Cities Service “For People Going Places!”
Cities Service Company was started by an oilman, Henry Latham Dougherty, in 1910 to supply gas and electricity to small public utilities. The next three years saw enormous growth, including the purchasing of the Quapaw Gas Company, much of the Barnsdall Properties, and in addition, the Empire Gas Company. In 1914 the Empire subsidiary discovered oil in Kansas. By 1915 Cities Service Company possessed 98 subsidiaries and had its headquarters on Wall Street.
In 1916 Cities Service bought their first oil refineries in Oklahoma and Texas. By 1918, or the final year of the First World War, Cities Service was the supplier for half of the oil used by the US and its Allies. In 1928 a Cities Service subsidiary discovered oil in the Oklahoma City field which, at the time, was one of the largest oil fields in the world.
In the 1960’s, the Cities Service Company realized the need to modernize its corporate identity. The name CITGO was introduced in 1965, using the word “GO” to promote the company as one with “power, energy and progressiveness.” With the name change came the introduction of the famous red triangle, known as the “trimark” logo. In 1982, Cities Service was sold to Occidental Petroleum. The following spring, CITGO was incorporated, and in August of the same year, was sold to Southland’s 7-Eleven. In 1986, Petróleos de Venezuela bought 50% interest in CITGO, and in 1990, Venezuela’s national oil company bought the remaining half, for total ownership of the CITGO name.
CITGO Petroleum Corporation
1293 Eldridge Parkway
Houston, Texas
Do you have a story to share about Cities Service, or Citgo? Please blog-in and let us know.
36 responses so far ↓
1 tom // Oct 1, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I have 100 shares of Empire Texas Oil company share#5702 Dated 10/24/19 Does it still have value?
2 buck james // Mar 16, 2009 at 7:35 pm
I have an oil lease sighn that says cities sevice oil company. It has a well name and number. It also has there company logo on it. Does it have any value and how old is it?
3 vintagevending // Mar 17, 2009 at 12:51 pm
We aren’t able to give estimates on the value of an item. If you keep an eye on Ebay or maybe Craig’s List, your item is sure to be listed at some point. That may give you a rough idea of it’s value but keep in mind to compare apples to apples. Prices vary greatly depending on condition. If anyone can help with a value of this item please blog in.
4 Connie Meyer // Aug 11, 2009 at 2:11 pm
My grandparents had a Cities Service Station and cafe. My dad worked there before and after serving in WWII, until he got married and got a job with Northwestern Bell Telephone. I remember the bulk truck vividly, and the green sign with the family sign below it “See Meyer’s for tires.” The place was always busy with Grandma’s cooking, and Grandpa’s stories. : )
5 Bill Bell // Aug 19, 2009 at 6:57 pm
I am looking for any info on how the gas compressor station at Tallant, Oklahoma or the Post office got their names
6 Jim Nickerson // Oct 23, 2009 at 7:14 pm
A little history from 1956 to 1973: I went to work for Ark. Fuel Oil Corp. in 1956 as a tank wagon driver. Then in 1957 as agency clerk for the next 7 years. In the meantime Cities bought out the 49% share of Ark Fuel Oil. and Cities then owned 100 % of the Company. In Jan. 1965, I was promoted into sales as the only sales representative in Atlanta. We had (8) small two bay stations at the time. Ben Windham was our Division Mgr. with Bob Moore as Asst. Divn. Mgr. It was in Jan. 1965, Atlanta was made a test market for the Southern Region. I set out as the only sales rep. to find dealers for the potential new streamlined stations to follow. Andrew Re was our realestate rep at time. We bought several prime locations and began to build. I opened my first new station on /Shallowford Rd.–Chamblee, Ga. on Jan. 1, 1966. We only had the Cities Service Credit Card at the time. No bank cards of any kind..It was a real tough time in the beginning as Cities Service was not recognized in the market place. It took another four years 18 hour days to finally open (9) new outlets. By 1969, we were well on our way to becomeing a contender in the Atlanta market place. I had made man of the year in 1966 with the opening of the new outlets with increased throughput. By 1967, we had several more sales reps. in the area. We had gone through many price wars during this time, with gasoline being (36.9) and lower. The colors (red-white-blue) came in with the new Logo. Citgo…Cities Service on the Go…in the late 60s.
It was in 1970 we became involved with the Munford Co. the Majik Markets. to market gasoline through convenient store outlets using the credit card for groceries with purchase of gasoline. (I am rushing through this briefly, as I could probably write a book on this era – going from full service to the self service market concept.) Just a brief of how it was…. Jim N.
7 Jim Nickerson // Oct 23, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Just to add a few more comments: Cities Service Oil Company went through many changes in just a few short years. We topped out at around 55,000 employees during those years. When self-service came in, Cities (or Citgo) scaled back drasticly on personnel. I will say this; the oil companies were the all-time elite when it came to marketing…..Cities Service Oil Co. was the best over-all managed Company in existence. After 57 years in the job market – I will bear witness to this fact…Jim N.
8 Rick // Jan 23, 2010 at 12:20 pm
I have a set of Cities Service Oil Company promotional gift prints of antique fire trucks and would like to find out when they were printed or when this promotion was done. The set consist of three 10″x8″ prints, the folder they came in, and the mailing envelope. The return address on the envelop is “Cities Service Oil Company, 60 Wall Street, New York 5, New York. The set was produced by The McCleery Cumming Co in Washington, Iowa and were mailed from there location
9 John Latimer // Apr 21, 2010 at 7:06 pm
I just purchased a Cities Service sign that is black and white. Most of the Cities Service advertising I’ve seen have been in green. Is there any reference to these signs ever being black on white like mine? How old is this thing?
10 vintagevending // Apr 26, 2010 at 4:05 pm
John,
I found this link showing a 10 inch black and white porcelain Cities Service Sign priced at $750. http://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=183740
It’s a forum, so I’m sure you could ask them how old the sign is.
11 hunter ballagh // Aug 2, 2010 at 9:59 am
Just bought a cities service gas pump in working condition do you know of any decals for it .
12 Terry Bender // Sep 11, 2010 at 8:21 pm
I FOUND STOCK CERTIFICATES DATED 1930, 1931, AND 1932 FOR 95 SHARES OF THIS COMPANY THEY BELONGED TO MY GREAT UNCLE HOWARD L. BEAN. THEY SEEM HISORICAL TO ME IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME OUT HERE, I WOULD BE VERY THANK FULL.
13 Paul Quinn // Nov 1, 2010 at 4:45 pm
I have a promotional gift from cities services that is dated around october 31st 1959 for free antique automobile prints and inside the packet are two prints
14 Dick Cartmill // Dec 11, 2010 at 11:12 am
I’m looking for a Cities Service bug sprayer.
Thank you
15 l barton // Jan 30, 2011 at 6:53 pm
Hey, I would be interested in buying a black and white cities service well or lease sign. Let me know what you have. Thanks alot—-Lee
16 Jeffrey L Krueger // Feb 10, 2011 at 11:20 pm
I am looking for 1or2 Cities Service Chipmunk Decals My brother bought a boat in the early 1970’s The decals were between 8 to 14 inches high(dont know for sure how tall the decals were Going strictly off of memory 40 some years ago) Would like to find some as I am restoring a similar boat and want them on my boat.CAN YOU HELP ME? Thank you Jeffrey L Krueger
17 Kay Kinne Beal // Feb 12, 2011 at 6:01 pm
My father worked for Arkansas Fuel Oil Company, which became Cities Service. He was a traveling auditor.
We knew J.C.Taylor and Riggs and Marie back in the dark ages. Daddy was later the distributor in Athens, Ga. in the 40-50’s, still have the P.O. Box from the company he bought when we came to Athens. Thoroughly enjoyed looking at Google and reading the old history. I remember hearing the name of Alton Jones (I think it was). Remember Dutch Holland also. Man that was a long time ago!!
18 Sandy // Apr 7, 2011 at 4:45 pm
I have `100 shares certificate handed down through our family. I am seeking information on this company
19 DOUG CHRISTIANSEN // Apr 29, 2011 at 3:17 pm
i need decals for bennett series 600 pump and globe
20 Charlie Askew // May 14, 2011 at 9:56 am
My father T.Roby Askew also worked for Cities Service Company in Arkansas,North Carolina,and Atlanta,Georgia.
I will appreciate anyone that remembers him to let me know by e-mail. Askew.Charlie@gmail.com
Charlie Askew
21 Lawrence Bound // May 25, 2011 at 3:58 pm
My Grandfather, Jack Bound, and my father, John Wesley Bound both worked for Cities Service. Jack worked in the refinery in Ponca City, Oklahoma and John worked as a chemist in the lab in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. When the Okmulgee refinery was closed in 1947 eight employees and their families were transferred to the refinery in East Chicago, Indiana. Lewis Robinson (a black man) was the janitor in the lab in Okmulgee and approaching retirement he was not to be included in the transfer to East Chicago – the other men refused to move unless Lewis was also
transferred. The company went along and included Lewis was also transferred and a few years latter received his full retirements benefits.
I would really like to hear from anyone who knew the transferred employees.
22 Greg Woolvett // Jun 9, 2011 at 9:38 am
I was going through my Father in Laws work bench after he passed away and came across a can of cigarette lighters. One was a Zippo with Cities Service and the lgog on it. I sent it to Zippo in Pennsylvania and they repalced the inside works no charge. Just a point of interest, he also had a Presto-Lite Zippo which Zippo also repaired at no charge.
23 barbara gordon // Jun 10, 2011 at 5:14 pm
I have stock dated march 4th/1920 for west allis-texas oil co. 100 shares, is their any value.
24 Cliff Moebius // Jul 4, 2011 at 9:59 pm
I was wondering if anyone would know if Cities
Service ever owned a 1931 Town Car Delivery
(truck). It was a Ford delivery truck. Does the company have an archives? Thank you.
25 Robert // Jul 24, 2011 at 11:55 pm
Rick,
I also have the set of three prints. The ones that I have were for an offer that expired on May 31st, 1960. So 1960 is a pretty safe bet.
Bob
26 phil murray // Aug 7, 2011 at 7:13 pm
I bought an old engine analyser machine made by Electric Heat Control Company of Cleveland Ohio, was cleaning the old beast up and found they had used a seven inch diameter porcelain Cities Service Oils Koolmotor Lght Med sign to mount under the bench vise, three holes are drilled in it, has the clover shape with the pyramid inside on it too. My research says Cities Service Oils name began in 1959 but the machine looks at least ten years older and I see a photo on the net that shows a gas station with the CSO sign above a car that is earlier than 1959. How old is the CSO brand name? Thanks.
27 WALTER HOUSE // Aug 8, 2011 at 12:00 pm
IF YOU WANT EMPIRE OIL CO. & CITIES SERVICE HISTORY, TRY TO FIND A COPY OF “ON THE OIL LANDS” BY WILLIAM DONOHUE ELLIS, 1983. I HAVE MY DADS COPY. HE WORKED FOR EMPIRE/CITIES SERVICE 1934-1962. MOST OF HIS TIME WAS AT THE GASOLINE PLANT 3 MILES WEST OF BURRTON, KS. I ALSO WORKED THERE THE SUMMER OF 1949 BEFORE STARTING COLLEGE. GROWING UP THERE IN THE OIL CAMP WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE. MY DAD ALSO WORKED IN THE ELDORADO AND EUREKA, KS OIL FIELDS IN THE 1920′S. HE AN TWO OF HIS BROTHERS HAD A WELL CASING CREW. THEY WERE ON CALL FOR ANY DRILLER. THEY RAN THE CASING IN FROM START TO FINISH FOR AS LONG AS IT TOOK. ONE DAY AFTER THEY HAD COMPLETED A 17 HOUR SHIFT THEY WENT TO A EUREKA CAFE TO EAT SUPPER. WHEN A FAMILY THAT HAD JUST FINISHED EATING GOT UP TO LEAVE, THEIR YOUNG SON STAYED BACK WHERE MY DAD AND HIS CREW WERE EATING. THEY MUST HAVE BEEN PRETTY HUNGRY. WHEN THE BOY’S FATHER SAID “COME ON DON’T YOU WANT TO GO TO THE MOVIE WITH US?” THE BOY REPLIED ” I’D RATHER STAY HERE AND WATCH THE CASERS EAT!” ALONG WITH THE HARD WORK THE OIL PATCH WAS A LOT OF FUN.
WALT
28 Dan // Aug 22, 2011 at 5:45 pm
In elmira ontario a max milk store is being torn down for replacement the old build was a
citi service station anyone know how many were in Canada
29 Robert // Aug 27, 2011 at 12:08 pm
I’m getting a kick out of reading these stories about Cities Service. My dad was employed by Cities and was a lab chemist at the Cities Service/Citgo refinery in Sulphur, LA from 1952 to 1978. Back then they’d let employees take their families on tours of the plant with proper authorization. I remember being amazed at what went on with all of the lab tests and with the catcrackers and the huge tank farm. Now Citgo only has a fraction of the number of people it had employed back then or I’d probably be working there now.
30 Jean McCallum Boyd // Sep 30, 2011 at 6:59 am
The Matfield Green compressor station was constructed across the road from my family’s farm. As I recall, the folks said it was completed in 1929. They built a school house on a piece of our pasture. When we had visitors, they wondered how we could possibly sleep with noise. My brother & I went all 8 grades at the “Booster School”. When schools were consolidated in the ’40s, My folks bought that school house. I was in college & a class project was to design a farm home & that house now stands on the old farm house site. I am doing genealogy & would love to pictures of the station when it was operating & some information. By the way, I worked in the Wichita office in 1952, So I have a special interest.
31 Jean McCallum Boyd // Sep 30, 2011 at 7:09 am
P.S. Today the site of that station is a terrible eyesore. It breaks my heart because it was a pristine kept facility in my day.
32 Pam Reves Drake // Nov 2, 2011 at 2:09 am
My dad retired from Cities Service Gas Co. He was a meter inspector in Kansas , Oklahoma and Missouri. If he were alive now he would be 102 years old.
33 Bob Hobocan // Nov 12, 2011 at 12:36 pm
I am expecting a small pension from Cities Service Company in a few years- does anyone have a contact for the pension administrator.
I worked at New Haven copper company in Seymor,CT
THANKS
34 marilyn // Nov 28, 2011 at 8:07 pm
I have an old token from Cities Service that says, ” safety” and “progress” with the logo on one side and some info. about Cities Service preferred stock and the amount it will yeild with a small investment on the reverse. Does anyone know what this was? Thanks!
35 lisa machado // Dec 21, 2011 at 10:12 pm
Ihave 74 shares of stock in cities service company dated 1980 are they worth anything?
36 Sharon // Jan 11, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Trying to find the location of a Cities Service Station also known as Al’s — possibly in Gardner, Grundy Co, IL. on Hwy. 66. I have a 1959 snap shot of the station.
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