Bernard Roth founded World Oil in 1938, when he opened his first gas station on the corner of Florence and Normandie in South Central Los Angeles.

Bernard Roth founded World Oil in 1938, when he opened his first gas station on the corner of Florence and Normandie in South Central Los Angeles. At just 22, he pioneered self-service gas stations, slashing gas prices and advertising: “We don’t wash your windows. We just sell you gas for less.” A savvy businessman, Bernie Roth was also an upstanding family man who believed in doing the right thing. That’s the way he lived his life and the way he built his business, along with World Oil co-found...

Bernard Roth founded World Oil in 1938, when he opened his first gas station on the corner of Florence and Normandie in South Central Los Angeles. At just 22, he pioneered self-service gas stations, slashing gas prices and advertising: “We don’t wash your windows. We just sell you gas for less.” A savvy businessman, Bernie Roth was also an upstanding family man who believed in doing the right thing. That’s the way he lived his life and the way he built his business, along with World Oil co-founder and his wife of over seven decades, Florence. More than 75 years later, World Oil is now one of California’s largest privately held companies. Bernard and Florence’s sons, Bob and Steve Roth, carry on their legacy, operating a business with a soul that recycles, produces, and transports vital petroleum-based and related products. We lead the industry in sustainable, end-to-end solutions that care for our communities, our environment, and our shared future.