In 1924, L. H. Pritchard and J. Steven Anderson opened the West Texas Refinery Company just west of Colorado City, Texas, to process Mitchell County Oil. When the two oil industry pioneers started up this project in Texas, their work formed the roots of what soon came to be an iconic brand of gasoline in the early part of the 20th Century.

Ownership soon changed to Standard Oil of California, which renamed the company “Col-Tex Refining”. From the 1930s to 1950s, the refinery operated at a full capacity of 12,000 barrels a day. The company was a major part of Colorado City life; it employed many local workers and residents timed their activities by the refinery whistle.

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