Clarence Schock

Clarence Schock. . Born of humble background on December 22, 1865, Clarence Schock was a man of high principle and an extraordinarily generous philanthropist, deeply committed to the well-being of the people of his community. He resided his entire life, 89 years, in the Borough of Mount Joy. Mr. Schock's parents operated a coal and lumber business in the heart of Mount Joy. At age 30, because of his parents' illness, Mr. Schock left college and returned home to help run the family business. His work kept him so busy that he remained a bachelor until the age of 50, when he met and married Evetta Tupper Jeffers. , Gradually the business grew with the expansion of the kerosene and oil industry. In 1941, Clarence Schock founded the Schock Independent Oil Company, later to be The SICO Company, which was formed as a non-profit organization. According to the company charter, it was required to give cash grants from profits to the school districts in SICO's marketing area. , By 1950, Mr. Schock completely changed the mission of his business by establishing the SICO Foundation, which was fully instituted in September 1955, four months after Mr. Schock's death. A new SICO Company continued the sale of fuel oil and motor oil for another 40 years. The directors of the SICO Foundation continued its non-profit charitable operation, and, in 2003, took the initiative to change the name to the Clarence Schock Foundation. , "Few, if any, of us are masters of our destiny, although some may be bold enough to try. We are creatures of circumstance. Our environment influences and directs us more than we are conscious of. Most of us are just normal human beings subject to the influences of normal human relationships. Few of us find it possible to pursue our chosen career, but there are a very few who will not permit anything to obstruct the path which leads to the achievement of their chosen career." - Clarence Schock