Robert Earl Atkinson, Sr. lived from 1899 to 1970. He co-founded Dilmar Oil Company, Inc. in 1931 to sell Shell Oil products in Dillon and Marion Counties. In 1946 the Atkinson family became the sole owners of Dilmar. By 2010 Dilmar was one of the largest Shell Lubricant distributors in the Southeast. Atkinson was a benevolent resident of Latta who served his community in many capacities and also represented it as a state representative.