Thomas Brothers Oil and Propane 100 Year Celebration is set for Saturday, June 19, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at it’s location at the intersection of Main Street, Yanceyville and Rt. 158. The Open House will feature free BBQ and a raffle. All are invited.
History of Thomas Brothers Oil and Gas, Inc.
1920s
Walter Lea Thomas, Jr. (1900-1966) started the business in 1921 in the Town of Milton. A small general store was provided by his father and his brother Edmund Dixon Thomas (1902-1973) was given several farms in Caswell County.
His business was incorporated as Caswell Oil and Gas Company with his father, Walter Lea Thomas, Sr. (1895-1929) as a stockholder.
His first petroleum supplier was Esso, and he got his fuel by train delivered to two 8,000-gallon tanks on a rail siding near the Milton train depot (close to the Dan River).
The Esso deal was short-lived, and he moved to Texaco as a supplier. The two fuels he sold were kerosene and gasoline.
Kerosene was the best-selling product as sawmills were his largest customers, and they used kerosene to run their tractors and stationary engines. Gasoline was used to start these engines and as they warmed up, the kerosene tank was turned on for normal operation. Gasoline sales increased as more automobiles and trucks came with improved roads.
1930s
Gasoline pumps and tanks were installed at many country stores, and even on sidewalks in front of businesses in towns.
The two bulk tanks at the Milton railroad depot were moved to the store. Walter Lea Thomas, Jr., drove his fuel truck to Hopewell Virginia where there was a fuel terminal on the James River. This terminal was supplied by tanker ships from refineries in Texas and Louisiana.
He also drove to Philadelphia for to purchase motor oil and other lubricants in bulk from a refinery there.
He bought his first real tractor-trailer, a 1931 Chevrolet, and a 4,250-gallon tanker. The 1931 Chevrolet was replaced with a 1936 model because of the increased power and hydraulic brakes.
A two-bay garage for tire sales and auto repair was attached to the Milton store.
Before World War II, the company changed fuel suppliers to Republic, which had two of their ocean tankers delivering to the Hopewell, Virginia, terminal.
The business substantially in the 1930s, supplying additional service stations with gasoline, tires, and batteries as the number of motor vehicles on the road increased.
1940s
With World War II came fuel and tire rationing. In 1942, both of Republic’s tanker ships were sunk by German submarines. With insufficient fuel and tires to support the business, Walter Lea Thomas, Jr., moved to a nearby farm with his wife and three boys: Walter Lea Thomas III; John Yancey (Red) Thomas; and Erwin Bernard (Bernie) Thomas. He began purchasing tracts of timber that he cut and sawed with his own sawmill. The three young sons were taught hard work by their father.
In 1947, the company opened a branch office in Yanceyville, in 1948 adding an office/retail general merchandise store with an automobile service bay. A bulk fuel plant was built behind the office. The main fuel supplier became Crown Oil Company out of the terminals built in Greensboro during World War II. Walter Lea, Jr.’s three sons soon were working in the oil business full time.
1950s
In 1952, Walter Lea Thomas, Jr., and son John Yancey Thomas launched another business, T & T Oil Company and soon had four independent-branded gas stations in the Danville, Virginia area. Another son, Bernie Thomas, was with T & T until shortly after his marriage when he left the family business to work as a tobacco buyer and supervisor for a local tobacco company.
Sales of Number 2 fuel oil, kerosene, and diesel increased as more homes installed central heating and diesel trucks became more common. Kerosene sales decreased.
Around 1957, the company switched branded fuel suppliers to Phillips Petroleum Company. This was the Yanceyville store 1947-1971.
1960s
Thomas Oil Company supplied about a dozen service stations and stores as well as T & T. The company used its 8,500 gallon tractor-trailer to transport fuel from terminals in Greensboro. Home delivery of fuel oil and kerosene increased. Most of the company's operations moved to the larger office in Yanceyville.
Walter Lea Thomas, Jr. retired to travel with his Airstream and spend time at home with his grandchildren. Walter Lea Thomas III and John Yancey Thomas ran the company.
In 1964, Thomas Oil Company began selling propane. A bulk propane tank and warehouse were built at a new location in Yanceyville.
Tobacco barns were converting from oil to propane. Residential propane use was mostly for cooking and space heaters, replacing kerosene and wood-fired heaters.
Two-way radios were used to dispatch and communicate with the delivery trucks from the offices.
1970s
In 1972 the company was incorporated as Thomas Brothers Oil and Gas, Inc. (hereinafter "Thomas Brothers"), a new office was built, and bulk distillates and a gasoline plant were added at the location of the propane plant.
Walter Lea Thomas III’s son Marcus Cicero (Marc) Thomas and John Yancey Thomas's son John Yancey Thomas, Jr. became more involved in the business -- working after school and during summers.
Marc began working full time after college in 1978, and John did the same in 1979.
A second 18,000-gallon propane storage tank was added, and propane sales increased over gasoline and other distillates. Installation and service of propane appliances increased.
Factory-built tobacco bulk-curing barns were sold, delivered, and serviced as they quickly replaced the curing barns.
Thomas Brothers purchased an 11,000 gallon propane tanker and began transporting propane to Yanceyville from Apex, NC.
1980s
Thomas Brothers began removing underground fuel tanks at older locations and conducted environmental remediation as necessary.
Marc and John began buying the business from their fathers.
Residential use of propane exceeded agricultural uses, and the company purchased many propane tanks and additional installation and service equipment to meet demand.
The company began using common carriers to deliver fuel purchases from the terminals. The road tractor and both fuel tankers were sold.
1990s
A 30,000-gallon bulk propane tank was added to the two 18,000-gallon tanks at the Yanceyville propane facility. Additional licenses were obtained, and employee propane-handling training increased.
Thomas Brothers was delivering fuel and servicing propane equipment in five counties in North Carolina and Virginia.
2000-2019
Sales of gasoline and kerosene decreased. Sales of propane increased. Heating fuel oil sales declined, but farm and home delivery remained profitable.
Three new propane delivery trucks and additional tank setting and service trucks were purchased.
Phillips Petroleum Company ceased operations and support in the southeast US, and Thomas Brothers created its own logos and signage for delivery trucks. Propane and other fuels were purchased from several suppliers on an unbranded basis.
Nearly all Thomas Brothers required environmental remediation was completed.
2019
Marc Thomas and John Thomas sold Thomas Brothers Oil and Gas, Inc., on June 5, 2019, to Stone Road Energy. They remained for a time to assist in the business transfer.
By John Yancey Thomas, Jr.
May 2021
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The foregoing article was published in The Caswell Messenger (Yanceyville, NC), 16 June 2021. Photographs are courtesy Thomas Brothers Oil and Propane Co. and the Thomas family. All rights reserved.
To see many Thomas Brothers Oil Co. photographs go to: Thomas Oil Company
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