Arguindegui Oil Company, was founded in October 1942, when Peter R. Arguindegui, Sr. was awarded the Continental Oil Company Commission Agency to serve Laredo, Texas and the surrounding area. Peter, Sr. was experienced in the functions of a Commission Agent, having already served as manager of the local Mobil Agency for twenty years. He, together with the help of his wife, Marina Arguindegui, and a few employees, quickly gained the reputation of a strong work ethic and honest dealing. Our history and our future is rooted in the principles established by our founder.
During Peter, Sr.’s tenure, the Company reached significant business and community milestones. The success of Peter, Sr.’s efforts made it possible for the second Arguindegui generation to achieve higher education, economic growth, success, and prosperity – all achieved through dedication to hard work, family, and community.
Fulfilling Peter, Sr.’s commitment to education, both his sons, Peter Jr. and Charlie, attended and graduated with degrees from Texas A&M University.
Peter, Jr. graduated from Texas A&M University in 1953. He joined the Company in 1956, after completing his military service in the United States Air Force.
Charlie graduated from Texas A&M University in 1955 and then joined the United States Army. After completing his military service, and a short time with Anderson Clayton in Mexico, City, Charlie returned to Laredo and eventually joined his father and brother.
During the early 1960’s, Charlie also was a local teacher at Lamar Junior High School, teaching 7th-grade science. Many of Charlie’s students are today pursuing successful careers as doctors, engineers, and educators. Charlie was committed, even as a young man, to local youth organizations, including serving as President of the Laredo Catholic Youth Organization in the early 1950’s.
In 1970, after operating as a sole-proprietorship, becoming an independent Conoco franchise distributor, and gaining more of the South Texas marketing territory, the Company began operating as a Texas Corporation. Soon after acquiring the franchise distributorship, Peter, Sr. gifted the Company assets to his sons, Peter, Jr. and Charlie.
In 1970, Peter, Jr. was appointed President/CEO, and Charlie the Executive Vice President.
During his tenure as President, Peter, Jr. brought a new energy and savvy business sense to the Company. With his commitment to hard work, Peter, Jr. quickly elevated the Company’s success with a steady growth plan and vision for the future. Peter, Jr. demonstrated his commitment to the Laredo community by serving on the Laredo City Council and as President of various local community organizations such as the Laredo Jaycees, Laredo Kiwanis Club, and Border Olympics. Also, Peter, Jr. served on the board of directors of the Union National Bank and the Laredo National Bank. Exemplifying his father’s commitment to higher education, Peter, Jr. is today recognized as a distinguished donor to the President’s Endowed Scholarship Program at his Alma Mater, Texas A&M University.
Under Charlie’s leadership, the Company’s lubricants, chemicals, and TBA divisions excelled and thrived. As a result of Charlie’s efforts, the Company became a premier distributor of Conoco Lubricants in the South Texas area. Charlie became a respected member of the ConocoPhillips Lubricants National Distributor Advisory Board, serving from 2001-2004.
Serving his community, Charlie was an active member of such organizations as the Noon Lions Club, St. Augustine Parent Teacher Association, and as a long-time member of the Laredo Jaycees.
In the early 1980’s, Peter Jr. and Charlie innovated and diversified the company into convenience-store marketing and unattended fueling facilities. Peter Jr. and Charlie’s commitment to a strong work ethic helped propel the Company to the success that it is today. During their tenure, the Company achieved many business accomplishments, including being honored, in 1997, with the “Dupont Marketing Excellence Award.”
During the late 1980’s, the third Arguindegui generation joined the Company.
In 1986, Peter R. Arguindegui, III joined the Company after graduating from Texas A&M University. In 1998, Peter, III diversified and launched a subsidiary company, Lobo Logistics, LLC, providing pipeline and transportation services to South Texas. In 2001, Peter III assumed sole ownership and control of Lobo Logistics, LLC, and independently and successfully operates this company.
In 1988, Alfonso L. Arguindegui received his degree in Business Administration from St. Edwards University, in Austin Texas. After graduation, Alfonso joined the Company as head of the Retail-Convenience-Store Division. Alfonso immersed himself and quickly expanded the Company’s Retail-Convenience-Store Division and began diversifying the Company’s operations. With a keen sense for real-estate development, Alfonso has grown and expanded the Company’s real-estate holdings. Today, the Company owns and operates real estate assets throughout the State of Texas.
In 1988, after attending Texas A&M University, Charlie, Jr. also joined the Company, as Operations Manager. Charlie, Jr., being mechanically minded, naturally gravitated toward the wholesale operations of the Company. He too immersed himself and with his expertise is responsible for growing and expanding the Company’s wholesale operations, servicing customers throughout the State of Texas. The Company now operates seven wholesale terminals throughout the State.
In 2002, the Company celebrated 60-years of operations and business in the Laredo community. Celebrating the Company’s success, Archie Dunham, Chairman/ CEO of Conoco attended the celebration as Guest of Honor and recognized the Arguindegui family’s exemplary business achievements.
By 2004, the third Arguindegui generation, Alfonso and Charlie, Jr., assumed control of the daily operations and business direction of the Company.
Today, Alfonso serves as President and CEO of the Company. Charlie, Jr. serves as Executive Vice President. Like their predecessors, Alfonso and Charlie, Jr. are committed to honoring the Arguindegui family legacy of dedication to hard work and commitment to the community. Under Alfonso’s and Charlie, Jr.’s leadership, the Company has flourished and grown exponentially. With Alfonso’s and Charlie, Jr.’s forward-thinking and dedication to hard work, the Company has evolved, innovated, and diversified into new and dynamic business markets, including real estate development, construction, railroad services, and exports. As a result of Alfonso’s and Charlie, Jr.’s efforts, the Company’s operations have expanded into the Rio Grande Valley, Corpus Christi, Beeville, San Antonio, and West Texas. Today, the Company currently employs over 200 employees statewide.
Under Alfonso’s and Charlie, Jr.’s control, the Company also continues to be recognized for achievements and excellence in the business community. In 2002, Conoco honored Alfonso with the DuPont Management Business Scholarship, attending the Minority Business Executive Program at Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College.
In 2005, the Company was nominated and inducted into the inaugural class of the “Aggie 100” in the Mays School Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M University. The “Aggie 100” identifies, recognizes, and celebrates the 100 fastest growing Aggie-owned or Aggie-led businesses in the world. The “Aggie 100” not only celebrates their success, but it also provides a forum to pass lessons to the next generation of Aggie entrepreneurs.
The Laredo Chamber of Commerce and Laredo Morning Times honored the Arguindegui family as Business Persons of the Year in July 2009. The Arguindegui family was recognized and celebrated for their dedication, business accomplishments, and contributions the Laredo community.
In connection with this honor, Representative Henry Cuellar acknowledged the family in the congressional record, declaring “The family has truly worked towards and achieved the American Dream” and described the family as a true “American success story.” In celebrating the Arguindegui family, Representative Cuellar stated the “admirable quality of the Arguindegui family is they do not reserve success for themselves. They have engaged in philanthropy by staying involved with local charities and other organizations that are too numerous to mention. They have also provided scholarships to area students.”
State Senator Judith Zaffirini also honored the Arguindegui family with a Senate proclamation recognizing the Arguindegui family’s exemplary achievements and contributions to their community and the State of Texas. In addition to Senator Zaffirini, State Representative Richard Raymond honored the family with a Certificate of Recognition.
As a testament to its business accomplishments and excellence, the Company received a Lifetime Achievement Award, presented at the 2013 Phillips 66 Marketing Conference.
In keeping with the family’s commitment to education, the Company has established scholarship endowments at Texas A&M University, Texas A&M International University, Laredo Community College, and each of the Laredo public high schools, providing financial scholarships to worthy recipients. In early 2012, the Arguindegui family established a second endowment at Texas A&M International University. The Company established the “Arguindegui Oil Company Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Endowment Fund.” The Arguindegui gift provides financial scholarships for students planning careers in STEM fields. These scholarships provide students with a decided edge in a dynamic career field.
The Company also provided a significant financial contribution to Texas A&M International University in connection with the “KLRN program.” The purpose of the “KLRN program” is to establish an on-campus television studio, which will produce relevant programming focusing on the Laredo community and reaching viewership in 30 counties located in the South Central Texas area. The addition of this studio will enable the University to develop a media-production concentration to accompany a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.
Following in the family tradition and involvement in the local community, Alfonso has served as the President of the Laredo Development Foundation and as a board member of the Texas Food and Fuel Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the Boys, and Girls Club, and IBC Commerce Bank.
The Arguindegui family remains committed to supporting numerous local community efforts in keeping with its rich history.
In addition to funding, the Company provides hands-on involvement in the following community organizations: