When my history teacher told my class about this project I immediately knew who I wanted as my topic. That person was my great-grandfather, Tom E. Turner Sr. He founded the Sigmor Corporation which was one of the largest independent service station organizations in the United States. I always knew about my great-grandfather and how he started this company, but there were other details that I didn’t identify.

To find out more about Tom E. Turner Sr. first I went to tetco.com which gave me back up information. Then I looked through books that my grandfather had which clarified specific information about my subject, I read several articles in the books about TETCO (which is now the name Sigmor) Next I asked my dad questions about my great-grandfather’s start of the company. I wanted to know how a man with a 9th grade education could start such an empire. One of the things that I found out was that hard work and determination were the catalysts for the creation of a business empire.

After reading and listening to my dad and grandfather I had many notes on this topic. I thought the best to inform people about great-grandfather was to do a webpage. This webpage will give a brief history of Sigmor Corporation and how it has evolved into TETCO. It will also include information such as Mission Petroleum Carriers, Bexar Devised Inc. and other numerous banks. I will also have pictures of Tom E. Turner Sr., his wife, Mary, and his sons, Tom Jr. and Fred because TETCO is a family business.

I think that my topic of my great-grandfather fits in nicely with the theme “the Individual in History: Actions and Legacies” because his life was full of choices and he had to act on the choices and know what to do in situations. I think that he is important when relating to history because he made the convenient store more popular in Texas. Having done this research I believe that my great-grandfather was a ‘legend of his own time’ and he was ahead of his time in many ways. My great-grandfather believed in togetherness, not only in the family but in the business as well. I trust that he was a role model who was loving and very patriotic. In fact he always said that his favorite colors were red, white, and blue saying that there should be an American flag at every store and a flag on every truck and there is.