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Life shifted in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John began experiencing health issues. Phillip Sr. and Uncle James had both died in 1997, leaving John to run the business on his own from 1997 to 2024. Phillip\u2019s grandmother, Isabell, who owned the company until she died in 2002, had long handled the books. His mother, Vickie Small, later stepped into that bookkeeping role, making the business a true family effort behind the scenes as well as in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Aug. 1, 2024, Phillip officially began running Small & Small Oil. Eighteen months into the role, he describes the transition with gratitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been nice,\u201d he said. \u201cVery loyal customer base. Nice to be down there when people come in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many of those customers have decades of history with the company. \u201cSome farmers have been coming in for 40 or 50 years,\u201d Phillip said. Some remember his grandfather, Phillip Sr.; others remember his father, John. They tell stories about deliveries made in ice storms and early morning fuel stops during harvest season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s my favorite part,\u201d he said. The continuity is not lost on him. \u201cWe\u2019re very blessed to have customers who have remained with the company for so long,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Phillip has found that leadership translates across professions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shift from athletic director to business owner may seem dramatic on paper, but the core skills are familiar. \u201cIt\u2019s fun, honestly,\u201d he said of learning how it functions and leading his team. Whether guiding coaches and athletes or drivers and office staff, the goal is the same \u2014 alignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith all the moving parts\u2026 you\u2019ve got to rely on your people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fuel delivery is logistically complex. Routes must be scheduled, trucks must be maintained, and weather must be monitored. Customer needs are anticipated. Like a basketball program, success depends on coordination and trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phillip approaches the business with the same mindset he brought to coaching \u2014 clear communication, steady expectations, and respect for the individuals carrying out the work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The return to Lincoln County has also reshaped his perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHonestly, being gone for so long has made me appreciate Lincoln County so much more,\u201d he said. After years in Florida\u2019s fast-paced school systems, the neighborly, supportive character of his hometown stands out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s an awesome community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That appreciation is sharpened by legacy. Small & Small Oil will celebrate its 80th anniversary next year \u2014 \u201ca heck of a milestone,\u201d Phillip said. With that longevity comes both pride and expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt comes with a little bit of responsibility and pressure,\u201d he acknowledged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His aspirations for the next five years include growth \u2014 more trucks, more employees, and just kind of expanding their reach. But expansion is not the only goal. \u201cWe want to be able to do that without sacrificing our level of service and relationships we have with our current customers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That balance \u2014 growth without erosion \u2014 defines his leadership approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The business that began as a Sinclair bulk plant in 1947 has survived industry shifts, corporate restructuring, generational change, and the steady evolution of rural economies. It has done so by staying local, relational, and reliable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phillip understands that he is not starting something new \u2014 he is stewarding something established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each time a long-time farmer walks through the door and shares a story about his grandfather, the weight of that stewardship becomes tangible. The past is not abstract \u2014 it stands at the counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a man who once thought his career would remain in gymnasiums and administrative offices, the fuel yard now feels like the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same leadership instincts apply. The same commitment to people carries forward. The setting has changed; the purpose has not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Small & Small Oil approaches its 80th year, Phillip Small stands at the intersection of heritage and horizon \u2014 grateful for the loyalty behind him and focused on careful growth ahead. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" AFTER TWO decades in Florida education and athletics, a third-generation leader steps into his family\u2019s oil business with gratitude and growth in mind. Small & Small Oil began in 1947, when Phillip Small\u2019s grandfather, Phillip Small Sr., worked for Sinclair as a \u201cmarketer.\u201d Back then, large oil companies operated bulk plants across rural communities, distributing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":25696,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[69,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fayetteville","category-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/fayetteville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/3-3-1024x683.jpg\")
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