The North Carolina Petroleum and Convenience Marketers (NCPCM) presented the 2009 Donald M. Ward Corporate Excellence Award to McNeill Oil Co. and Mac's Food Store of Aberdeen.

The award was presented Nov. 2 during its fall convention, held at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, Fla. Frank McNeill Sr., chairman of the board, accepted the award on behalf of McNeill Oil/Mac's Food Stores employees.

The award is the highest corporate honor bestowed by the oil industry in North Carolina, the NCPCM said in a news release. The award is named in honor and recognition of Don M. Ward, longtime executive vice president of the association.

The award was given in recognition of McNeill Oil/Mac's Food Stores for its commitment to civic and community affairs; county, multi-county and statewide promotion of the oil industry; its activity in various committees of trade organizations; attendance and participation in NCPCM meetings; their high levels of character, integrity and respect with fellow member organizations; McNeill Oil/Mac's Food Stores promotion of employee relations documented by longevity of employees; and its promotion and involvement in new and useful ideas to the industry.

To qualify, the company had to have been involved for at least 10 years directly in the petroleum and convenience store business or in support of the petroleum/convenience store industry in North Carolina.

McNeill Oil was founded in Aberdeen in 1947 by W. H. McNeill Sr. The company is a family business with Frank McNeill Sr. as chairman of the board; Frank McNeill Jr. as president; and Davis Clark as vice president.

The company has been involved in multiple civic and business organizations in the Sandhills and central North Carolina for many years. In addition, it has also been very active in the NC Petroleum Marketers Association (NCPMA) and the North Carolina Association of Convenience Stores (NCACS), having had staff serve on various committees of both associations for many years. Frank McNeill Sr. and Frank McNeill Jr. served as president of the NCPMA. Davis and Frank McNeill Jr. have served as president of the NCACS. These two organizations merged to form the current NCPCM in January 2008.

McNeill Oil sells/markets home heating fuel, agricultural fuel, lubricants, highway motor fuel, and propane gas. In addition, under the McNeill Oil/Southern Sales corporate umbrella, the firm operates the Mac's Food Stores chain of convenience stores.