ILMA Compoundings - October 2018 - 14

INSIDE ILMA

Company Callout
Leslie B. Lampton and Ergon
A story of family and service
By Cathy Pendleton

T

he base oil industry lost an
important part of its history
in April of this year with the
passing of Leslie B. Lampton, founder
of Ergon Inc. The epitome of the
Greatest Generation, of which he was a
part, he served his country in two wars
and came home to build a company
that would grow steadily and strategically to become a well-diversified global
organization. Like other heroes of his
generation, Lampton was a man of
honor and integrity who put his family,
employees and faith above all else.
Lampton was quick to say in his
humble way that the Ergon story
was never about him. "Our story
has always been about people - the
Ergon family," he often commented.
That family consists of dedicated
employees in countries around the
world and includes members of the
second and third generations of the
Lampton family.
PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE
"My father and the board took great
care over the years to ensure that the
Ergon companies would be prepared
to continue in his absence," said Leslie
Lampton III, the eldest of Lampton's
four sons, currently a Board member and
former president of the company's Petroleum Specialties Marketing Division
(PSMD). "We have built a strong team,
and there were no changes in operation
of [the] company when he passed away."

14

OCTOBER 2018

| COMPOUNDINGS | ILMA.ORG

Leslie B. Lampton

Even in his 90s, Lampton made
time to walk the hallways of the Ergon
offices and visit facilities, and he knew
employees by name. He believed
in leading by example, and he was
usually the first to arrive at work and
the last to leave.
He stressed to employees that
Ergon's success since day one had been
based on an ability to understand
customer needs. According to Lance
Puckett, PSMD senior vice president,
"Ergon has never been a transactional
company. What sets us apart is our
approach to service and long-term
partnerships with our customers, and
that's what will guarantee our success
well into the future."
This evolution, which started with
one man's vision of delivering fuels by

truck to local construction companies
and has since grown to Ergon's current
position as one of the world's largest
manufacturers of specialty base oils and
waxes, is evidence of Lampton's gift for
recognizing and meeting market needs.
That recognition begins with placing
the customer as the primary focus.
Lampton had stated, "Ergon's success is
based on our ability to clearly understand the needs of our customers, both
today and in the future."
ERGON'S BEGINNING
Orphaned as an infant, Lampton was
adopted by a family in Jackson, Mississippi. In 1954, after his experience in
the Navy and managing a tire store, this
man in his 20s started Lampton Oil Co.
with a few thousand dollars in savings,
two employees and a used fuel transport
truck. He began by delivering fuel after
business hours to highway construction
companies in the Jackson area. When
crude oil was found nearby, Lampton
began making daily deliveries of fuel
and chain oil to the rigs. He learned that
producers were struggling to get a pipeline built, so he leased trucks and trailers
to move the crude to market, which
facilitated rapid growth for his company.
His growth and commitment to service
resulted in a successful bid for a contract
to provide standby fuel oil for Mississippi Power & Light Co.'s generating
plants, which prompted the beginning
of a barge transportation business.
Continued on page 17
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ILMA Compoundings - October 2018

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