Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/1139341
29 TheSouthShoreMagazine.com This year, Williams Energy is celebrating its 100th year anniversary of providing energy and trusted customer care to the South Shore. This family-owned business, which many know by the name of Williams Coal & Oil, is a one-stop-shop for energy delivery and energy servicing, including fuel oil, diesel fuel and propane gas delivery, as well as plumbing, heating and air conditioning services. Over the past one hundred years, the business has grown and evolved with the changing times, but has never wavered in its dedication to trustworthy, friendly service and its longstanding commitment to the community. CEO Brian Williams' integrity and vision for the past 40 years has contributed greatly to Williams Energy's ongoing success. He is the grandson of George A. Williams, who founded the company in 1919. Originally called G.A. Williams and Sons, the business was primarily focused on construction, building and lumber supply. George's daughter and seven sons worked in the family business and it eventually branched out to provide coal, oil and plumbing services. Now, Brian works alongside his son, General Manager Gavin Williams, who adds a fourth generation dedicated to serving South Shore families. In the 1920's, the Williams family built a railroad spur at their 39 Adams Street, Braintree location so that lumber and coal could be easily delivered by rail. During World War II, freight cars were able to load and unload there, and the government utilized the Williams' location to store coal. This coal trestle proved useful again in the 50's and 60's: as more customers switched to fuel oil, other local companies transferred their remaining coal business to Williams. Staying in the coal business despite the increased transition to fuel oil as a heating source proved to be auspicious. When the oil embargo first struck in 1973, fuel oil was in short supply and many people reverted back to coal for home heating. Demand for coal skyrocketed. Brian remembers lines of cars and trucks at their East Braintree location waiting to pick up coal from the facility. Brian worked for the Federal Reserve System before joining the family business in 1982. Before he arrived, a second oil embargo in 1979-1980 had occurred and the company was still delivering large amounts of coal. Despite this coal boon, Brian foresaw that coal's days as a main heating source were numbered. "Computers had come on the scene and, with this new technology, our generation was not going to continue shoveling coal into a stove for heat." He bought computers for the office and began expanding the oil and service aspects of the company. Indeed, in the 80's, the focus was on fuel oil, diesel fuel, propane and natural gas—not coal. Brian's visionary business acumen has kept Williams Energy's position as the go-to company for the South Shore's energy and service needs. "For the past 25 years, our focus is on service," Brian says. "Trust is huge. You cannot violate it. I tell my employees that when you visit a customer, ask yourself, What would I have liked that person to do for me? Make sure to do what needs to be done, and do it the right way." Presently, A Look at Family, Vision & Solid Service Since 1919 By Erica Ford