Steve Sheetz, the convenience store executive who led the growth of his eponymous family-owned company to more than 800 locations across seven states, passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 77 from respiratory complications following hospitalization for pneumonia.
According to USA Today coverage, Sheetz was born on Jan. 7, 1948, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and began working part-time at the age of 12 for Sheetz Kwik Shopper, a convenience store company owned by his brother Bob. Following his graduation Penn State University, was named supervisor and director of operations at the company, which operated four gas and convenience store locations in Pennsylvania.
Over the years, the Sheetz brothers grew the company, reaching 100 locations by 1983. Bob Sheetz retired in 1984 and Steve Sheetz served as president and CEO of Sheetz Inc. from 1984 to 1995, transitioning to become company’s chairman of the board from 1995 until 2013. He later became chairman of CLI Transport, Sheetz Inc.’s petroleum transportation company, before retiring in 2020.
Today, Sheetz Inc. has nearly 27,000 employees working in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Outside of his company, Sheetz provided philanthropic support to Penn State Altoona undergraduates and founded the Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence.
