That Family Feeling Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores share Oklahoma values across the nation. By Tara Malone
the points that make our corporate culture unbreakable.” Love began his career with the company as an hourly employee during his high school summers. When he attended Trinity University in San Antonio, he served as an assistant manager at a Love’s. In addition, he shadowed other members of the Love’s corporation for three years, scoured the nation for new locations and worked with contractors on construction. In 1986, he joined Love’s central offices in Oklahoma City, where he has worked on his family’s vision for the past three decades. He is not the only family member to join the business; his brother and sister serve as co-chief executive officer and vice president of communications, respectively. “There are now three generations
PHOTOS COURTESY LOVE’S TRAVEL STOPS AND COUNTRY STORES
Turn the wheel down any Oklahoma highway and it won’t be long before you encounter the familiar heartthemed beacon that signifies a Love’s Travel Stop. The fueling-convenience store empire, which spans 470 locations in 41 states, has humble, family roots. In 1964, Tom and Judy Love took a chance on an abandoned gas station in Watonga. Before long, the
couple opened additional stations in Guymon and Amarillo, Texas. The rest is history. While much has changed, co-CEO Greg Love, son of Tom and Judy, says one standard remains constant: a commitment to treating others like family. “At Love’s, we’re guided by core values that focus on putting our customers first, exhibiting integrity in our day-to-day actions, demonstrating a strong work ethic, creating new opportunities through innovative thinking and perseverance in the pursuit of all opportunities,” he says. “Love’s is a privately owned company, which gives our employees additional resources and opportunities that may not otherwise be offered, such as serving the community in different capacities and a long list of benefits. These are only a few of
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018
