Since 1938, Griffin Oil Company has helped Hampton Roads meet any and all of its energy needs. The company was founded by former Suffolk Mayor W.P. Griffin 62 years ago as a Sinclair Refining Company Consignee. It was during this time that the company flourished in the Suffolk Community. Griffin Oil Company was a leader not only in Suffolk's residential community, but also in its commercial and abundant agricultural markets through its distribution of heating oils, all grades of gasolines, and diesel fuel.

After the retirement of Mr. Griffin, Wayland T. Pond III, a lifetime Suffolk native, bought the company. Wayland Pond had worked his way through Central Fidelity Bank up to the position of Vice-President. When the opportunity presented itself, he decided to buy Griffin Oil Company and make it his new career. It is through Wayland Pond's leadership that Griffin Oil Company became a frontrunner in many diversified energy products. Shortly into his reign, the company became incorporated and began operating as Suffolk Energies Incorporated T/A Griffin Oil Company. The newfound growth sought by Wayland Pond expanded upon its existing heating fuel basis to include a heavy load of all gasoline distribution and Convenience Stores dealings. Griffin Oil Company continued to establish itself as a legitimate energy source. The company became noticed in the forefront of British Petroleum distributors in the state of Virginia, while still operating within the reputation of being a locally owned and operated source for numerous energy needs.

Later in 1989, Griffin Oil Company continued on its established path by becoming a bulk and package distributor for BP Lubricants. This aspect of the business evolved into serving all of Hampton Roads as well as Northeastern North Carolina. The company continued to grow on the basis of servicing everyone from small garages to the biggest localities in Virginia with the same personal service. This aspect of the business took another giant leap in 1999 when it was offered one of two master distributors for BP Lubricants in Virginia by BP Amoco. The Master Distributor Program allowed Suffolk Energies, Inc. to operate as the sole distributor for other BP Amoco Jobbers and businesses in Southeast Virginia and Northeast North Carolina, a title in which Suffolk Energies, Inc. continues to operate and serve under today.  And now with the addition of Castrol Heavy Duty Lubricants in 2001, Suffolk Energies, Inc. will continue to prove itself in the forefront of the lubricants industry for years to come.

Griffin Oil Company continued its diversification when Wayland Pond decided to add Liquefied Petroleum Gas to the list of his services in 1995. Soon, Griffin Oil Company became known as Griffin Oil and Propane. Like the rest of the business, propane expanded beyond the predicted expectations. The part of the business that was started to service strictly Suffolk's propane needs soon grew to encompass Suffolk, Southampton County, Isle of Wight County, and Surry County. It is Griffin Oil and Propane's local and personal touch that continues to allow it to strive in this area of big business today. Not only do the customers know whom they are dealing with, but also Griffin Oil and Propane knows exactly whom they are dealing with.