|
The history of Polk Oil Company is a classic story of American initiative and innovation.
In 1937, with the encouragement of Hazel's parents, H.C. and Hazel Polk opened Polk's Garage to serve motorists in the South Cherokee County community of Wells
Working long hours, they expanded the business by selling wholesale gasoline, primarily to the logging industry in East Texas. Hazel worked in the office, keeping the books and serving customers, while H.C. repaired trucks and other vehicles. At the end of each day, he often drove to an East Texas refinery to pick up a truckload of gasoline for the next day's business.
In the 1950s-- concerned about the education of their four children, H.C. and Hazel moved to Lufkin so the children could enroll in a larger school. But they continued to commute to the garage in Wells for several years until they built a gas station on South First Street, the Present day headquarters location for the company. In 1964, their son, Ray, graduated from the University of Texas and joined the family business--the second of three generations to be involved in the company.
In 1989 Carl Ray Polk, Jr. returned to Lufkin from the University of Texas to become the third generation to take an active role in the company.
|
