A Tamaqua man with 14 years of experience in the oil and gas field industry has opened his own business.

Michael J. Houser launched Victory Fuel Company in August to deliver home heating oil, and on-road and off-road diesel fuel to job sites and farms — and to those who need it for machinery and equipment.

“We differentiate ourselves through our focus on safety, rapid response and efficiency — paired with honest, fair and ethical business practices,” Houser said.

Establishing his own business was something he had considered for a time.

“The idea of living the American dream, starting and running a business in a field you love seems to have been diluted down in an encumbered mess especially now, post-COVID,” he said.

But on June 12, 2023, he said, his dream came true when he obtained the entity name, “Victory Fuel Company.”

“I have been a ‘lifer’ in the petroleum field; August was my 14th year serving the same communities,” he said.

Houser started working for the late Joe Wargo Sr. of Wargo Coal & Oil, McAdoo, in 2009. At the time, Houser was doing masonry and carpentry work with help from his brother, Matt.

He recalled how Wargo was looking for drivers, and he — as a joke — said, “I am going to drive your truck.”

At the time, Houser said, he didn’t even have a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

A few weeks later, Houser decided to visit the Department of Motor Vehicles to take the CDL test for a permit. He passed.

“Joe (Wargo) was as surprised as I was when I told him, ‘I am going to be a driver now,’ ” Houser said.

With a permit in hand, he asked Wargo if he could use his truck to take the driving test.

Wargo agreed, and Houser passed.

“(Wargo) ended up teaching my brother and I everything, from driving to delivering, working on trucks, and a general appreciation and understanding of hard work,” Houser said.

He spent six years with Wargo Coal & Oil, then moved to K&K Oil in Lehighton for the next two years.

From 2017 until a few months ago, he worked at Fegley Oil Company, Tamaqua, delivering LP gas and petrol products.

Houser then purchased a fuel truck from Walter Zlomsowitch at K&K Oil.

The truck was repainted and the Victory Fuel Company logo was added. Some other revisions were made.

“We worked really fast with the help of five or six friends and family. We were able to get it done in three days,” Houser said.

With Victory Fuel Service up and running, Houser said he’s thankful to those who helped, including his wife, Jael Houser, his family and friends.

“As a father of five to push through and risk it all in order to get the wheels turning has been an amazing feat — especially when losing is not an option, you have to do everything to win, you have to religiously commit to your goals,” he said.

The business serves many areas in Schuylkill, Carbon, Lehigh and Luzerne counties. Houser said automatic, budget and prebuy customers are guaranteed quality service with the company’s updated K-factor, Degree Day, Calendar Day, or Gallons Per Day Fuel scheduling.

He noted that Penn State law student Anthony J. Wisdo helped put together the entity, authority addendum and operating agreement through the Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic at Penn State University.

In addition, the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center aided in sharpening up the business plan, training, consulting and providing market and industry research to help make sound business decisions.

More information on the business can be found online at www.MyVictoryFuel.com.