Raymond M. Demere founded American Oil Company, Savannah’s first independent wholesale petroleum company, in 1921. A business that began with a barrel of oil has evolved into a successful family of companies known as Colonial Group, Inc.
When Raymond Demere returned home from serving in World War I, he decided supplying petroleum products to power the vehicles rapidly replacing the horse and buggy would be a viable business opportunity. On July 21, 1921, he registered his new company as American Oil Company in Savannah, Georgia. In 1933, Standard Oil Company of Indiana wanted to expand the operation of its own American Oil Company in the Southeast. Mr. Demere agreed to release the name, and he and his associates renamed the company Colonial Oil. Mr. Demere’s judgment was sound, and in 1934, he moved his business to a 21-acre tract of land on the Savannah River. The corporate headquarters and Colonial Terminals continue to operate on this site today.
Raymond Demere served as the company’s President until his death in 1953. Charles L. Jarrell served as President until 1958, when the son of the founder, Robert H. Demere, Sr., assumed the role of President. In 1986, Robert H. Demere, Jr. became President. Under the leadership of the second and third generation presidents, the company was marked by impressive growth and accomplishments.
In 2018, Christian B. Demere accepted the responsibility and opportunity of continuing his great-grandfather’s legacy and became the fourth-generation President. He believes strongly in the core values that began in 1921: Service, Integrity, Entrepreneurship, and Family.
In 2021, Colonial Group celebrated its 100th anniversary by honoring its history and its community. The company marked the occasion by celebrating with its 2,000-plus employees and contributing to local causes. As part of its centennial celebration, Colonial Group also partnered with the Georgia Historical Society to install a historical marker in Savannah's Historic Landmark District. The marker is located on Charlton Street, near the site of Colonial's very first service station at 342 Drayton St.
Colonial Group, Inc. has grown and evolved to offer a wide variety of services through nine subsidiary companies, with heavy roots still in petroleum, storage, and distribution. As a family-owned and operated business, Colonial Group continues to rank as one of the largest privately held companies in the United States, employs over 1,800 people, and serves as an invaluable steward of the communities where it operates.
