Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/743325
12 Oil Prophets The Hollar family has been in Gadsden's gasoline industry for over 40 years. Recently honored by Shell Oil Company for 40 Years of Valued Service, the Hollar history began with Don Hollar. Don was born in his family's farmhouse near Gail, Texas on October 7, 1926. At age 15 he began work as a cowboy on a cattle drive, harvested wheat from Lubbock, Texas to Lincoln, Nebraska, worked at a hotel in Lubbock, and moved to San Diego for a job as a bellhop in a hotel. At age 17 he joined the Navy, and served in the Philippines until the end of World War II. Returning to Texas after the war, he met and married Penny in 1948. Don graduated from the University of Houston in 1951, operating a Shell Service station throughout his college years. Don began his 21-year career with Shell after graduation, and the family, which now included daughter Lorie and son Wayne, lived in Memphis, Dallas, Houston, Davenport, Iowa, New York City, Jacksonville, Florida, and finally, Birmingham. In 1976, Don resigned from Shell and purchased the Bellenger Oil Company, a Shell distributorship in Gadsden. Don became active with our association, then known as Alabama Petroleum Marketers Association, as soon as he became a jobber. He joined the Board of Directors in 1978, and in 1983 led negotiations for the APMA, along with Larry Jones (of Independent Oil Marketers Association of Alabama) to merge the 2 groups. The two served as co-Presidents during the first year of the newly formed Alabama Oilmen's Association. We are proud to recognize two families with a rich history within Alabama's petroleum industry. The Hollar family, based in Gadsden, and the Shirley family of Dothan, both hold the distinction of having 3 generations of family members on P&CMA's Board of Directors. Their patriarchs, Don Hollar and Tom Shirley, have both been inducted into the P&CMA Hall of Fame. Two Families - ree Generations of Service e Hollar Family e Hollar Company, Inc., Gadsden, AL 12 Oil Prophets