Davenport Energy promotes Harold Thornton to president

Chatham-based Davenport Energy Inc. has promoted Harold E. “Hal” Thornton Jr. to president, the company announced Tuesday.

Thornton has been with Davenport, a provider of gas, diesel fuel propane and petroleum products, for 27 years. He was initially hired as human resources director in 1995, rising through the ranks to supervisory and management positions. Most recently he was executive vice president, a role he has held since 2002. His vice president role will not be filled, according to a company spokesman. Before he joined Davenport, Thornton worked for North American Locating Inc.

“Hal has been a key part of our success, and we are thrilled to promote him to this important position,” Davenport CEO Lewis E. Wall Jr. said in a statement.

Davenport was founded in 1941 and is a family-owned company. Benjamin J. Davenport Jr., whose father founded the company, is now chairman, and Wall is his cousin. The company employs 150 people and has offices in Danville, Gretna, Rocky Mount, Martinsville, Roanoke, South Boston, Covington and Siler City, North Carolina. It supplies propane and fuel oil, along with related services to more than 30,000 customers in Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia and gasoline and diesel fuel to more than 200 convenience stores.

 “Davenport Energy Inc. has been my work home for nearly 27 years,” Thornton said. “The excitement of watching the company flourish is only matched by the day-to-day honor of being a member of Team Davenport. I am grateful for the opportunities afforded me and look forward to Davenport Energy’s continued success.”