RETIRES FOLLOWING 43 YEARS IN PROPANE. Sullivan resident and Peterson Oil manager, Benny Strauser, semi-retired from the propane business, but will remain with the company as a consultant. Pictured is Strauser, left, with new manager, Earney Bay, right.

By James B. Bartle
In the hit Fox TV sitcom, “King of the Hill,” the main character in the program, “Hank Hill,” knows everything there is to know about propane and Sullivan is home to its own Hank Hill, of sorts, in Sullivan resident, Benny Strauser.
This week, Strauser announced that he is semi-retiring from the propane business following 43 years of service. He has served as the manager of Peterson Oil for several years, but has been in Sullivan serving propane customers for 43 years.
In the 43 years of propane, Strauser has been employed with the following companies either as a driver or manager in Sullivan: Cal-Gas/Signal; Cal-Gas, Burma, Amtane, Amerigas, Heat Co, MFA, and Peterson Oil.
Strauser has placed thousands of propane tanks in and around Sullivan and pumped more than 14,400,000 gallons of propane while he operated a delivery truck for 18 years.
“You know, as I drive around the area and pass by homes, I can look and go, ‘Yep, I sat that tank,’” laughed Strauser. “I couldn’t even begin to tell you how many over the years, but I know it was several thousands.”
In the fall of 1968, Strauser began his propane career with Cal-Gas/Signal Gas as a delivery driver and, at that time, propane was 14.9 cents per gallon. In 1974, it reached 36.9 cents and in the 1980s climbed to 46.60 cents. The highest Strauser has ever observed was $2.39 to $2.50 per gallon.
“You know that has been one of the most challenging things in my career in propane is trying to keep the gas affordable for the people to buy it,” said Strauser. “You got to stay in business and other challenges include the ever changing laws and regulations in the business.”
Strauser stated that hands down working for Peterson Oil the last 10 years has been the best company he has ever worked for in his 43 years.
“You know working for Don Peterson, the owner, and this company, our customers aren’t just a number to us,” said Strauser. “I really think that a job is only as hard to do as the employees make it. Dealing with the public, I’ve always found, is the easiest. I’ve been fortunate through the years to say that I’ve never worked with anyone that I couldn’t work with. I’ve really been blessed by good employees.”
Strauser said that he learned early in business that, whether the customer is right or wrong on an issue, it’s pretty easy to solve the problem.
Strauser stated that, through the years, you build a relationship with customers in the propane business. They get to know their propane driver and trust them not only with their service, but their conduct as well.
Strauser stated that he couldn’t have made it in the propane business without the support of his family.
“You’re on call 24-7,” said Strauser. “You may miss a holiday dinner, a birthday party, but when you have leaks, fires, or people in need of propane, you got to go help.”
Strauser also commented that he has learned a lot about propane through the years and spoke highly of learning about propane from Bud Cash and Herb Gray.
“I had a lot of people help guide me through this business and I couldn’t have done that without them. They gave me a lot of knowledge about the business and propane,” said Strauser.
Several changes have been observed in propane and Strauser felt that one of the biggest is the year-round service; in that, people have propane filled more than just the winter but all year long. He refers to it as the “Will Call” customers, meaning they will call when they need propane.
Strauser will remain employed with Peterson Oil as a part-time consultant and turns the reigns of the management position over to longtime friend and co-employee, Earney Bay. Strauser and Bay have worked together for more than 19 years and at one time were both employed at MFA.
“I will tell you the thing that relieves me the most now that I’m semi-retired is that I’m not on call 24-7,” laughed Strauser. “I don’t have to get home from somewhere and check the voice recorder anymore.”