From One Patriot’s Vision to America’s Engines: A Local Look at an American Success Story
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, communities across the country are reflecting on the people, ideas and determination that helped build this nation.
For local independent AMSOIL Dealer Marty and Lori Gilmore, that milestone is also an opportunity to recognize a company whose story reflects the same American spirit of innovation, courage and persistence.
AMSOIL was founded in 1972 by Lt. Col. Al Amatuzio, a fighter pilot who brought the discipline, precision and problem-solving mindset of aviation into the world of automotive lubrication. His vision was simple but bold: create a motor oil capable of withstanding extreme conditions while providing superior protection and performance.
That vision helped launch AMSOIL, widely recognized as a pioneer in synthetic motor oil for automotive use.
The company's military roots also resonate personally with us. I am a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army. A career defined by leadership, dedication and service to the nation. Inspired by the same values of hard work, perseverance and commitment to excellence that shaped both military service and AMSOIL's founder, Lori and I worked together for 32 years to build the AMSOIL brand throughout Western New York State, including the Greater Rochester region. Our efforts have helped place AMSOIL products on the shelves of respected local retailers, including Lewis General Tires in Rochester, making premium American-made synthetic lubricants more accessible to local drivers, businesses and equipment owners.
Few endorsements speak louder than longevity. At Lewis General Tires in Rochester, AMSOIL products have remained on the shelves for nearly three decades—a testament to the confidence local customers and automotive professionals have in the brand.
“We've been selling AMSOIL for 28 years because our customers trust it and it delivers results," said Craig Lewis, President and Owner of Lewis General Tires. "It's a product we're proud to recommend and we use it in all of our company vehicles."
The longstanding partnership between Lewis General Tires and AMSOIL reflects the trust local businesses and consumers place in products designed, manufactured, and supported by an American company.
For more than 100 years, Lewis General Tires has embodied the entrepreneurial spirit that helped build America. The company traces its roots to 1919, when Leon Lewis founded what is now the world's oldest General Tire dealer at the corner of East Avenue and Pitkin Street in Rochester. Through the challenges of the Great Depression and the decades that followed, Lewis grew the business through perseverance, mergers, and strategic partnerships, while gradually bringing the next generation of his family into the company.
In the early 1960s, Leon's son, Richard Lewis Sr., assumed leadership of the company and relocated it from downtown Rochester to its current location in the heart of Henrietta's Dealer Row in 1969. Today, Leon's great-grandson, Craig Lewis, continues the family's tradition of entrepreneurship and service, carrying forward more than a century of commitment to quality, customer service, and community.
Like AMSOIL, Lewis General Tires represents an American success story built on perseverance, family leadership, and a commitment to excellence. The nearly 30-year relationship between Lewis General Tires and AMSOIL reflects a shared dedication to providing customers with products and services they can trust.
“America was built by people who believed there was always a better way,” said Lori. “That is what I admire about the AMSOIL story. It started with one patriot’s vision and grew into an American success story.”
For our dealership, representing AMSOIL locally is about more than selling oil. It is about helping keep America’s engines running — from cars and trucks to motorcycles, farm equipment, small engines, commercial fleets and hardworking machines used by local businesses and families every day.
As the nation celebrates 250 years of independence, the AMSOIL story serves as a reminder that American innovation often begins with one person willing to challenge the standard and pursue something better.
“AMSOIL was founded with the same spirit that America was built on — independence, innovation, hard work and belief in a better future”. “From one patriot’s vision to America’s engines, it is a story worth sharing as we celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary.”
Today, AMSOIL continues to represent American ingenuity, performance and protection for drivers, workers, farmers, racers and business owners across the country.
As Americans look back on 250 years of freedom and forward to the road ahead, stories like AMSOIL's remind us that the American dream is still powered by vision, determination and the courage to build something better. From a fighter pilot's bold idea to a trusted brand found on the shelves of local businesses throughout Western New York, AMSOIL's story reflects the same spirit of innovation and perseverance that continues to drive America forward