History

Willmut Gas Company is a natural gas distributor based in Hattiesburg, with area offices located in Magee and Pearl. It serves cities and communities including Hattiesburg, Oak Grove, Rawls Springs, Leeville, Dixie, Sanford, Seminary, Collins, Mount Olive, Magee, Mendenhall, D'Lo, Braxton, Pearl, Flowood, Monterey, East Jackson and Thomasville, supplying gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

Natural gas service first became available in the area in the late 1920s when W.S.F. Tatum, who was mayor of Hattiesburg, convinced the city fathers to use natural gas. Mississippi Public Service Corporation built an eight-inch pipeline from Rankin County, which became operational in 1933. In early 1934, W.S.F. Tatum's son, Frank, purchased the company with the intention of operating it long enough to make it profitable. The new company was christened Willmut Gas and Oil Company; "Willmut" was derived from Mayor Tatum's first name, Will, and the last syllable of his last name spelled backwards. It began by serving approximately 200 customers with natural gas service, but today provides service to more than 22,000 customers from Hattiesburg to Pearl.

In 2010, Willmut Gas Company's 76th year of operation, the fourth generation of Tatum's family still leads the board.

In addition to providing natural gas to homes and businesses, Willmut Gas also sells gas grills and gas lights that complement homes with gas service.