[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1781]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     REMEMBERING AND HONORING MR. JOHN ALBERT ``AL'' WICKLAND, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN T. DOOLITTLE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 8, 2005

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to remember and honor an 
outstanding citizen and dear friend, Mr. John Albert ``Al'' Wickland, 
Jr. from Carmichael, CA, who died on Thursday, January 20, 2005. He was 
84 years old.
  Al was raised in Orland, CA. He attended the University of 
California, Berkeley, where he studied electrical engineering. When 
World War II began, Al left the University and began his lifelong 
dedication to his country and the communities he called home. Al 
entered the U.S. Army Air Corps and served honorably as a B-26 
instructor during the war. On February 4, 1942, while on leave from his 
duties serving our country, Al wed Mary Elizabeth Linton in Carson 
City, NV. They were happily married for 58 years until Mary's death in 
2000.
  After the war, Al returned with Mary to Orland where they raised four 
children. In 1954, Al started Wickland Oil Company and a life-long 
career in oil distribution and marketing. Wickland Oil quickly opened a 
chain of gasoline and convenience stores called Regal Stations, which 
operated throughout California, Oregon, and Nevada. By adopting 
innovative strategies such as offering low-cost self-serve gasoline, Al 
demonstrated a unique ability to understand and cater to the needs of 
his consumers. With Al's leadership and vision, Wickland Oil and Regal 
Stations quickly grew into a regional powerhouse.
  By 1980, Wickland Oil's commodities trading and oil storage business 
was a major operator on the international stage. Again displaying great 
vision, Al directed Wickland Oil into the Chinese market, making it one 
of the very first American firms to open trade relations with China. 
Under Al's leadership, Wickland Oil impressively built storage and 
distribution facilities in California, China, Australia, Singapore, 
Russia, and the Caribbean. Al was especially grateful for the 
contributions his two sons, John and Roy, as well as his son-in-law, 
Dan Hall, made to Wickland Oil. He took great pleasure in working with 
them on a day-to-day basis.
  In addition to building a world-renowned company, Al served his 
community. He was a charter member and co-founder of the Orland Rotary 
Club, a Trustee of the YMCA, a member of the advisory board of 
California State University at Chico, and the co-founder of the 
California Independent Oil Marketers Association. Upon moving to 
Sacramento in 1972, Al joined the Fremont Presbyterian Church, 
Sacramento Rotary, the Sutter Club, and Del Paso Country Club. In 
addition to participating in these activities, Al especially loved 
spending time with his family and friends piloting his boat, the Regal 
Lady, along the North American coastline and elsewhere.
  While Al enjoyed great success in his business and community 
endeavors, his passion remained his family. Al is survived by his wife 
of 3 years Beatrice Rogers Wickland and his four children: John A. 
Wickland III, Valerie E. Wickland, Roy L. Wickland and his wife, Janet 
E. Wickland, Laurel Wickland Hall and her husband, Daniel E. Hall. Al 
also had a great affection for his 11 grandchildren: Joshua D. 
Wickland, John A. Wickland IV, Stacia C. Wickland, Scott Lusk, Tracy 
Frost Lusk Scollan, Jessica Wickland Oehmen, Allison C. Wickland, 
Matthew J. Wickland, John L. Hall, Danielle E. Hall, and Joseph D. 
Hall.
  Mr. Speaker, today I join with Al Wickland's family, friends, and 
community to commemorate his life of hard work, service to country and 
community, and dedication to his family. May he rest in peace.

                          ____________________