A lot of traffic has gone past the intersection of Highway 33 and Ailor Gap Road since 1968, a lot of cars and a lot of people with stories to tell, but one business has been there through it all. Heiskell's Service Center has used a lot of names over the years. It's been a Boron, an Exxon, a Gulf and a BP. But one thing has remained constant, and that's the dedication of owner James Heiskell to making this Union County landmark a success.

Heiskell grew up on the family land around where the service station stands today. His father, Roscoe "Rock" Heiskell, ran a grocery store nearby. The store kept going during the worst of the Great Depression, and Heiskell remembers seeing his father standing in front of a wood stove, burning the credit tabs of people who couldn't pay.

"I've got the same attitude," said Heiskell. "I can live without it if they can live with it. My dad lived to be 91 years old, and I never heard him talk bad about anybody."

Heiskell was next-to-youngest of nine children. By age 22, he'd had several jobs in Knoxville, including working at Tindell's and loading freight. His father started building the service station right after the new Highway 33 was constructed through Union County. Heiskell helped, and when it was complete his father asked him a life-changing question.

"He said, 'How would you like to try your luck at running a service station? Just treat people right, be honest and fair with them, treat them the way you want to be treated, and you'll always be in business,'" said Heiskell.

The advice was spot-on. Fifty-one years later, the service station is still going strong, and Heiskell's sons, Jason and Keith, have joined the family business.

A few things have changed since then, though. Gas was 22 cents a gallon when Heiskell started the service station, and kerosene was 10 cents per gallon. Back then, he was open 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., often turning in 90-hour work weeks. Now, hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The station offers full service with 100 percent gas, minor repairs, tune-ups, tires, batteries, oil changes and filters. When pay-at-the pump became popular, Heiskell went independent and kept the station full-service.

Heiskell said he didn't go to school to learn automotive repair. He applied what he already knew about fixing cars and learned on the job.

"That's the best kind of training," he said.

And just six years ago, the service station was Heiskell's training ground again as he recovered from a series of strokes. He underwent rehabilitation, but he credits two things with helping him recover: prayer and going back to work.

"I asked the good Lord to put me back to work, and He did. I have been blessed," Heiskell said.

Heiskell still raises cattle on the family farm and plans to work as long as he can, although his sons "pretty much run the place now," he said. He is in a long-term dating relationship with Janet Holloway, with whom he attends church at New Friendship Baptist.

Heiskell said he's always enjoyed meeting and talking to the people who come to the service station. Years ago, the service station had a bench out front where "a lot of my older customers" would sit and talk until late at night. He remembers them fondly and the good laughs they had together.

"I had a lot of wonderful customers, and I still have a lot of wonderful customers," he said. "I would like to thank my friends and customers in Union, Claiborne, Granger, Knox, Anderson and those passing through."

He's also proud of his sons' hard work in the family business and proud of his grandson, Jacob Heiskell, who is Jason's son.

"I would not trade my experience in life for anything on Earth," he said.

For more information about Heiskell's Service Station, call 865-992-9173 or stop by the station at 2835 Maynardville Highway.