Historic Midland
An illustrated history of the Midland County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
An illustrated history of the Midland County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
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KENT<br />
DISTRIBUTORS,<br />
INC. & KENT<br />
LUBRICATION<br />
CENTERS<br />
In the mid 1950s, E.L. “Buck” Kent, president<br />
and major stockholder of Wickett Refining<br />
Company in Wickett, Texas, purchased Reed Oil<br />
Company and Reed Distributing Company of<br />
Big Spring, changed the name to Kent<br />
Distributors, Inc. and Kent Oil, Inc., and later<br />
sold Wickett Refining.<br />
Kent Oil owned and operated 27 service stations<br />
throughout West Texas and started its own<br />
credit card program in the 1950s. By 1970, Kent<br />
Oil had 75 stations and supplied fuel to hundreds<br />
of other accounts.<br />
In 1975, after remodeling an Odessa service<br />
station into a convenience store, Buck Kent, and<br />
his oldest son, Jim decided to make the company’s<br />
better retail outlets into convenience stores,<br />
and reduce the number of service stations.<br />
In 1976, Kent’s son, Tom, brought in a new<br />
concept, Kent Lubrication Centers, allowing<br />
customers to drive in for an oil change, chassis<br />
lube, floors and windows cleaned, and a complete<br />
service check in ten minutes. In 1977, Jim<br />
resigned, and another son, Bill, joined the companies<br />
in 1978.<br />
In 1984, Buck Kent retired, and Bill Kent, the<br />
youngest son, purchased 100 percent ownership<br />
of Kent Oil and Kent Distributors.<br />
As the first and today the largest fast oil<br />
change operation in West Texas, Kent Lube services<br />
over 250,000 vehicles per year. In 1988,<br />
Kent bought an Avis franchise and changed its<br />
Kent Lubrication Centers to Avis Lube Fast Oil<br />
Change Centers. In 1991, he terminated the<br />
franchise and entered a licensee agreement with<br />
Avis to keep the name. Kent today operates 25<br />
Kent Kwik convenience stores, 16 Kent<br />
Lubrication centers, 12 Mr. Payroll check cashing<br />
outlets, and two Baskin Robbins ice cream<br />
franchises.<br />
The company continues to grow and thrive,<br />
thanks to its dedicated team members, and<br />
based on its reputation of providing fast, friendly<br />
service to the great people of West Texas.<br />
❖<br />
Above: Standing: Bill Kent.<br />
Seated: E. L. “Buck” Kent, president.<br />
Below: An example of Kent Oil’s early<br />
day stations. Note the price of gas<br />
posted on the sign.<br />
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