Lion Oil

Lion Oil Company was established in 1922. Thomas Harry (Colonel) Barton was instrumental in the development of the company. In 1955, Lion Oil was sold to the Monsanto Company along with what is now El Dorado Chemical Company. Lion Oil is the only oil refinery Monsanto has owned. Lion Oil was later sold by Monsanto to Tosco. In 1985, Lion was struggling and on the verge of shutting down and was sold by Tosco to a partnership of Ergon Refining of Jackson, Mississippi, and a group of local investors. This is how it acquired the oil refinery in El Dorado, Arkansas.

Lion Oil

Lion Oil Company was established in 1922. Thomas Harry (Colonel) Barton was instrumental in the development of the company. In 1955, Lion Oil was sold to the Monsanto Company along with what is now El Dorado Chemical Company. Lion Oil is the only oil refinery Monsanto has owned. Lion Oil was later sold by Monsanto to Tosco. In 1985, Lion was struggling and on the verge of shutting down and was sold by Tosco to a partnership of Ergon Refining of Jackson, Mississippi, and a group of local investors. This is how it acquired the oil refinery in El Dorado, Arkansas.