2. Formation of Humble Oil—Precursor to Exxon
In 1911, Ross S. Sterling and Walter William Fondren established Humble Oil in Humble, Texas. By 1919, Standard Oil Company of New Jersey acquired a 50% stake in Humble, facilitating its expansion. Humble’s Baytown Refinery became Texas’s largest, and its pipelines connected major regions, solidifying its industry dominance. In 1972, Standard Oil rebranded as Exxon Corporation, and Humble Oil was renamed Exxon Company, U.S.A., marking a significant evolution in the global energy sector (tshaonline.org).
