A Rising Tide
A Really Big WOW
Then and Now — Bobby Boles
401(k) and Profit-Sharing Plan
Helping Hands — Quality Oil Sends Crew to Gulf Coast
Quality Oil Appoints Safety and Loss Prevention Manager
Holiday Check List
Brookberry Farms Update
Quality Oilers
Hospitality News
2005 Service Awards
Quality Plus Welcomes New Manager
Time to Laugh

Fall 2005 News

Core Ideology

To do it because it is right To treat others as we would like to be treated To be financially responsible To be better today than yesterday

John Kennedy once said, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” He was speaking to our nation’s ability to come together for the common good to achieve great things as a leader for the world to follow. What is our rising tide — what brings us together to achieve our common goal? It is our Core Ideology, Vision/Mission, and “Quality” culture.

One of our great strengths over the years has been in our diversity — gasoline, fuel oil/propane heating and air conditioning, Reliable Tank Line, hotels, shopping centers, and residential real estate development. But as we grow in each business segment, and the farther we expand geographically, the more it puts a strain on keeping the “Quality” culture alive and genuine to each and every team member. We must prepare now to guarantee that systems are in place to ensure that our Core Values are instilled in our new team members, as well as to constantly renew the energy of our existing team. How? It must start with recruitment and training. Our Vision and Mission statement will be our vehicle to guarantee we get a good healthy start.

This will continue to be our #1 priority for all sectors of our company as we “choose to be the best” and therefore we will have the “best” recruitment and training program. It will be our distinguishing competitive advantage. Let’s all be committed to achieving this goal sooner than later — once we achieve this goal, great things will follow.

- Graham Bennett

Graham Bennett, President

We have a true hero among us, Benjamin Mills, Assistant Manager at QM #38 on Hanes Mall Boulevard in Winston-Salem. On Thursday, August 17, 2005, Benjamin was giving a customer directions when he felt a tug on his shirt sleeve. He turned to see who had pulled on his shirt. It was the customer who had just bought two hotdogs. His face was slightly blue and he was clutching his throat.

Immediately Mills’ instincts and CPR training took over. He performed the Heimlich Maneuver on the customer and dislodged the obstruction in his airway. The customer recovered quickly and was very thankful that Mills had been able to help him.

Mills said he was thankful that he had had CPR training. He also said that it had been a very surreal experience!

Benjamin Mills, Assistant Manager
QM #38

Then and Now — Bobby Boles
    Friendly — Frugal — Fair

“A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably.”

Any Quality Oil employee who knows Bobby Boles knows that this quote by William Penn describes him completely. Bobby is what you could call a fixture at Quality Oil. He began his career here in July 1957. Bobby’s first job was as a bookkeeper for Quality Oil Company of Statesville. Today he takes on many roles and responsibilities as the Manager of Administrative Services.

All of the office staff at Quality Oil knows Bobby as “Mr. Frugal.” Bobby is teased unmercifully about his tight grip on office supplies. We have all learned from Bobby how to lengthen lead life, pinch post-it notes, fill file folders fully and ignore low ink icons. Some of Bobby’s memories of his forty-eight years here include being hired by Woody Bryant and what a struggle those first years were. His fondest memories are of meeting and working for the Glenn and Bennett families.

When Bobby is not at Quality Oil, you will find him outside. He is an avid gardener and loves to work in the yard. Bobby’s companions outside are Charlie and Hershey, the cutest and most well-behaved Boston Terriers you could ever want to meet, and Sadie his cat.

Bobby is a jogger and spends a lot of his free time doing this as well. His grestest accomplishments in the sport are the 10K races he runs in Charlotte.

Bobby is married to Jane and has a daughter, a son-in law, a sixteen-year-old granddaughter and a thirteen-year-old grandson. Bobby’s 91-year-old mother lives in Winston-Salem, and he has the honor of spending a lot of time with her too.

We could all learn from Bobby’s example by living and working with the same integrity, enthusiasm and uncompromising spirit he continually shows all of us.

— Annette Wagoner

Bobby Boles — 1957

Bobby Boles — 2005

On August 31, 2005 at 3:00 a.m. …while most people were sleeping … ten drivers and five trucks from our Operations Department were on the way to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Quality Oil Co. once again extended a helping hand as our country faced one of its greatest national disasters. A crew of dedicated employees answered the call and made the journey. A big thank you to those who were willing to give their time to represent the company and to help those in need.

— Jamie Westmoreland

Back row: Frank McMahan, Jasper Harper, CD Hampton, John Cummins. Front row: Brent Briggs, James Noah, Don Hackett. Not pictured: Tommy Hall, Randy Hayes, Richard Bowman

Slidell, Louisiana was one of the locations that received assistance from the Quality crew.

Quality Oil Appoints Safety and Loss Prevention Manager

We are pleased to welcome Shawn Cline to our corporate family. He has taken a new position as Quality’s Safety and Loss Prevention Manager.

A wide range of responsibilities fall under the term “safety,” including accidents, fires, or other unsafe conditions as well as safety programs and risk prevention.

Shawn will work with employees in all locations. When he arrives at your facility, please give him a big welcome.

Shawn will also contribute regular columns to the Oiler. His first article appears on the right.

When you make out your holiday shopping list, make your holiday safety list too.

Get a fresh tree with no dry needles.

• Place in a bucket of water until ready to bring inside.
• Keep the stand filled with water.
• Keep away from heat sources.

Inspect your lights before using.

• Make sure that each strand of lights have been safety tested.
• Don’t connect more than 3 sets of lights on one extension cord.
• Keep cords and plugs away from the water under the tree.
• Don’t run cords under rugs.

Plan decorations for safety

• Place fragile glass ornaments — or ornaments that small children could mistake for candy — high on the tree.
• Make sure that tinsel is not placed on low limbs where it could be a choking hazard to small children.

Enjoy a safe fire in your fireplace.

• Don’t use your fireplace to burn wrapping materials — which can create toxic fumes.
• Keep flammable decorations away from the fireplace.
• Make sure the fire is out before leaving the house or going to bed.
• Dispose of ashes in a metal container and never in or near the house.

Brookberry Farms Update

After a great deal of planning and hard work, Quality’s 800+ acre residential housing development in Winston-Salem is beginning to take shape. A lot draw by our 20 preferred builders was extremely successful, with closings planned for November. Home construction will also begin in November with amenities, clubhouse, fitness, etc. beginning this winter. The pool-tennis club area is scheduled to begin next spring.

Brookberrry Farm is a ten-plus-year development with potentially 2,000 homes when completed. A special thanks to our partner, Jim McChesney of McChesney and Taylor Realty who has worked tirelessly toward creating an exceptional development that we will all be proud of for years to come.

- Graham Bennett

Quality Oilers

We are proud of our Quality Oil softball team. The team was made up of employees from the home office and the Quality Marts. They participated in the Fall Coed League in Winston-Salem. Way to go team!!!

— Lisa Dodson

Cary Hoge Honored as Rotarian of the Year!

Cary Hoge, Director of Sales at the Hampton Inn Christiansburg, VA, was presented the prestigious Rotarian of the Year award for her dedication to serving her community, volunteering in charitable organizations and her commitment to fellow Rotarians. Congratulations, Cary, and thanks for your exceptional service and devotion to helping others.

Spirit of Hampton Award

Congratulations to Gina Reynolds, Guest Service Representative at the Hampton Inn Winston-Salem. Gina received the Spirit of Hampton award from Hilton Hotels Corporation in recognition of her outstanding contributions to guests, fellow team members and the community.

Retirement Best Wishes

Best wishes to Mary Kinzer. Mary started her career with the Hampton Inn Winston-Salem the week the hotel opened in 1994. Mary was the hotel laundress and was known as “Dancing Mary.” She always had a smile on her face. Mary retired from Quality Oil Company and the Hampton Inn on October 28, 2005. Thanks, Mary, for your eleven-plus years of service.

On September 29, 2005, the Hotel Assistant General Managers got together to attend a train-the-trainer class which focused on hiring, training, development and recruiting. At the end of the event, they were all presented with Master Recruiter certificates and left with a new perspective on recruiting and training. Front row left to right; Graham Bennett, Kim Williamson, Robbin Bagley, Betty Shideler, Terri Dinkins, Mark Mahaney. Back row: William Pittman, Mohammed Eloudghiri, Mylia Belton, Dave Bodin, Rob Hill.

National Housekeeping Week Celebrated

Between September 11 and 16, 2005 the hotels celebrated National Housekeeping Week. Each day a special event and surprise were planned for the housekeeping staff with participation from every department. On the last day of the exciting week, a luncheon was held to celebrate and recognize the hard work and dedication of the housekeeping team members. Pictured are members of the housekeeping staff at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Jacksonville, FL.

Having Fun!

Dave Bodin, Assistant General Manager, and Tim Huffman (aka Sparky), General Manager, at the award winning Hampton Inn Lawrenceville, GA got caught having fun! They explained that their philosophy is to work hard but have fun doing it!

Quality Plus Welcomes New Manager

We welcome Wendy Edwards to the Quality Plus family. She is the manager of our newest gas house facility, Carbon City, which opened on September 5, 2005. Good luck to Wendy!

Time to Laugh

“I’d like the number for Jennifer Smith in Richmond, Virginia,” the young man said to the 411 operator. “There are multiple listings for Jennifer Smith in Richmond, Virginia,” the operator said. “Do you have a street name?” The young man hesitated a moment, “Well, uh, most people call me Bubba.””