Tuesday, March 14, 2017
The following propane industry pioneers will be greatly missed.
Leslie Howard Armstrong, an employee of Universal Gas (Devine and Lufkin, Texas) from 1977 to 1986, and Ferrellgas until his retirement in 1991, passed away Dec. 13, 2016. He was 86.
Charles Bethel, owner of Propane Performance (Snyder, Texas) and who also worked with his father at Bethel Oil (Snyder), passed away Nov. 29, 2016. He was 56. Mr. Bethel was an active member of the Texas Propane Gas Association, serving as District 13 director on its board of directors. One of his top career accomplishments was building the fastest propane drag boat in the world.
Tommy Gene Fagg died Nov. 7, 2016, at the age of 79. Mr. Fagg was instrumental in the growth of Kellogg Propane (Victoria, Texas) in its early years.
James L. Hanak Sr., who worked in his family business, Columbus Butane (Columbus, Texas), passed away Dec. 12, 2016. He was 82.
John Huffhines, 91, passed away Nov. 18, 2016. He was the former owner of Huffhines Gas (Dallas) and served as Texas Propane Gas Association president in 1982.
Shirley Poldrack, who founded Busters Butane Gas Co. (Corpus Christi, Texas) with her husband Buster, passed away Oct. 28, 2016.
R.M. (Dick) Start, founder of All American Propane (Yakima, Wash.), passed away Feb. 7. He was 76. Mr. Start began his career in the propane industry when he joined Suburban Propane, Canada, where he was promoted to regional manager. After a brief time outside the industry, he returned to work for Cal Gas, which was purchased by AmeriGas. He and his wife branched out and formed Burro Gas in Vancouver, Wash., which was bought by Northern Energy. This led to the formation of All American Propane in Yakima, Wash., which has expanded to include Start Trucking, and Bruce Terminal (see BPN, Jan. 2017, p. 20).
Theresa Staudinger, human resources manager at Teeco Products Inc. (Irvine, Calif.), passed away Nov. 28. She was 71. Ms. Staudinger began working at Teeco in 1991 in accounts payable, and was later promoted to human resources manager.
Lawrence Tesei, founder of Tesei Petroleum (Madera, Calif.), passed away Oct. 24, 2016, at the age of 94. Mr. Tesei spent his entire career working in the fuel industry.
Leslie Howard Armstrong, an employee of Universal Gas (Devine and Lufkin, Texas) from 1977 to 1986, and Ferrellgas until his retirement in 1991, passed away Dec. 13, 2016. He was 86.
Charles Bethel, owner of Propane Performance (Snyder, Texas) and who also worked with his father at Bethel Oil (Snyder), passed away Nov. 29, 2016. He was 56. Mr. Bethel was an active member of the Texas Propane Gas Association, serving as District 13 director on its board of directors. One of his top career accomplishments was building the fastest propane drag boat in the world.
Tommy Gene Fagg died Nov. 7, 2016, at the age of 79. Mr. Fagg was instrumental in the growth of Kellogg Propane (Victoria, Texas) in its early years.
James L. Hanak Sr., who worked in his family business, Columbus Butane (Columbus, Texas), passed away Dec. 12, 2016. He was 82.
John Huffhines, 91, passed away Nov. 18, 2016. He was the former owner of Huffhines Gas (Dallas) and served as Texas Propane Gas Association president in 1982.
Shirley Poldrack, who founded Busters Butane Gas Co. (Corpus Christi, Texas) with her husband Buster, passed away Oct. 28, 2016.
R.M. (Dick) Start, founder of All American Propane (Yakima, Wash.), passed away Feb. 7. He was 76. Mr. Start began his career in the propane industry when he joined Suburban Propane, Canada, where he was promoted to regional manager. After a brief time outside the industry, he returned to work for Cal Gas, which was purchased by AmeriGas. He and his wife branched out and formed Burro Gas in Vancouver, Wash., which was bought by Northern Energy. This led to the formation of All American Propane in Yakima, Wash., which has expanded to include Start Trucking, and Bruce Terminal (see BPN, Jan. 2017, p. 20).
Lawrence Tesei, founder of Tesei Petroleum (Madera, Calif.), passed away Oct. 24, 2016, at the age of 94. Mr. Tesei spent his entire career working in the fuel industry.
