Industry icon and pioneer Bill Douglass was recently awarded the Congressional Patriot Award, an award that recognizes his exceptional contributions to making his community a better place. Honorees of this prestigious award are selected by a sitting member of Congress.
On April 10, Bill was joined by his family and friends in Washington, D.C., for a special ceremony on Capitol Hill to receive the award, which was presented by Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX). United States Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) also attended the event.
The Congressional Patriot Award provides “meaningful recognition of the men and women who give selflessly of their time and talent to make their communities a better place for all.”
After stints in the United States Marine Corps and Army, serving as a First Lieutenant specializing in Combat Intelligence, Douglass joined Exxon (now Exxon Mobil), rising from a member of the sales team to one of their senior advisors. He later moved to Sherman, Texas, and founded Douglass Distributing Co. and Lone Star convenience stores, which were acquired by Casey’s in late 2023.
According to Fallon’s official statement in the Congressional Record:
“If you drive through North Texas, you’ll likely stop at one of the many stores owned by Bill. For his exemplary work, Bill’s signature Lone Star brand won Convenience Store of the Year twice. He was also recognized as an Employer of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce and the Texas Workforce Commission.
I am proud of the work Bill has accomplished to innovate the next generation of convenience stores and improve the world around us. It is an honor to bestow Bill with the Patriot Award for his exceptional service to our Nation and the people of North Texas.”
Bill Douglass has been very active in NACS, culminating with his serving as NACS’s 2004-05 Chairman of the Board. He also served as the inaugural chairman in 2013 of the Fuels Institute (now known as the Transportation Energy Institute.)
Douglass is currently chairman of the Texoma Medical Center’s Board of Trustees and is a board member at Austin College, where he received an honorary Ph.D. for his contributions to the Sherman community.
In 2023, Douglass spoke with Fuels Market News Magazine about his career path, including how he initially entered the fuel retailing business.