Our History

In September 1977, William C. Pepper purchased Nutter D. Marvel Oil Company which was an Amoco Jobbership located in Georgetown, Delaware. At this time the business served Kent and Sussex Counties in Delaware and had seven employees, two tractor trailers, three local delivery trucks, this was the beginning of William C. Pepper, Inc.

Mr. Pepper expanded the business with convenience stores/stations in Kent and Sussex Counties. In 19XX purchased MED Sales located in Rehoboth, Delaware from John Roberts. MED Sales was a plumbing, heating and air conditioning business which also sold fuel oil and kerosene.

In 1980, Mr. Pepper expanded in Cambridge, Maryland with the purchase of the former Kayo station located at Route 50 in Jacktown. A new convenience store was built and new pumps were purchased from the late Barry Murphy. In 1982, Granville Hooper Fuel Company was purchased from Barry Murphy. Mr. Pepper continued to expand with service stations in Ocean City, Maryland and Bethany Beach, Delaware. In 1983, construction began to become the largest pumper on the shore, at the time, at Midway in Rehoboth, Delaware. These were branded Amoco.

In the fall of 1986, the expansion took Mr. Pepper to the Easton, Maryland area with the purchase of Russ Oil Company from Ken Russ. The areas served at that time included Kent and Sussex Counties in Delaware and Queen Ann, Talbot, Caroline and Dorchester Counties in Maryland. This added the Chevron Band.

In 1987, Mr. Pepper changed the name of the business to Pep-Up, Inc. and purchased stations in Millsboro and Fenwick Island. The number of employees increased to sixty-five. By the fall of 1988, the number of tankers increased to three, a ten wheeler truck was added and local delivery trucks increased to ten.

The expansion continued in 1989 with the purchase of Tilghman Ice and Fuel, located in Tilghman Island, Maryland from Russell Harrison. Service and installation of heat and air conditioning were added to the Cambridge and Easton areas.

In August 1991, Midway Fuel was purchased from Kack Morris and Earl Warrington, a fuel oil distributor in the Rehoboth – Lewes, Delaware, this was consolidated with the ongoing Rehoboth operations.

West Fuel in Salisbury, Maryland, purchased from Doug West, was added I 1992. This made way for the addition of the Pep-Up Credit Cards. This allows for another 24 hour location, also adding an expanded service area to include Wicomico and Worcester Counties in Maryland.

The year 1993 brought the purchase of the Bethany Beach, Delaware station which had been previously leased. It was leveled and a new Arby’s Roast Beef Restaurant, Convenience Store and an Amoco gas pumper was constructed.

Passwaters Petroleum in Harrington, Delaware was purchased in January 1996 from Roy Passwaters. He had a fine reputation of 44 years in business selling petroleum products including Unocal Oil and lubricants.

October 1997 brought the entrance into the propane business serving commercial and residential customers.

By this time, all of Delmarva was served south to the Maryland Virginia line, and all of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore with eight tractor trailers, two – ten wheelers, eleven tank wagons and two bobtails.

March 1998 brought construction of the first propane bulk facility with rail car capabilities at the Selbyville, Delaware plant with 190,000 gallon capacity. A backhoe was purchased in October1998 for underground tank installations.

In December 1999, the Dewy Beach station was purchased from Amoco Oil Company. A new plant was started in 1999 at the East New Market, Maryland location. Six – 60,000 gallon propane tanks were added at this location.

May 2001 expansion led to Pocomoke, Maryland. The office was remodeled. Pep-Up purchased an oil plant from Floyd Energy, Inc. in Oak Hall, Virginia. Plans for a new office in Georgetown, Delaware were started in December 2001, and a survey of the land was complete.

Simplex Oil Company, Inc. in Princess Anne, Maryland was purchased from Michael Brule and Kathy Beauchamp in September 2002.

Sand was delivered to the site for the new Georgetown, Delaware office in August 2003, the office was built and completed on April 9, 2004 a new oil plant was setup. Three – 68,000 gallon capacity tanks were added at the Selbyville propane plant.

A new propane plant was setup at Oak Hall, Virginia in June 2005 with 3 – 30,000 gallon storage tanks.

May 2006 brought the setup of a second plant at Oak Hall, Virginia. This is a propane plant with 6 – 30,000 gallon storage tanks. The capabilities of railroad unloading were also added.

In August 2007 a new oil plant in Oak Hall, Virginia was built with 4 fuel storage tanks.

The plant at Easton, Maryland was rebuilt in January 2008 and a new tank was installed. At the Harrington plant we have rebuilt the tanks and started rebuilding the platform. New concrete pads were poured at the Easton plant in August 2008. Plans have been made to install new tanks in November 2008 at the store #4, Route 50 Cambridge, Maryland location.