About

Tilghman Oil Company

About Tilghman Oil Company

Founded in 1952, we are a local, family‑owned business proud to have served homes and businesses across the Delmarva Peninsula for over 70 years. What started as a small operation has grown into a trusted fuel and oil provider built on generations of experience, reliable service, and lasting customer relationships.

Led by Pat Tilghman, President, who grew up in the business and brings lifelong expertise in oil and fuel, our company continues the tradition of hands‑on leadership and community commitment. From in‑store pickup to dependable delivery services, we make it easy to get the fuel you need from people who care.

Contact us today to learn more or experience the difference of working with a trusted local fuel provider.

Our Company History

It All Began in 1952

In 1952, John F. Tilghman, who had been working as the operations manager of Holt Oil Company, decided to go out on his own and start Tilghman Oil Company. He began with a 1952 Chevrolet oil truck equipped with a 1,200‑gallon tank. His first customers were family and friends in the town of Federalsburg, Maryland, and the surrounding areas.

He sold fuel oil and kerosene, which were replacing coal as the new way to heat homes, in quantities ranging from five‑gallon cans and up. The supplier for the newly formed Tilghman Oil Company was a Shell jobber from Seaford, Delaware, named Bob Allen. Bob and John created a detailed business plan for the construction of Shell gas stations around the Shore, sealing the deal with a handshake. That agreement lasted 40 years and led to Shell stations in Federalsburg, two in Salisbury, one in Ocean City, and one in Fenwick.

The 1950s and 1960s

Tilghman Oil has always been a family business, and nobody knew that better than John Tilghman’s three sons, all of whom worked for their father. Each began by pumping gas at their father’s gas stations. For those who remember, gas stations in the 1950s and 1960s were full‑service. That meant oil and tires were checked, and windshields were washed for every car.

24‑Hour Fueling on the Delmarva

In 1964, Philip L. Tilghman came to work for Tilghman Oil full time after graduating from Washington College. He helped expand the company in new ways, including introducing the first 24‑hour fueling system to the Eastern Shore.

In 1990, Tilghman Oil purchased Sharp Energy’s petroleum division. That same year, an office was opened in Pocomoke City to better serve Somerset and Worcester Counties.

Three Generations and Counting

The Tilghman family tradition continued in 1992 when Pat Tilghman joined the business alongside his father. Since that time, Tilghman Oil has expanded its efforts beyond home heating accounts to also serve the farming community and construction industry.

In 1997, Tilghman Oil opened the first of four marinas in Ocean City. Today, the company also offers commercial and residential tank cleaning services.