Founders and Keepers:

The Story of a Family Oil Business

Founders and Keepers: The Story of a Family Oil Business, recently published by UpStart Communications, is both a Quarles family memoir and a factual account of employees, events and properties in Virginia that helped to build Quarles Petroleum Inc. As told to Holly Lewis Maddux by Douglas E. Quarles Jr., the story chronicles the life of his father, Douglas E. Quarles Sr., and the company he founded through five decades of growth and expansion. Credit is given throughout the book, not only to industrious family roots and living relatives but also to employees who are remembered for their commitment and loyalty to the company.

From the early years of the business throughout his life, Earle is depicted as a hands-on manager actively participating in the day-to-day operations to ensure impeccable customer service. As Doug remembers, “The customer was always right.”

Two important values instilled by Earle and Gladys define the company culture today. As one grandson remembers, “You would go from the kitchen to the business to the living room. It all sort of blended together.” Since family members were employees, it was a simple choice for the owners to regard their employees as extended family. Policies and procedures are still “guided by a concern for all aspects of employees’ lives”, according to Doug. In addition, administrative, sales and executive personnel are perceived as supporting the front-line workers, rather than the other way around.

Founders and Keepers provides photographs and amusing anecdotes from three generations of Quarleses on how a small town Virginia family dreamt big, took risks and always put the customer first to become today one of Virginia’s most successful energy companies.

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