Several hundred friends, family, associates and partners attended the ribbon cutting for a new, state-of-the-art headquarters of Sampson-Bladen in Clinton on Tuesday.
The 85,000 square foot headquarters was slow in coming, according to speakers, following a tornado that leveled their old headquarters on highway 421 northwest of Clinton.
After a couple of moves to temporary sites, the Clark family bought a building on US 701 business in Clinton. According to Haddon Clark, III, they “gutted” the building and built a new headquarters that should serve the needs of Sampson Bladen for years to come.
The ribbon cutting was moved inside due to inclement weather.
Clark, President of the company, thanked all for attending the special event, spoke about the damage to their old office after the tornado, and the action following the storm that allowed the company to move on and “never missed a beat” so far as providing service to their customers. He provided a “trip thru time” as he followed the series of events that led to the new facility. He thanked John and Howell Clark for their work on the new site. Howell Clark provided an update of new activities and products as Sampson Bladen has continued to grow during his life time. Following Howell’s comments, Haddon invited everyone to visit the new facility.
Sampson Bladen Oil Company began serving Sampson and Bladen counties in 1936 and over many years and with a good staff have gone from an oil company that delivered fuel oil and gasoline to small service stations and home owners. to a company that today is a wholesaler, retailer and transporter of petroleum products that provides bulk products to construction, automotive and other type businesses, plus 76 HANDEE-HUGO’S convenience stores primarily in eastern North Carolina.
David Clark, listed in some publications as the treasurer, who along with Giles Clark, Roger Clark and Manley Clark, Jr (deceased) are the principal owners. They have begun to turn the everyday operation over to the next generation of the Clark family.
David Clark, obviously pleased with the new facility gave credit to the the younger group and says the new facility should meet the needs of Sampson Bladen for years to come.
Among those attending the “ribbon cutting” was a Dr. Jerry Wallace, former pastor and long time friend of the Clark family. He recently announced his retirement as President of Campbell University.
In a recent publication listing privately held businesses in North Carolina, Sampson Bladen was listed as number 12 in the range of $500 mllion and over in sales and employed over 600 people.
Share on social media: https://bladencounty.org/?p=15249
About Author
