Lawtey Shell and Lewis & Raulerson, Inc. celebrate 27 years! Carl Torode started at an early age in the family business, Torode Oil Company, Starke, FL. Carl’s father, John Torode was a Shell Oil Jobber for 38 years and Carl did numerous jobs in high school and college including driving the tank wagon truck to deliver gas to twelve of their Shell dealer sites in NE Florida.
In 1981, John provided Carl the opportunity to run the store in Lawtey, Florida. Carl did not know at the time, but this would be his profession and he is still operating the site thirty-six years later. Carl’s father retired and sold Torode Oil Company in the late 1980’s and Lawtey Shell selected Lewis & Raulerson, Inc. to be their new jobber in 1991. Twenty-six years later, Carl stated “It’s been a great partnership and friendship over the year’s”.
Carl has been in business for thirty-six years and had the pleasure to serve many generations over the years. Carl has seen many changes since first taking over operations on busy Highway 301, but he still believes providing the best customer service has been the key to his overall success. Carl is active in his community and supports schools, local sport’s teams and provides families that lost a loved one with drinks and ice. One of Carl’s first employees, a retired gentleman, always told Carl, ‘When things get rough, ‘kill them with kind words’. It is evident that Carl practices great customer service through a well-maintained facility because his sales continue to grow year over year.
Lawtey Shell was built in the 1950’s and Carl has done an amazing job of modernizing the facility while maintaining some of the historical architecture. The building exterior has been modernized but still retains some of the characteristics of prior years. Lawtey Shell is also home to a vintage Shell dispenser encased in a glass display!
Lewis & Raulerson, Inc. is a wholesale distributor of light products, distillates and lubricants serving 200 open dealers and over 1,000 commercial accounts in North Alabama, North Florida and South Georgia since 1938.
“I would like to thank Carl, the family and staff for your valued friendship, business and the legacy that we have nurtured for nearly 3 decades. Thank you for your trust and loyalty, but more importantly, I thank you for your friendship and the fond memories between you, myself and the Lewis family. We are proud to be associated with your name and grateful to be a valued supplier” said Bill Raulerson of Lewis & Raulerson, Inc.