Art and Ray Schmidt founded Schmidt Brothers Oil Company after purchasing a fuel oil route in Kimberly, Wisconsin. Art’s wife, Gladys, managed phone calls, delivery schedules, and bookkeeping from their home in Kimberly, while Ray’s wife, Carol, handled receivables from their home in Kaukauna. The company operated out of their homes until 1958.
Art and Ray changed the company name to Schmidt Oil Co. when their father, Albert Schmidt, joined his sons in the family business. The brothers gave up some of their stock to make Albert an equal partner. They acquired land in Combined Locks to build bulk tanks that stored oil in addition to the company’s first service and gas station. This land is also where the first corporate office was built in later years.
Art and Ray seized the opportunity to purchase a truckload of Cooper Tires at a great price. With no plan or place to put them, they took a risk and bought the product but were forced to store tires in friends’ and family members’ garages. Not long after, they created a tires and parts division, led by Ray, and built a warehouse so they could begin distribution. That business division is now U.S. AutoForce.
A heating division was created to expand services offered – including selling and maintaining heating equipment which was a logical step since the company was already supplying fuel oil to homeowners.
Bill Schmidt, a decade younger than Art, joined the business full-time upon returning from his service in the National Guard. Soon after, he launched U.S. Petroleum Equipment from the trunk of his car and went on to oversee both U.S. Lubricants and the truck garage. U.S. Petroleum Equipment was sold in 2023.
The company’s first terminal was purchased in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.
The company rebranded to U.S. Oil to establish a stronger national presence.
The Bulk Motor Oil division was established (which was later rebranded as U.S. Lubricants).
Schmidt Plumbing started.
Art and Tom Schmidt traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet with King Faisal, explaining how the oil embargo threatened their business. Upon returning, Art approached major oil companies to trade fuel. This bold move caused sales to skyrocket sevenfold and established arbitrage as a core part of U.S. Venture’s business.
U.S. Oil moved three terminal tanks in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to make way for Tower Drive Bridge.
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning division was rebranded as Design Air to more clearly reflect the services offered. This division was later sold.
The first Express station was opened. These stations were sold throughout the years, with all remaining locations sold in 2015.
As the business continued to thrive, the brothers sought meaningful ways to give back to their community. To honor the values of generosity and compassion instilled by their parents, Albert and Margaret Schmidt, Art, Ray, and Bill established what has since become the U.S. Venture/Schmidt Family Foundation.
In August 1986, Bill Schmidt founded the U.S. Venture Open, an annual golf outing that, since its inception, has raised millions of dollars to help those in need.
The company’s inaugural Board of Advisors, now operating as the Board of Directors, was established. It brought together family members and accomplished local business owners to guide and support the company’s growth.
Tom Schmidt became the CEO.
U.S. Oil purchased a group of Mobil and bp sites, propelling its branded dealer business across Northeast Wisconsin.
Arnold Muffler, Inc. was acquired, supporting exhaust, brakes, and suspension services.
Jim Schmidt purchased the plumbing division as a separate entity which still exists today.
U.S. Oil acquired one of its earliest bp terminals in Green Bay, marking the beginning of a thriving partnership and a shared commitment to growth that has spanned decades.
John Schmidt became the CEO after Tom’s retirement and transition to Chairman of the Board.
Pam Oil, Inc. was a Valvoline and lubricants distributor, paving the way for U.S. AutoForce and U.S. Lubricants to expand into brakes, exhaust, shocks, and tires throughout the mountain states. Additionally, by introducing these product lines to new geographical markets, the company broadened its reach further into parts distribution, strengthening its presence in the western region.
U.S. AutoForce began expanding significantly through strategic acquisitions, including Schierl Tire, Inc., Heartland Tire, TK Distributors, and Waukegan Tire (2012). These acquisitions grew U.S. AutoForce’s footprint throughout the United States.
The Cheboygan Terminal was purchased from bp, continuing expansion into Michigan in addition to catapulting U.S. Oil’s barge business.
This year marked the beginning of the U.S. Gain division.
When the company was renamed U.S. Venture, its headquarters moved to 425 Better Way in Appleton. The old building was donated to the Kimberly School system.
The acquisition of Saracen Energy Partners was a pivotal moment for U.S. Oil, marking the company’s largest transaction (at the time) and its first step into energy trading. It expanded U.S. Oil’s presence nationally and established its first Houston office, unlocking growth opportunities and welcoming new talent. This milestone set a new standard for operations, positioning U.S. Oil as a key player in the evolving energy sector.
U.S. Oil went through rapid expansion on its branded/retail business with the acquisition of Trueblood Oil Jobbership, Draeger Oil Jobbership, Combined Oil (2013), and SEE USA (2013).
U.S. AutoForce continued its rapid multi-year expansion through acquisitions with Foree Tire, Shumaker Tire, Inc., Schiebout Tire, and Shore Tire (2014). These additions multiplied U.S. AutoForce’s footprint, broadened its brand offerings, and deepened its partnerships across the country.
The Noble Terminal acquisition included six terminals (Bettendorf, Iowa; Fort Worth, Texas; Houston, Texas; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Rogers City, Michigan; Bryan, Texas), and was U.S. Oil’s first time focusing outside of the Midwest and into Texas.
U.S. Oil expanded its operations by acquiring NuStar (Indianapolis) and Marathon (Milwaukee) terminals. These strategic acquisitions marked its entry into Indiana and supported the continued growth of its branded business presence in the region.
U.S. AutoForce made its first move into Florida and the Southeast through the purchase of South Dade Automotive which included four new locations in Florida.
U.S. Venture acquired IGEN®, an excise tax software company designed to streamline tax filing in the motor fuel and tobacco industries. This allowed U.S. Venture to branch into a new software.
Through the Premier Tire acquisition, U.S. AutoForce continued to scale at a rapid pace with the addition of its Denver location and additional market share in the west.
U.S. AutoForce made its first acquisition into Texas by acquiring Wellborn Tire and its five distribution centers located throughout the major metro areas.
Art, Ray, and Bill Schmidt were inducted into the Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame.
The acquisition of Tire’s Warehouse marked a major milestone in U.S. AutoForce’s growth, paving the way for further expansion across California, Las Vegas, and Arizona. By adding eight new warehouses to its operations on the West Coast, U.S. AutoForce strengthened its national footprint and opened the doors to exciting new partnerships with leading tire brands. This strategic move reflected U.S. Venture’s ongoing commitment to broadening its reach and delivering exceptional value to its partners and customers.
Premium Oil Company was U.S. Lubricants’ first venture into water-based metalworking manufacturing that expanded its overall territory throughout Illinois.
The acquisition of Breakthrough® launched U.S. Venture into the world of innovative transportation and supply chain strategies for the world’s leading shippers.
U.S. Venture expanded its operations in 2018 with the acquisition of its second barge, Albert & Margaret, named after the founder’s parents. This milestone enhanced the company’s ability to transport products across the Great Lakes.
U.S. Oil purchased AOT Energy America’s rack business, based out of Houston, expanding operations in Texas. This purchase was part of U.S. Oil’s strategy to continue to grow as a national supplier of petroleum products and renewable fuels.
The Sassafras acquisition included the purchase of 47 branded contracts, giving U.S. Oil the ability to brand bp in Chicago as well as a group of branded dealers in the Chicago area.
The acquisition of Treadmaxx Tire marked a significant expansion into the Southeast as part of U.S. AutoForce’s strategic initiative to establish a stronger national presence. This move included access to major brands and 14 additional locations across the country.
Through the acquisition of Basin Lands, U.S. Venture acquired its first entry into sustainable water solutions. The company’s unique approach is rooted in its access to a differentiated deal pipeline and ability to optimize all components of its assets.
Maxim Petrochemical Corporation was acquired, strengthening U.S. Lubricants’ presence in North Texas. This acquisition not only enhanced service capabilities but also expanded the company’s expertise and capacity in metalworking.
The Chevron Fort Worth South Terminal was purchased, marking a major step in U.S. Oil’s expansion efforts in Texas.
Immediately following the Treadmaxx acquisition, U.S. AutoForce added Max Finkelstein, Inc. to its growing portfolio, accelerating its reach into the Northeast. This acquisition brought additional brands as well as 15 warehouses. Together, these two acquisitions transformed U.S. AutoForce into a leading national distributor and trusted strategic partner throughout the United States.
U.S. Oil achieved a significant milestone by constructing its first greenfield terminal in Melissa, Texas. This project marked the first terminal built from scratch in over a decade, showcasing a commitment to innovation and growth. The Melissa Terminal enhanced U.S. Oil’s infrastructure and expanded its capabilities to better serve the southern United States.
U.S. Oil expanded its operations on the East Coast with five new locations in South Carolina and Alabama.
The bp blending facility acquisition in Baltimore allowed U.S. Lubricants to expand into the mid-major market with the scaling capabilities of a major lubricant provider while still retaining its family-owned values of placing its customers first.
U.S. Oil and U.S. Gain combined to form U.S. Energy®.
U.S. AutoForce acquired Pacific Tire Distributors in Portland, Oregon, adding four locations in the Pacific Northwest.
Eric Kessenich became the CEO of U.S. Venture. John Schmidt retired as CEO, transitioning to Chairman of the Board. Tom Schmidt retired from Chairman of the Board after a memorable 53 years (longest tenured team member) with the company.
U.S. AutoForce successfully implemented D365 enterprise resource planning (ERP) to unify its operations. This integration marked a significant milestone, streamlining processes across the organization and consolidating all acquired companies onto a single, cohesive system.
