Bill Englefield championed advocacy efforts as a member and past chairman of OPMCA.
The Ohio Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association (OPMCA) mourns the loss of long-time industry leader F. William (Bill) Englefield, III, who passed away Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018 at Licking Memorial Hospital, Newark, Ohio, surrounded by family and friends.
Englefield was a recognized and highly respected dignitary in Ohio’s petroleum industry and in his local community.
In 1961, Englefield founded Englefield Oil Co., which he managed in the early days with his wife, Janet, from a modest office in the basement of their home. Under his leadership, the company gained a reputation for treating its customers and employees with respect, while providing quality products at a fair price. Today, Englefield Oil Co. is a third-generation family business that employs more than 1,600 Ohioans company, with revenues of over a billion dollars—a milestone Englefield never could never have imagined when he fulfilled his dream of starting his own business.
Throughout his career, Englefield was a tireless champion of Ohio’s independent, family-owned petroleum marketers. He served for many years on the Board of Directors of OPMCA, including serving as chairman from 1976-1978. Englefield was active in the association’s advocacy efforts with the Ohio General Assembly and state regulatory agencies, and played a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of the association, which would evolve to become the modern OPMCA. Years later, his sons, Bill, Jr. and Ben, would follow in Englefield’s footsteps, serving as OPMCA chairmen in 1994-1996 and 2004-2006, respectively. Today, Englefield’s grandson, Will Englefield, carries on the family legacy as an industry leader in his role as a member of the association’s Board of Directors.
His outspoken support of legislation that would create the Underground Storage Tank Clean-Up Fund (now known as the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Release Compensation Board, or Fund Board) was essential to its unanimous approval by the Ohio General Assembly in 1989. That year, Englefield was appointed by Governor Richard Celeste to serve on the Fund Board. During its inaugural meeting, Englefield was elected the first Board chairman.
Englefield was also actively engaged on the national stage, where he served as president of the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA), and as a member of both SIGMA and NACS. In 2005, he was selected to receive the PMAA Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes petroleum marketers for outstanding and ongoing contributions to the industry.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Englefield took great pride in leading Englefield Oil Co.’s many loyal employees, to whom he credits the company’s success. He was a great philanthropist who believed in working hard to make Ohio and the nation a better place for all to live, work and prosper. He was an active supporter of the Newark Rotary Club, the Newark Area Chamber of Commerce, a 32nd Degree Master Mason, and a longtime member of Moundbuilders’ Country Club. He we also a member of the Second Presbyterian Church in Newark for over 50 years.
Englefield was a proud graduate of Ohio University, where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering and was a star football player. He was also a veteran, serving as Captain in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Family, friends and business associates will fondly remember Englefield as a generous mentor who was honest, fair and who put service to others before himself.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Janet Englefield, and their three children, Frederick William (Bill) Englefield IV (Kim); Cindi Englefield (Dave Koehler); and Ben Englefield (Lisa); Grandchildren Frederick William (Will) Englefield V (Lindsay); Anthony Englefield (Amber Thompson); Carissa Richardson (Danny); Lauren Cox (Drew); Michael Lipaj (Alyssa); Ali Carter (Mike); Ashley Englefield-DeWitt (Neil); and Cody Englefield, as well as 15 great grandchildren. He will also be missed by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bill and Lois Barton, many nieces and nephews, and their numerous close friends who Bill considered to be family.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, Nov. 6 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and 6p.m. – 8 p.m. at the McPeek-Hoekstra Funeral Home, 133 South Prospect Street, Granville, OH 43023. A memorial service celebrating Bill’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018 at Second Presbyterian Church, 42 E. Church St., Newark with Rev. Todd Tracy as celebrant. A private interment will be held at Welsh Hills Cemetery in Granville. Memorial contributions may be made to Second Presbyterian Church, 42 E. Church St., Newark, OH 43055.
Online condolences may be expressed at: www.mcpeekhoekstra.com.
