In the early 1950's James and Margaret Hunter were struggling to support a family of six. James, better known as Jim, was working as a sales representative for a distribution company. Margaret was working for a company that manufactured ceramic parts for cooking ovens.Jim was responsible for calling on truck stops where he would sell engine oil additives and truck accessories. The truck drivers would constantly talk about a diesel engine oil known as "RPM" and how they had great difficulty finding it. RPM was an engine oil produced by California Oil Company. California Oil Company was formed amid the 1911 antitrust breakup of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil.Jim and Margaret had a vision. They decided to write California Oil Company a letter requesting to be set up as a distributor of the widely popular, yet difficult to find, "RPM" oil. Soon after writing the letter, they received a visit at their home in East Ridge, TN from the people of California Oil Company. They agreed to take a chance on Jim and Margaret and set them up as a distributor.Jim and Margaret borrowed money from a friend to get their vision up and running. In 1956 Hunter Oil Company was founded. Jim and Margaret would drive a 2-ton truck to Augusta, GA to pick up cases of RPM oil. They would store the oil in their garage at home. Through mergers and acquisitions, RPM would later be known as Chevron RPM.Hunter Oil Company became the first to distribute bulk Kendall and Chevron motor oils in the Chattanooga area. Jim and Margaret's two sons, Rick and Mike, started full time in the 1970's shortly after graduating from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Hunter Oil is now a 3rd generation company carrying on one hard-working couples' vision.In August of 2004 Hunter Oil added a second distribution point just outside of Knoxville, TN. This full service facility, along with the Chattanooga location, allows Hunter Oil Company to service the majority of central and eastern Tennessee, southern Kentucky, north Georgia, and northern Alabama. Hunter Oil Company is a proven company dedicated to its vision, community, and service. Through years of expansion and growth, the Hunters and the employees of Hunter Oil will always remember the most important ingredient to their recipe for success... its customers.