Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/743325
13 Oil Prophets Wayne remembers that since he was old enough to listen, his father had talked with him about buying a Shell jobbership so that they could be in business together. Wayne recognized at a very early age that his father knew a lot about the business, and from Don's beginnings as a jobber rep, he knew that was where he wanted to be. In 1976, Wayne's senior year at Auburn, his father suggested that he continue his education and get a law degree. By the time Wayne graduated from Cumberland Law, Don had grown the business enough for Wayne to join him. They bought Bellenger Oil Company in 1976, and in 1980, bought out Lindley Oil Company in Haleyville. A few months after that, they purchased the Amoco jobbership in Gadsden from Jim Martin. These acquisitions were the foundation of The Hollar Company, which eventually grew to 67 locations. Don stayed involved in the business until about age 80, spending a few hours in the office each day. Wayne recalls "He was always here for me to ask him advice … great husband, great dad, great business partner." Like his father, Wayne is a past President of P&CMA. Don passed away in June of 2015 at the age of 88, with the pride of seeing his grandsons Wes and Zac join the family business. Both boys had been involved with the family business since they were old enough to count and wrap coins from the car wash cash registers. Both graduates of Auburn University, Wes deals directly with the dealers and Zac focuses on accounting. Wes was also the 3rd generation family member to serve on P&CMA's Board of Directors. Like his father, Wayne is training his sons in every aspect of the business so that The Hollar Company will continue to thrive and be the company Don envisioned when he was a recent college graduate. Tom Shirley was born and raised in the Pike County community of Good Hope, on the banks of the Conecuh River. Tom attended Goshen High School where his athletic abilities paved the way for a scholarship to Chipola Junior College where he played basketball and baseball and met the love of his life, Sarah Jo Anderson. After they married in 1956, Tom was recruited to play baseball for the Baltimore Orioles, until a shoulder injury ended his baseball career. Tom's business career began with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company where he worked for 11 years. Their son Tim recalls that the family moved to the Dothan area when he was 8. A local banker talked his father into getting out of corporate life and arranged for a loan to buy a Phillips 66 jobbership in Ashford in 1966, and Home Oil Company began a business that flourishes to this day. In 1970, they acquired a Pure Distributorship and in 1979, Tom was named "Oilman of the e Shirley Family Home Oil Company, Inc., Dothan, AL 13 Oil Prophets