Tom Love, a renowned business magnate who, along with his wife and business partner, Judy, established a family-owned and operated chain of over 600 travel stops, passed away at the age of 85 in his birthplace of Oklahoma City. Mr. Love is survived by his devoted wife of 62 years, Judy, their children Frank, Greg, Jenny and Laura, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, with two more on the way.
“Tom Love was a man of conviction who never wavered from the principles of honesty and integrity in the 59 years he spent developing the company he started with his wife, Judy,” said Shane Wharton, president of Love’s. “These tenets still guide our company and will as we move forward. Tom always listened and was sincerely interested in knowing the stories of employees and customers. He wanted to hear their thoughts, ideas and hopes for them, their families and the company. He credited the company’s success to the people who worked for us. He could relate to all employees but had a soft spot for those on the frontline at stores. In many respects, he was an ordinary person who built an extraordinary business alongside his wife Judy and his family, who he loved deeply.”
Tom Love was born in 1937 in Oklahoma City, where he later attended St. Gregory’s Preparatory School in Shawnee, Oklahoma, before continuing his studies at St. John’s University in Minnesota. In 1954, he joined the United States Marine Corps. In 1960, he tied the knot with his beloved wife, Judy.
Back in 1964, Tom and Judy Love decided to put their $5,000 to use by leasing an abandoned service station in Watonga, a small rural town located northwest of Oklahoma City. With a humble beginning, they founded the Musket Corporation, which rapidly expanded and managed to open 40 stores within eight years in western Oklahoma.
Tom Love played a crucial role in the growth of Love’s Travel Stops. In 1981, under his leadership, the company launched its first travel stop on Interstate 40 in Amarillo, Texas, to cater to the needs of professional truck drivers and travelers seeking convenience and efficiency during their cross-country journeys. As time passed, Love’s expanded its services to provide customers with a wider variety of options, such as hot and fresh food items, truck care maintenance, and warm showers, among others.
Thanks to the leadership of Tom Love and his family, Love’s Travel Stops has flourished and continued to expand, reaching a milestone of 600 locations in October 2022. The Love’s Family of Companies has also grown over the years, encompassing a range of businesses that specialize in truck maintenance, logistics, commodity supply, and alternative energies.
Throughout his illustrious career, Tom Love was recognized with numerous accolades for his achievements. In 1991, his company was named Corporation of the Year, and in 1996 he received the President’s Award for Service to God and Country. He was also honored as Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEO in 2010 and was the recipient of the Trust Guardian Transportation Award in 2014. As a Chickasaw citizen, he was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame recognized his contributions in 2000.
Tom Love’s dedication to serving his community extended beyond his successful career in business. He and his family were committed to making a difference and generously donated to local and national organizations such as Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, United Way, Catholic Charities, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Oklahoma. In 2018, the Tom Love Innovation Hub was established at OU to provide a space for future entrepreneurs and workforce development programs. Recently, the University broke ground on Love’s Field, which will be the new home of the six-time national champion Sooner softball team. His legacy will also be carried on at the Love Family Women’s Center located on the campus of Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City and Science Museum Oklahoma’s new state-of-the-art planetarium that will be named Love’s Planetarium.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather,” said a statement from the Love family. “He loved people, and that was evident in how he guided our family, operated the business he started in 1964 and gave back to our community and organizations across the country that serve others. He was always committed to helping others succeed and opening the door for leaders, including his children and grandchildren, and we look forward to building upon his legacy. While the grief we feel is unmeasurable, we celebrate his life and will continue his legacy of living a life filled with integrity, honesty, and faith.”
Source: Love’s Travel Stops
