World Oil Corp. Announces the Passing of Founder Bernard B. Roth

SOUTH GATE, CA--March 29, 2011: Bernard B. Roth, the California-based philanthropist and entrepreneur who pioneered the self-serve gasoline station, passed away of natural causes on Sunday, March 27, at his home in Beverly Hills, California. He was 95.

“He made an enormous impact everywhere he went. Not only did Bernie build a world class business, but he gave back to local communities in very meaningful ways.”

"Bernie was a true giant and innovator in the retail gasoline business," said George Babikian, former President of ARCO Products Company. "He transformed the traditional corner service station into one of the most powerful business models in the nation," he said.

Roth began modestly in 1938 with a single gas station in South Central Los Angeles. Over the course of seven decades, Roth's core business principal of distributing high quality petroleum products at lower than average prices allowed his company, World Oil Corp., to grow into one of California's largest privately-held enterprises.

Today, World Oil and its affiliates operate a chain of gasoline stations throughout California, and have diversified their operations to include road and roofing asphalt production, trucking, marine terminal operations and real estate development. Additionally, decades prior to the popularity and success of green business, Roth acquired a fledgling petroleum recycling company and transformed it into the largest petroleum recycling business in the Western U.S.

Bernard B. Roth was born on June 27, 1915, in St. Louis, Missouri, one of six children. He moved to Los Angeles at the age of 15. His business career began that same year when he negotiated an agreement with the Bank of Italy (now known as Bank of America) to lease a market and sign tenants, enabling him to provide income for his mother. Throughout his career, Roth used those same entrepreneurial and merchandising skills to transform the retail gasoline business under the ARCO, Exxon, Shell, Chevron, Unocal, Texaco and World brands.

At 17, while working as an usher at the Paramount Theater in East Los Angeles, Roth met Florence Appel, who became his wife of 74 years.

"Bernie was a true original, and a very proud Jew," said Senior Rabbi Steve Leder of Wilshire Boulevard Temple, where Roth was a member for over 70 years, including serving on the Board of Trustees. "He made an enormous impact everywhere he went. Not only did Bernie build a world class business, but he gave back to local communities in very meaningful ways."

Along with his wife Florence, Roth created the Florence and Bernard B. Roth Family Foundation. The Foundation has been active with leading civic institutions, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Wilshire Boulevard Temple. For the temple, the Foundation played a lead role in the development of summer camps in Malibu and a K-6 elementary school campus located in West Los Angeles.

Roth was also deeply involved in serving the underprivileged in Compton where he supported a variety of community-based efforts, including the AIDS Hotline, Little League Baseball, the Sports Foundation, Meals on Wheels, senior cookouts, Adopt-A-School program and food banks.

He is survived by his beloved wife Florence and his three children, Richard of New York, and Robert and Steven of Los Angeles. He is also survived by six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages that donations be made to Wilshire Boulevard Temple, or the Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging. Funeral services will be held at Wilshire Boulevard Temple (3663 Wilshire Boulevard) at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 30, 2011.