Billings-Born MasterLube Transitions Ownership, Keeps Relationship-First Culture

After nearly 45 years of oil changes, conversations, and quietly redefining what a “quick lube” can be, a familiar Billings business is entering its next chapter.

MasterLube, founded in Billings in 1981 by Bill Simmons, has officially transitioned ownership of its five local stores to industry veteran Ron Morrow Jr. The move, finalized Feb. 4, comes just shy of the company’s 45th anniversary. According to the press release, the name on the paperwork may change, but the culture won’t.

Simmons, who famously opened the first MasterLube knowing “very little about business and nothing about cars,” built the company around relationships rather than spreadsheets. That people-first approach became the backbone of MasterLube’s mission: making life better for employees, customers, vendors, and the communities it serves.

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About the new owner of MasterLube.

Morrow, a second-generation lube industry leader, isn’t exactly new to that philosophy. He started working in his family’s Grease Monkey franchise at age 13, eventually helping grow the operation into Oilex Operating LLC, the largest Grease Monkey franchisee in the country. With the MasterLube acquisition, Oilex now operates 35 locations nationwide.

What attracted Morrow wasn’t just MasterLube’s operational success, but its culture.

“Bill built something rare,” Morrow said, pointing to stores where employees feel respected, and customers are genuinely cared for. That legacy, he said, is something Oilex intends to protect.

Locally, customers can expect business as usual. All employees will be retained, service standards will remain the same, and the MasterLube name isn’t going anywhere. However, a future co-branding as “MasterLube, Powered by Grease Monkey” is planned to reflect added support.

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Simmons isn’t disappearing either. His photo has been added to MasterLube’s alumni wall, but he’ll remain actively involved during the transition, in other words: same values, same people, same Billings institution, just gearing up for the next 45 years.