ALTOONA, Pa. - Gas station and convenience store company Sheetz has announced that its former president, CEO and board chairman Stephen Sheetz has died at the age of 77.

Sheetz began working part-time for Sheetz Kwik Shopper at age 12. His brother Bob founded Sheetz Kwik Shopper in 1952.

After graduating from Penn State University in 1969, Sheetz became supervisor and director of operations for all four Sheetz locations in operation at the time. He later worked alongside his brother to grow the company to 100 store locations by 1983.

Following his brother's retirement, Sheetz served as president and CEO of the company from 1984 through 1995. He also served as the chairman of the company's Board of Directors from 1995 to 2013, before transitioning to chairman of CLI Transport in 2013.

Sheetz retired as a company executive in 2020, but continued to serve as the chairman of the Family Committee.

During Sheetz's time as CEO, the company introduced made-to-order food and gas service and also expanded into even more states. 

Sheetz also had a lifelong commitment to philanthropy, supporting several causes around Altoona and central Pennsylvania. He and his wife Nancy founded the Sheetz Fellows Program, which provides mentorship, financial support and special programming to Penn State Altoona students.

They also established the Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence in downtown Altoona.