Ron Morrow Jr. Acquires MasterLube of Billings, Montana

Ron Morrow Jr. of Oilex Operating LLC, the largest Grease Monkey franchisee, has acquired MasterLube of Billings, Montana, reports KBUL News Talk.

MasterLube was founded in 1981 by Bill Simmons. With the acquisition, which finalized Feb. 4, will retain all employees, as well as its name. There are plans for future co-branding as “MasterLube, Powered by Grease Monkey.” The acquisition of MasterLube’s five stores brings Oilex to 35 locations nationwide.

Though Simmons has been added to the shop’s alumni wall, he will remain active throughout the transition.

“It’s pretty special to me,” Morrow told NOLN. “Bill Simmons (had Masterlube) for 40 years. It’s a very emotional situation for him. Some of his employees are 40-year people. He built a culture of people that reminded me a lot of what my dad did, and it helped me understand the importance of that.”