Sturdy Oil Company

Specialties

Fuel, Premium Diesel, Industrial Lubricants, Engine Oil, Racing Fuel, Pacific Pride, Fleet Fueling, Product Assistance, Tanks, Bulk Deliveries, Deli, Agricultural Services, Propane Exchange

Sturdy Oil supplies an assortment of petroleum products to farms, gas stations and industrial facilities. Our truck stops and card-​lock pumps directly sell fuel to drivers at any hour. In addition to automotive fuels, we deliver various greases, industrial lubricants, engine fluids and solvents. Sturdy Oil installs petroleum storage tanks as well.

History

Established in 1933.

Henry and Anker Fanoe opened Gilmore Fuels in 1933. They quickly expanded the business by purchasing Sturdy Oil, a distributor named after local businessman Gene Sturdivant. The brothers liked this name so much that they decided to use it for the entire company. As time passed, Sturdy Oil distributed fuel for several bygone petroleum brands. They included Hancock, Norwalk and Beacon.

In 1960, Neil Fanoe Sr. retired from farming and started working as Sturdy Oil’s second president. He skillfully managed the business for about 35 years, and it eventually became a full-​line Exxon distributor. The family still owns and operates Sturdy Oil; founder Henry Fanoe was the current president’s grandfather. Jon Fanoe began leading the company in 1995.