MAX ARNOLD & SONS, LLC

Serving the needs of our customers is our priority!

Providing superior service and quality products to our customers and business associates in south central and western Kentucky.

Mission

    Our mission is to maintain our leadership position in the region we serve and to provide quality products and superior services. We are committed to developing and sustaining solid long-term relationships with customers and suppliers. We are equally committed to providing our employees with a safe and secure environment that provides career development and opportunities for advancement.

    As we set our sights on the future, we will develop programs and activities that will strengthen our company and continue to benefit our community. We will achieve this through continuous quality improvement and growth.

History

Max and Emogene Arnold moved to Auburn, Kentucky in 1951, from Tennessee, and bought the Standard Oil Service Station in Auburn, Kentucky. Max and his wife ran that station for ten years. In 1961, Max and Emogene sold the station and moved to Russellville, Kentucky. They bought the Standard Oil Dealership from Max’s brother in law, Sterling Thurmond.

In 1966, Max became the Standard Oil Agent for Logan, Todd, and Christian counties. At that time it was the largest territory in the state of Kentucky. In the 1960’s Chevron oil merged with Standard Oil of Kentucky and Max Arnold became an agent for Chevron.

In 1979, Max became the Chevron Oil Company Distributor for Hopkins, Webster, Union, and Muhlenburg counties. This included areas of Madisonville, Greenville, Central City, Dixon, and Morganfield, Kentucky. Also in this year, Phil Russo and his wife Mary Ann, Max and Emogene’s daughter, moved to Madisonville, Kentucky, to manage the Madisonville bulk plant. Graduating from Murray State University, Bob Arnold began working for Max Arnold & Sons Inc, at the main office in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

In 1980, Max Arnold became a Jobber for Chevron diesel fuel. This meant Max could purchase Chevron diesel fuel for resale. As an agent for Chevron gasoline, Chevron owned the fuel that was delivered through Max Arnold & Sons.

In 1985, Max Arnold & Sons Inc acquired the Princeton, Kentucky Chevron bulk plant. This increased Max Arnold & Sons territory to now include Caldwell County and surrounding areas.

In 1987, Max Arnold & Sons Inc acquired Hopkinsville Oil Company, a Phillips 66 jobber, making available to Max Arnold customers’ Chevron and Phillips 66 products.

In 1989, MAXFUEL convenience stores were born. Maxfuel meant, “Maximize your fuel dollars”. Over the next few years, MAXFUEL stores were expanded to Hopkinsville, Russellville, Elkton, Cadiz, Madisonville, Princeton, and Ft. Campbell.

In 1995, Ashland Oil chose to abandon their operations of commissioned agent locations. Max Arnold & Sons Inc. bought Ashland Oil’s assets at their Russellville, Madisonville, and Greenville commissioned agent locations.  The Russellville and Madisonville Ashland Jobber business was incorporated into Max Arnold & Sons already existing bulk plants respectively.  The Greenville location was converted to a Chevron Jobber for Max Arnold & Sons and works with the Madisonville bulk plant.

In 1997, well-known Minit Mart convenience stores chose to sell off several of their convenience stores. Max Arnold & Sons purchased some of these stores and converted them to MAXFUEL convenience stores.

January 3, 1998, Max Arnold & Sons Russellville bulk plant opened their newly remodeled state of the art facility that included a MAXFUEL Cardlock 24-hour fueling center.  Previously there had been two Max Arnold & Sons bulk plants in Russellville, the current location at 325 Hopkinsville Road, and the former Ashland bulk located on Second Street. During remodeling of the current location, all business was done at the Second Street location. After the remodel was complete, the Second Street location was closed. Also in this same year, Max Arnold & Sons acquired rights to be a jobber for the Shell brand and bought Shell convenience stores in Hopkinsville, Princeton, Cadiz, and Salem, Kentucky.

In December, 1999, Max Arnold & Sons main office formerly located on Clay Street moved into their new offices located at 708 North Main Street in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

In 2001, Max Arnold & Sons, LLC acquired several Convenience Stores from the ailing Duke & Long fuel and oil supplier. This acquisition along with acquiring new accounts in the area expanded Max Arnold & Sons, LLC territory to include areas of Paducah, Mayfield, and Benton, Kentucky.

On May 28, 2002, Max Arnold died having been diagnosed nine months earlier with bone cancer. Max continued to come to the office until just a few weeks before his death. Max Arnold was a great man with a vision not of growing a big company, but a philosophy of providing a great product, with a fair price, and giving excellent service. That philosophy is the cornerstone of this company and what makes it continue to grow today. Max was a man admired by many people, and an employer who had employees that could say, “He’s my friend”. 

The summer of 2004, Max Arnold & Sons, LLC Hopkinsville bulk plant became a blending facility for ethanol offering E10, 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline, to their Max Fuel unbranded locations. Later that fall and early 2005, E-10 was available at all Max Arnold & Sons, LLC bulk plants. 

The fall of 2005, Max Arnold & Sons, LLC made available to the public at their Max Fuel #6 location E85 fuel. This made the second location in the state of Kentucky to offer the E85 alternative fuel with the first being at a location in Louisville, Kentucky.  Also in this same year soy-diesel was made available at all Max Arnold & Sons, LLC bulk plants and most Maxfuel locations selling road diesel.

Max Arnold's first location
Auburn, KY

Max & Emogene Arnold