Texaco

Texaco, Inc.
	File:Texaco Logo.svg Texaco logo, featuring the Texas star
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Petroleum
Founded	1 January 1902; 124 years ago in Beaumont, Texas, United States
Founder	Joseph S. Cullinan, Thomas J. Donoghue, Arnold Schlaet
Fate	Merged with Chevron Corporation (2001)
Headquarters	Harrison, New York (former headquarters), United States
Area served	United States, Latin America, West Africa, Europe (notably the United Kingdom)
Key people	Joseph S. Cullinan (founder), Thomas J. Donoghue (founder), Arnold Schlaet (founder)
Products	Gasoline ("Texaco with Techron"), Havoline motor oil
Parent	Chevron Corporation

Texaco, Inc. (short for "The Texas Company") is a U.S.-based petroleum brand currently owned by Chevron Corporation. Its primary product offering is the gasoline known as "Texaco with Techron". The company also owns the Havoline motor oil line. Texaco operated independently until 2001, when its refining division merged with Chevron, and a majority of its service station franchises were sold to Shell plc through Shell’s U.S. operations. Texaco was among the earliest established gasoline brands in the industry.

Established in 1902 in Beaumont, Texas as the "Texas Fuel Company" by founders Joseph S. Cullinan, Thomas J. Donoghue, and Arnold Schlaet, Texaco originated in the aftermath of the Spindletop oil discovery. Initially, it did not engage directly in drilling or crude production; these functions were carried out by Producers Oil Company, an affiliate created by Cullinan to finance growth through investor backing. Significant funding from John W. Gates facilitated a corporate restructuring that combined Producers Oil Company and Texas Fuel Company into what became Texaco.

From the mid-1940s until the 1970s, Texaco was counted among the Seven Sisters, a group that dominated global oil markets. Its emblem—a white star set within a red circle—symbolizes the Texas lone star and inspired slogans such as "You can trust your car to the man who wears the star." Prior to merging with Chevron, Texaco’s headquarters were situated near White Plains, New York.

Since 2005, Texaco’s gasoline products have incorporated Chevron’s Techron additive, which replaced the earlier CleanSystem3 formula. The brand maintains a significant market footprint across the United States, Latin America, West Africa, and Europe—particularly in the United Kingdom, where approximately 980 service stations carry the Texaco name.

1902–59: Origins

Texaco was founded in 1902 in Beaumont, Texas under the original name "Texas Fuel Company" by Jim Hogg, Joseph S. Cullinan, John Warne Gates, and Arnold Schlaet. On May 1 of that year, the Texas Company was officially established from Texas Fuel's assets with additional capital investment. By 1905, operations expanded to Antwerp, Belgium, through Continental Petroleum Company, which Texaco fully controlled by 1913. In 1915, headquarters relocated to new offices at 1111 Rusk Street in Houston. By 1928, Texaco had become the first American oil company to market gasoline nationwide under a single brand across all then-48 states.

In 1931, Texaco expanded its refining and marketing reach into the Midwest by acquiring Illinois-based Indian Oil Company, incorporating Indian’s Havoline motor oil into its product lineup. The following year saw the launch of Fire Chief gasoline nationwide—a premium fuel promoted via NBC's Texaco Fire Chief radio program hosted by Ed Wynn.

International expansion continued in 1936 with acquisition of the Barco oil concession in Colombia and a joint venture with Socony-Vacuum (now Mobil) to develop those resources. During this era, Texaco violated U.S. neutrality laws by supplying oil to Spain’s fascist Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War; this resulted in a $20,000 fine but sales on credit persisted until conflict ended.

Also in 1936, Texaco partnered with Standard Oil Company of California (Socal, now Chevron) to form Caltex for marketing east of Suez. This collaboration involved exchanging assets such as Socal’s Bahrain refinery and Arabian oil fields. In 1937, industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague created a modernized service station design for Texaco.

The company introduced Sky Chief gasoline in 1938 as a high-octane premium product and began a "Registered Rest Room" program in 1939 aimed at standardizing station cleanliness nationwide.

During World War II, CEO Torkild Rieber resigned in 1940 after revelations about his pro-Nazi sympathies and unauthorized oil shipments to Franco’s forces during Spain’s civil conflict surfaced. Despite this controversy, Texaco ranked 93rd among U.S. companies awarded military production contracts throughout the war.

Postwar growth included Caltex’s European expansion starting in 1947 and merging British interests with Trinidad Leaseholds under Regent; full ownership was achieved by 1956 though Regent branding lasted into the late 1960s. In 1954, detergent additives were incorporated into Sky Chief gasoline to enhance engine performance.

In terms of media sponsorships and branding initiatives, Texaco became sole sponsor of NBC-TV's The Huntley-Brinkley Report in 1955. The company adopted the name Texaco, Inc. in 1959 to capitalize on its flagship brand’s status as America’s top-selling gasoline sold across all states. That same year included acquisition of Canada’s McColl-Frontenac Oil Company Ltd., rebranded as Texaco Canada Limited, along with purchase of Paragon Oil which expanded fuel oil distribution throughout the northeastern United States.

1964–98: Diverse Initiatives

In 1964, Texaco launched the "Matawan" style of service station in Matawan, New Jersey. Two years afterward, the company replaced its traditional banjo sign with a new hexagon emblem outlined in red and emblazoned with bold black TEXACO lettering. By 1968, Texaco had rebranded its British petrol outlets from Regent to the Texaco name. In response to federal vehicle emissions standards, Texaco introduced its first unleaded regular-octane gasoline in Southern California in 1970, with a nationwide rollout completed by 1974. A fresh station design was unveiled in 1982, coinciding with product rebranding efforts such as transitioning Lead-free Texaco to Texaco Unleaded and Fire Chief to Texaco Regular.

During the early 1980s, Texaco became indirectly connected to Colombian paramilitary groups through intricate local partnerships. In 1985, Pennzoil secured a landmark $10.53-billion civil verdict against Texaco over a contractual conflict involving Getty Oil, prompting Texaco to file for bankruptcy protection in 1987—the largest such filing in U.S. history at that time.

In 1989, Texaco partnered with Saudi Aramco to create Star Enterprise, a joint venture overseeing refining and marketing activities across the eastern United States and Gulf Coast regions. That same year, Texaco introduced System3 gasoline containing advanced detergent additives aimed at enhancing engine performance. Also in 1989, Texaco Canada was sold to Imperial Oil, with retail outlets subsequently rebranded as Esso. In 1993, Texaco faced a class-action lawsuit exceeding one billion dollars from indigenous residents of the Ecuadorian Amazon concerning environmental damage linked to offshore drilling operations.

In 1994, Texaco replaced its System3 gasoline with CleanSystem3, promoting improved engine cleaning capabilities. The following year, it merged its Danish and Norwegian downstream businesses with Norsk Hydro under the HydroTexaco joint venture; this partnership was later divested in 2007 after Hydro’s acquisition by Statoil. In 1996, Texaco resolved a $170 million racial discrimination lawsuit filed by Black employees—the largest settlement of its kind at that time—though the case harmed the company’s reputation due to evidence destruction attempts.

1999–present: Chevron Corporation

In 1999, Texaco combined its Western and Midwestern U.S. refining and marketing operations with Shell Oil Company through the joint venture Equilon. This arrangement eventually led to the 2006 Supreme Court decision Texaco Inc. v. Dagher, which absolved both firms of antitrust allegations related to Equilon’s fuel pricing. That year also saw the formation of Motiva Enterprises—a joint venture among Shell, Saudi Aramco, and Star Enterprise—consolidating refining and marketing operations along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast.

Chevron Corporation agreed to acquire Texaco for $36 billion in October 2000, finalizing the merger by October 2001. To comply with Federal Trade Commission regulations, Texaco’s stakes in Equilon and Motiva were divested to Shell; subsequently, most Texaco-branded stations were converted to Shell by 2003. Around that time, Texaco ceased operations at its Refineria Panamá refinery due to reduced demand. In July 2004, Chevron regained non-exclusive rights to use the Texaco brand within the U.S., and by August 2005 implemented the Techron additive into Texaco fuels across American markets and parts of Latin America.

In 2007, Chevron transferred marketing responsibilities in the Benelux region to Delek Benelux, which managed approximately 869 stations primarily under the Texaco name. By 2010, Chevron withdrew from retail operations in the Mid-Atlantic United States, removing its branding from roughly 450 service stations across states including Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

Corporate headquarters

Prior to its integration with Chevron, Texaco operated out of a 750,000 square-foot facility located in Harrison, Westchester County, New York, close to White Plains. In 2002, Chevron divested this former Texaco headquarters along with the adjacent 107-acre property, selling it to Morgan Stanley for $42 million.

During the 1930s, Texaco occupied 14 floors within the Chrysler Building in Midtown Manhattan. This tenancy gave rise to the Cloud Club, an exclusive luncheon venue for company executives, which ceased operations in 1979 after Texaco relocated to Westchester County in 1977.

President

Joseph S. Cullinan, 1902–1913
Elgood C. Lufkin, 1913–1920
Amos L. Beaty, 1920–1926
Ralph C. Holmes, 1926–1933
William S. Rodgers, 1933–1944
Harry T. Klein, 1944–1952
John S. Leach, 1952–1953
Augustus C. Long, 1953–1956
James W. Foley, 1956–1963
J. Howard Rambin Jr., 1964
Marion J. Epley, 1965–1970
Maurice F. Granville, 1970–1971
John K. McKinley, 1971–1983
Alfred C. DeCrane Jr., 1983–1986
James W. Kinnear, 1987–1993

Chairman of the Board

Elgood C. Lufkin, 1920–1926
Amos L. Beaty, 1926–1927
Ralph C. Holmes, –1933
Charles B. Ames, 1933–1935
Torkild Rieber, 1935–1940
William S. Rodgers, 1944–1953
John S. Leach, 1953–1956
Augustus C. Long, 1956–1965
J. Howard Rambin Jr., 1965–1970
Marion J. Epley, 1970–1971
Maurice F. Granville, 1971–1980
John K. McKinley, 1980–1986
Alfred C. DeCrane Jr., 1987–1996
Peter I. Bijur, 1997–2001
Glenn F. Tilton, 2001

Sports

Texaco’s Havoline brand gained significant recognition through its automotive product endorsements and extensive involvement in motorsports marketing. The company sustained a prominent role in NASCAR for more than twenty years by sponsoring drivers such as Davey Allison and Juan Pablo Montoya and collaborating with Chip Ganassi Racing until ending its NASCAR participation in 2008.

In the realm of open-wheel racing, Texaco supported the Grand Prix of Houston and backed celebrated drivers including Indianapolis 500 champion Mario Andretti and his son Michael Andretti.

Texaco’s engagement in Formula One encompassed sponsorship deals with Team Lotus (1972-73), McLaren (1974-78), followed by Stewart Grand Prix and Jaguar Racing (1997-2001), as well as association with ITV’s Formula One broadcasts.

The company further contributed to touring car and rally competitions via its Bastos brand and partnerships with teams like Tom Walkinshaw Racing and Eggenberger Motorsport throughout the mid to late 1980s.

In Australia, Texaco’s Caltex division sponsored Colin Bond Racing from 1987 until 1993 and Stone Brothers Racing between 2000 and 2007; this included notable achievements such as Russell Ingall’s victory in the 2005 V8 Supercar Championship. Subsequently, Caltex became a principal sponsor of Triple Eight Race Engineering within the V8 Supercars series.

Outside of motorsport arenas, Texaco served as the title sponsor for England’s One Day International cricket competition—the Texaco Trophy—from 1984 through 1998 and also supported the Texaco Cup football tournament featuring clubs from across the British Isles.

Entertainment sponsorship (music or comedy/variety)

For over six decades, Texaco played a pivotal role as a key sponsor of the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts, strengthening its brand identity through association with prestigious entertainment. The company also backed notable entertainers such as Ed Wynn, Fred Allen, and Milton Berle. Berle’s Texaco Star Theater, which aired on NBC, became an iconic television show. This approach to sponsorship effectively boosted Texaco’s visibility by connecting its brand with widely admired cultural figures.

During the 1930s, Texaco sponsored the radio program "The Texaco Fire Chief," hosted by Ed Wynn, utilizing the platform to promote its products. As television emerged, Milton Berle carried on this tradition with the hour-long Texaco Star Theater. Texaco’s involvement in entertainment media exemplified a deliberate strategy to maintain brand exposure across changing broadcast formats.

Additionally, the 1983 music video for "Cruel Summer" by the girl group Bananarama featured the members portrayed as mechanics at a Texaco station, further embedding the company within popular media culture.

Environmental controversies

Between 1965 and 1993, Texaco participated in a joint venture developing the Lago Agrio oil field in Ecuador, which became the center of significant environmental disputes affecting the company’s public image. The firm faced numerous lawsuits alleging environmental harm, including claims that it discharged toxic wastewater directly into rivers and unlined waste pits, resulting in more than 18 billion gallons of hazardous waste contaminating the Amazon rainforest. Reports also indicated that burning toxic gases released dangerous dioxins into the environment.

Chevron, which owns Texaco, argues it has been unfairly blamed and points to the Ecuadorian government and its state oil company, Petroecuador, as primarily responsible. This legal battle has attracted global scrutiny and influenced Chevron’s financial standing and market position.

The Lago Agrio litigation underscores the complexities of environmental accountability and risk management for multinational oil companies, emphasizing the critical need for sustainable operational practices to ensure long-term corporate viability and investor confidence.

Business diversification

The nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery technology used in contemporary hybrid vehicles was pioneered by Stan Ovshinsky of ECD Ovonics and Dr. Masahiko Oshitani from Yuasa Company. In 1994, General Motors acquired majority control over Ovonics’ battery research and production. On October 10, 2001, Texaco bought GM’s stake in GM Ovonics shortly before Chevron finalized its acquisition of Texaco six days later. In 2003, Texaco Ovonics Battery Systems was reorganized into Cobasys, a joint venture equally owned by Chevron and Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) Ovonics.