Henry and Anker Fanoe opened Gilmore Fuels in 1933. They quickly expanded the business by purchasing Sturdy Oil, a distributor named after local businessman Gene Sturdivant. The brothers liked this name so much that they decided to use it for the entire company. As time passed, Sturdy Oil distributed fuel for several bygone petroleum brands. They included Hancock, Norwalk, and Beacon.
In 1960, Neil Fanoe Sr. retired from farming and started working as Sturdy Oil’s second president. He skillfully managed the business for about 35 years, and it eventually became a full-line Exxon distributor. The family still owns and operates Sturdy Oil; founder Henry Fanoe was the current president’s grandfather. Jon Fanoe began leading the company in 1995.