THE SALATHE LEGACY:
Salathe Oil Company was founded by E.T. Salathe in 1926. When Mr. Salathe entered the petroleum business the country was on the verge of prohibition. Salathe was a local beer distributor on the westbank of the river. Prohibition caused him to think of ways to best use his delivery wagon. He started in the late teens with a horse drawn wagon. After WWI, Salathe purchased a Model T and a Mack truck to deliver his keg beer. In the mid 1920’s he converted the Mack truck to a tank truck.
Salathe Oil Company originally distributed “coal oil”, which was used for lighting Louisiana homes and businesses. The demand for coal oil increased over the years and became too great for Erwin to handle alone. In 1938 Salathe, Sr. welcomed his sons into the family business. The company became E.T. Salathe & Sons until 1958, when Mr. Salathe died. The Salathe sons incorporated the business and moved it from Gretna to it’s present location on the Harvey Canal.
Salathe Oil Company was the first petroleum wholesaler located on the Harvey Canal. Throughout the next 50 years Salathe Oil Company successfully represented Shell, Texaco and Mobil brands. The company targeted the marine industry with a 24 hour fuel dock. The company also bought a fleet of tank trucks to deliver motor fuel and lubricants to meet the needs of the rapidly growing oil field industry that dominated the Harvey Canal. Salathe Oil Company also sold automotive products that supplied retail service stations and specialty fuel and lubricants required by the aviation and marine industries.
Today, the business is owned and lead by Stan Salathe, a third generation Salathe. Les Lowery continues to serve as the company’s CPA and CFO, a postion he has held for over 13 years. Wayne (Stan’s father) is 91 years old and lives in New Orleans area. Although retired, the second generation, Wayne Salathe is still an important advisor to the company. Wayne’s older brother, E.T. Salathe, Jr., died 5 years ago and Edmond, the youngest brother is 88 and lives in Angie, Louisiana.
Currently, Salathe Oil Company is very active in the industrial and commercial segments of the petroleum wholesale business and continues to expand. Stan Salathe developed and established Salathe Gas company in 1999, when the family business was given the opportunity to become a Blue Rhino Propane Exchange Distributor. Currently, Salathe Gas Company has several strategically located distribution centers to serve their more than 850 active customers located in Louisiana and Mississppi. The future is bright for the Company with the fourth generation Salathe, Matthew working full-time managing the Salathe Gas Company and learning the oil business.
