23 Oil Prophets pickup truck, and a loading rack. That's all. We made some changes and got a handle on the business" turning it into a thriving oil company serving Mississippi, South Alabama and Florida. As the business grew, they decided to hire an office manager/bookkeeper. Coincidentally, a friend had asked Jim to help Dora Robinson find a job in Mobile. When Jim and Brenda met Dora, although they had no plans to hire anyone, they immediately hired her and "as Dora walked in - Brenda walked out." Dora played a vital role in the success of McGuire Oil. When people asked her what she did at McGuire, she would always say, "I do whatever my next phone call requires." Dora stayed for over 35 years, and retired once she hand-picked John Britton as her replacement. John Britton spent 10 years working for Robert Norris in North Alabama after selling his business, Britton Oil. He worked closely with Dora as he managed McGuire's hauling. With his experience, John believed "McGuire Oil needed to haul their own product." As Jim says, "he got us back into the trucking business. " The business continued to grow. In the early 1980s, McGuire Oil was supplying 13 stores. Jim realized that these stores were in financial straits, so they took them over and "overnight, we were in the retail business." McGuire Oil stayed in the retail business until 1999. Over the years, Jim had developed a great partnership with Chevron, and continued to supply Chevron to those stores. "Chevron is the best thing that ever happened to us. We went on trips with them. We became friends. Business was fun with them." Today, when a visitor enters McGuire Oil, there is no telling how many dogs will greet him at the door. The most recent happy tale is Charlie's – she was found in McGuire's yard licking a burger wrapper with her mother and sister. Her sister was also recently adopted out, and Charlie is now on the way to her new home in New Orleans. With all these tales of dogs and treats, one might imagine that the company has gone to the dogs. Not so! With a thriving oil business and a growing transportation company, business continues to be fun – but busy – for the employees of McGuire Oil. The business has grown and expanded since Jim and Brenda made that trip to Mobile to check out a business for sale. And although Jim is occasionally out of the office on business – when he calls to check in, he asks about the dogs first, then about the business! Lynne Winfield with Wilson & Gia Ham McGuire with Camo John Britton with Roy & Frankie