Jim Haslam

James Arthur Haslam II
James Arthur Haslam II
Born	December 13, 1930 (age 95); Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Entrepreneur
Known for	Founder of Pilot Company

James Arthur Haslam II (born December 13, 1930) is an American entrepreneur and the founder of Pilot Company, a prominent convenience store and travel center chain operating throughout the United States and Canada. It ranks among the largest privately held companies in the U.S. Haslam has been a major benefactor of the University of Tennessee, donating tens of millions over many years. His son, Jimmy Haslam, owns the National Football League's Cleveland Browns and the Major League Soccer team Columbus Crew, while another son, Bill Haslam, served as the Governor of Tennessee.

Early life

Born in 1930 in Detroit, Michigan, Haslam was the son of Melitta (Fry) and James Arthur Haslam. His father, a veteran of World War I, was employed by Studebaker Corporation. The family subsequently relocated to Pennsylvania and later to St. Petersburg, Florida. During his time at St. Petersburg High School, Haslam distinguished himself as a football player, attracting multiple collegiate offers. He ultimately committed to the University of Tennessee after being recruited by coach Robert Neyland.

Starting college in 1948, Haslam played as an offensive lineman on the 1951 Volunteers football team that won the national championship, supporting his fraternity brother and All-American Hank Lauricella. He served as captain of the 1952 squad but was sidelined for several late-season games due to eligibility concerns.

Following graduation, Haslam served as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, spending several months stationed in Korea after the armistice. Upon returning stateside, he declined an opportunity to coach high school football and instead joined Fleet Oil in LaFollette, Tennessee. Within a year, Fleet’s president Sam Claiborne appointed him to lead their newly established Sail Oil station chain.

Pilot Oil

In 1958, Haslam departed Sail Oil to establish Pilot Oil Corporation alongside his wife, Cynthia, agreeing not to compete in East Tennessee for three years. The company’s name originated from an insurance advertisement Haslam encountered in North Carolina. Just one month after forming Pilot, they acquired their first gas station in Gate City, Virginia, for $6,000. This initial location opened on November 20, 1958, featuring four fuel pumps and offering cigarettes and soft drinks.

Restricted from operating in East Tennessee during this period, Haslam concentrated on expanding into Virginia and Kentucky markets. By 1965, Pilot had grown to twelve stations but encountered financial difficulties that resulted in selling half of the company to Marathon Oil. Marathon provided wholesale fuel supplies along with a $4 million loan that facilitated further growth.

Following Cynthia’s unexpected passing in 1974, Haslam’s eldest son Jimmy joined Pilot’s board of directors. The company broadened its operations by adding convenience stores and launched its first travel center in Corbin, Kentucky, in 1981—modeled after a Louisiana travel center run by another University of Tennessee alumnus. Due to Marathon’s opposition to Pilot’s expansion plans, Haslam repurchased Marathon’s stake in 1988.

In 1994, Pilot acquired eleven Pro Stop locations, becoming the second-largest truck stop chain nationwide. By 1995, it operated over eighty travel centers across thirty-three states and maintained fifty-one convenience stores within Tennessee and Virginia employing more than 4,000 people. That year marked leadership changes with Jimmy Haslam appointed CEO, Bill Haslam as president, and their father serving as chairman.

In 2001, Pilot entered into a partnership with Marathon-Ashland to create Pilot Travel Centers, LLC. Two years later in 2003, it purchased sixty sites from Williams' Travel Centers for $189 million. By 2008, Pilot had become the largest travel center operator in the U.S., with locations spanning forty states and Canada while leading diesel fuel sales for long-haul trucking. That same year, Pilot bought out Marathon’s remaining interest for $700 million and sold a 47.5% stake to CVC Investments.

Pilot Flying J

In 2010, Pilot Travel Centers combined forces with the bankrupt truck stop operator Flying J, resulting in the creation of Pilot Flying J. This newly formed entity managed more than 550 sites throughout 23 U.S. states and Canada, employing upwards of 23,000 individuals.

Politics

Haslam has maintained an influential presence in the political landscape of Knoxville, Tennessee, where Pilot is based, acting as a Republican fundraiser. His early political support included backing Senator Howard Baker during the 1960s and President Gerald Ford in the 1970s. In the early 1970s, he was appointed chairman of the Knox County Public Building Authority, where he advocated for metropolitan government and spearheaded efforts to construct the Knoxville City-County Building. However, in 1999, Knox County chose not to renew his appointment, reportedly due to his endorsement of an unsuccessful metropolitan government plan.

In 2002, Haslam's son Bill campaigned for Knoxville mayor while facing criticism concerning the family's business interests. Critics suggested Bill was influenced by his father and local oil stakeholders, claims he refuted. During Bill’s gubernatorial run in 2010, opponents accused Pilot of price gouging in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Haslam also managed Chattanooga mayor Bob Corker’s 2006 U.S. Senate bid; Corker is a longtime family associate. Additionally, Haslam served as Tennessee state co-chairman for Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign. In 2021, Haslam contributed $2,900 each to Democratic Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin.

Philanthropy

Haslam holds a position on the University of Tennessee's board of trustees and has contributed tens of millions toward the institution and its athletic departments. In recognition of his support, the football team’s practice field was named "Haslam Field" in 2002. The family’s $32.5 million donation in 2006 remains the largest gift ever received by the university, financing projects such as the James A. Haslam II Business Building, Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Baker Center, and upgrades to Neyland Stadium.

The Haslams are also significant benefactors to numerous Knoxville organizations including the Knoxville Museum of Art, Knox-Area Rescue Ministries, East Tennessee Historical Society, Foothills Land Conservancy, Boys and Girls Club, United Way, St. John's Episcopal Church, and the Knoxville Zoo. Notably, three lion cubs at the zoo were named after Haslam’s children in 2006. The alternative Knoxville newspaper Metro Pulse described Haslam as "Knoxville's most conspicuous philanthropist." In 2014, following a $50 million family donation, the University of Tennessee honored Haslam by renaming its College of Business after him.

Personal life

Haslam wed Cynthia Allen in 1953; they had three children: James "Jimmy" Haslam III (born 1954), Ann Haslam Bailey (born 1956), and Bill Haslam (born 1958). After Cynthia passed away in 1974, he married longtime acquaintance Natalie Leach Tucker in 1976, thereby gaining three stepchildren.

Bill Haslam served as governor of Tennessee from 2011 and was Knoxville’s mayor from 2003 until 2011. Jimmy Haslam stepped down as Pilot CEO in September 2012 but returned to the position in February 2013. In August 2012, he sold his minority ownership stake in the Pittsburgh Steelers to acquire ownership of the Cleveland Browns franchise.

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