The Colonial Story

Returning home to Savannah, Georgia, in 1921 after serving in World War I, Raymond M. Deméré decided to get into business for himself. The business he chose was one of great promise, given America's newfound fascination with the "gasoline buggy," whose engines were fueled by petroleum products.

Armed with only one barrel of lubricating oil, he founded "American Oil Company." It started with just a warehouse, but soon added storage tanks, and later, company-owned filling stations around the Savannah area.

In 1933, our company became known as "Colonial Oil," and even greater expansion began. Envisioning opportunities for the distribution of petroleum products at the Port of Savannah, Mr. Deméré began construction on an independent ocean terminal and storage facility. It soon became the largest of its kind in the Southeast United States, and today our facility occupies more than 100 acres of prime Savannah River frontage.

Upon the death of Mr. Deméré in 1953, Charles L. Jarrell became president, serving with distinction in that capacity and then as chairman in 1958. Under the leadership of Robert H. Deméré, the founder's son, a retail subsidiary was formed in 1963. Originally called "Interstate Stations," this unit later became known as Enmark Stations and now spans Georgia and the Carolinas. Robert H. Deméré became chairman in 1986, succeeded as president by his son, Robert H. Deméré, Jr.

In the last decade, we have built on our prosperous past. Colonial Oil Industries, Enmark Stations, and Colonial Terminals have shown steady growth. Additionally, we have expanded the company into other industries through other subsidiaries: Chatham Towing Company; Colonial Energy; Georgia Kaolin Terminals; Colonial Marine Industries; Compliance Systems; Colonial Chemicals Solutions, Inc. and Colonial Towing, Inc. In 2005, Colonial increased our international market presence by providing petroleum products to Puerto Rico and gasoline blendstock tankage in Europe.

From a barrel of oil to a bundle of industries, the story of the Colonial Group has been marked by impressive accomplishments and an unwavering dedication to the vision of the man who started it all. In following Raymond Deméré's example of hard work and the commitment to customers, we have furthered his greatest legacy - success.