User:Jonathan Lewis Clark/Neely Brothers

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The Neely Brothers In a time when minority owned business were unheard of, three brothers from [|Granada, Mississippi] paved the way for Blacks in the petroleum industry in Chicago, Ill. Spencer Neely, James Neely, and J.C Neely migrated from the Granada, Mississippi to Chicago seeking a new life. To sustain themselves, the brothers worked construction jobs, however they had a grander plan. The trio saved all of their earnings from these jobs to eventually open the first Black owned Shell gas station in 1959 in the 4300 block of South Forrestville Avenue.

The [|Shell Oil Company] showed courage and leadership by granting The Neely Brothers a station franchise to initially serve the Black Community of the South Side of Chicago. This would be a major step forward, not just for them but for all African-American business owners in the Greater Chicago Area. The Neely Brothers had no experience in business and only having limited educational background spanning no more then a 4th grade level.

The success the Neely Brothers obtained was an incredible feat. As the years passed by, the Neely Brothers would go on to expand; opening 25 more Shell gas stations, which also included auto repair and a fleet of 35 tow trucks that serviced all of Chicago. The Neely Brothers employed over 300 people from all ethnic backgrounds over their 40 years in the gas station business.

The success of the Neely Brothers gas stations allowed for their children to be exposed to business management and afforded them the opportunity of higher educations. James Neely's daughter Stephanie Neely would become the Treasurer of the City of Chicago, Illinois.

Spencer Neely's son Steven Neely worked for the  Chicago Police Department, a U.S. marshal and would also become an owner of several small business before he would ventured out into telecommunications. Starting out with a few locations around the Chicago area, his stores sold pagers. He soon drew the attention of Illinois Bell (Who later would be known as [|Ameritech.]) because of his outstanding sells and recognition nationwide. When cellular phones were on the raise, Steven was the first Ameritech approached to start selling cell phones in Chicago. Steve Neely has recently gone back into the family business and has founded Noil Oil Company.

The last of the Neely Brothers gas stations closed in 1999 upon the death of Spenser Neely/