John Phillips and Elizabeth McCormick are the proud stewards of Phillips Energy, Inc., which originated as a Gloucester fueling company 80 years ago under the name, L.F. Phillips & Sons, Inc. “Our grandfather started the business,” said Phillips. L. Frank Phillips Sr. started the business in 1946 at his home along Lewis Avenue, an offshoot of Main Street, as a seller of heating fuels, gasoline and motor oils. During this time, Phillips said that there were “a lot of oil companies in Gloucester.” In the late 1960s, L. Frank Phillips Jr. took over the business. He acquired property in Gloucester Point in 1977 and became fully operational at the new site in 1978. “Dad did expand the business into Mathews,” said Phillips. Phillips & Son, Inc., bought Tidewater Oil Service, Mobjack, in the early nineties. In 1994, the company expanded again—this time to offer propane services. “That was when she [McCormick] and I came back full-time,” said Phillips. L. Frank Phillips Sr. instilled i...