“No One Delivers More for You!”
Every day we strive to uphold the promise to deliver more value to our clients. From heating oil, to propane, to comfort systems, we work to deliver outstanding care and service 24/7/365.
It all started in 1926…
Our commitment to industry leadership began in 1926, when two ambitious men, Jim Wills and Harold Swann, acquired the La Plata Oil Company and Mechanicsville Oil Company. The two companies merged, to form Southern Maryland Oil (SMO). In the early days, SMO handled only three products: kerosene, gasoline, and motor oil.
In 1937, with the invention of the gun type burner, fuel oil became a hot commodity and created an ever-increasing market for home heating. SMO began deliveries on an automatic basis – the first such service available to clients in southern Maryland.
We Continue Today…
The founders had no idea that SMO would grow into the largest business of its kind in the region – let alone one of the largest family-run businesses in the state. The founders had but one dream: for SMO to recognized for great client service. Over three quarters of a century later, we are proud to remain focused on that primary goal.
Throughout the years, SMO has provided many “firsts” to clients in an effort to maintain our role as a leader in the industry.
- 1937 – First automatic delivery service available to clients in Southern Maryland
- 1953 – First two-way radio communication system for oil heat delivery trucks in Maryland
- 1955 – First oil burner service department in southern Maryland
- 1966 – First installation department for installing hot water heaters, central air, furnaces, and more
- 1975 – First truly functional computer-based “degree-day” system, accurately and conveniently predicting delivery needs for clients in our service area
- 1989 – First to offer a major new product innovation: REDGARD™ premium heating oil, designed to keep fuel systems clean, control corrosion, and reduce breakdowns
- 1992 – First Price Protection Guarantee for all our automatic-delivery heating oil clients
- 1998 – First heating oil company to offer comprehensive service agreements, loyalty credits, and an Emergency Service Guarantee
- 2011- Industry first portal to offer online fuel ordering, online tune up scheduling and much more.
Our company continues to thrive and provide a number of “company firsts,” under our parent company,The Wills Group . We have diversified into other areas of operation along the way, including our network of Dash In convenience stores and SMO Motor Fuels, which serve gas stations and commercial clients across the region.
SMO is still dedicated to providing the highest level of home comfort possible for our clients and we look forward to serving our clients for many years to come.
In this same spirit of being a “company of firsts,” we’ve diversified into other areas of operation along the way in order to keep the company strong and healthy. These include our network of Dash In convenience stores and SMO Motor Fuels, which serve gas stations and commercial clients across the region.
SMO is still dedicated to providing the highest level of home comfort possible for our clients and we look forward to serving our clients for many years to come.