Industry leaders reflect on America’s 250th

July 3, 2026 By LP Gas 0 Comments

In the 250th year since the inception of the United States, the propane industry has more resolve than ever to provide Americans with the reliable fuel they need. (Photo by LP Gas Staff)

The red, white and blue that adorned the trade show floor at this year’s Southeastern & International Propane Expo marked the special occasion taking place in 2026: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

In recognition of 250 years of U.S. independence, LP Gas asked propane industry members about how propane fits into the history and growth of the country. Here’s how they answered.

✪ “Our industry means a lot to the country because we are an American-based product; we’re an American-based industry. People – customers and the nation as whole – realize that and see that we really want our industry to do well, but that also means the country does well because all of our jobs are here; our product is here; many of the products we buy are still made here; many of the products we sell are still made here. That’s great for our industry and the country.”

– Mark Delehanty, owner of Independence Propane

✪ “Propane fuels the American spirit of independence. It is reliable, portable, safe, and meets so many needs for businesses and homeowners. I’m watching a series of documentaries about American frontiersmen and thinking about how they needed to exist 100 percent with what they had on their backs or horses. And without that capability, establishing our country 250 years ago would have been impossible. And today the story is still the same in many ways. Whether someone is camping or enjoying outdoor life or building a home or business in new or remote parts of the U.S., propane is a part of that experience and makes it possible. Like an essential tool our frontiersmen needed to build the U.S.”

– Warren Patterson, vice president, North American heating and cooking, Worthington Enterprises

✪ “Propane history is American history. Propane has been around since the early 1910s in its current format, and if you think about America today and America yesterday, America runs on propane. It is in everything we do – our residences, our farms, our industry, our transportation systems. So it really fits well with our country and with Americana. [At the Propane Expo], we really wanted to celebrate propane and celebrate America’s 250 and how they interact and interplay with each other.”

– Stephen Kaminski, president and CEO, National Propane Gas Association

✪ “As a native Virginian, I take great pride because that 250 number comes from the communities around where I live every day, and so we’re really proud of the founding of this country. I love to go back and look at that tradition and that history, but to me, what is even more exciting as it relates to propane … we stand at the corner right now of being freed from degree-days, being freed from some of those traditional business models … but now add power to our portfolio of products. … As we celebrate 250 and look back at a rich tradition, rich history, rich lessons learned from that history, it’s also a great time to look forward and say, ‘Gosh, how can we free ourselves from this traditional bond, and what can we do differently?’ When propane marketers look at that, they can do a lot of things differently. They can think about how they deliver fuel differently, in an age of AI, route management, degree-day forecasting, perhaps make deliveries in advance of weather. Adopt all these new technologies. I love that look back, but I really get jazzed by looking forward.”

– Tucker Perkins, president and CEO, Propane Education & Research Council

✪ “We have dovetailed beautifully with the history of the country. Since Walter Snelling discovered you could use propane for various applications, we’ve been a major part of the growth of the United States and especially in the rural areas. Now propane is used virtually everywhere. … One of the interesting things – my wife Daru reviews applications for [NPGA’s] scholarship fund. She was impressed with many of the essays students wrote about what the propane industry means to them. They really climbed all over the freedom that using propane gives to a family; it gives them independence. They were also big on agricultural uses of propane. One student described it as the All-American fuel. The youth in high school or early years of college see very clearly how important propane has been in the development of the country, especially in the rural areas.”

– Ray Murray III, chairman emeritus, Ray Murray Inc.

✪ “250 years ago, America became a nation, and roughly 115 years ago, propane became an industry. There are a number of parallels between these two milestones. Both our nation and our industry operate like one big family, with some great leadership and teamwork. Our industry, like our nation, has faced challenges. Cold winters, warm winters, wars, discord and yet, with teamwork and collaboration, we come out stronger and better positioned on the other side. When faced with war or terrorism, our country rallies together, sets differences aside and becomes a nation. When our industry is faced with natural disasters, brutal conditions or lack of supply, our industry comes together. Competition disappears, and we work together to take care of our people and our communities. When our country sets a goal, like landing on the moon, we work collectively to achieve it. When our industry sets a goal, as in utilizing technology or increasing efficiencies, manufacturers and suppliers work with marketers to make those goals into reality.”

– Aaron Huizenga, East Division manager, Lakes Gas

✪ “When I started out managing a small service center in Mulberry, Indiana, I learned pretty quickly that for a lot of families and farmers in rural America, propane wasn’t a preference – it was the only reliable option they had. That’s been true since the industry’s earliest days, and it’s still true now. As the country celebrates 250 years, I keep coming back to that idea of resilience – propane has been part of that story for a long time, and yet it’s evolving – just like our country, and I think that’s something worth recognizing.”

– Steve Wambold, CEO, Lettermen’s Energy

✪ “The origins of propane are rooted in discovery like many past and future pioneers of America. Propane is versatile in so many practical applications like how Americans, including our industry workers, perform multiple tasks and adapt to circumstances. And maybe most importantly, our industry with propane as a solution steps up when it matters most – from emergency response to weather events to feeding those in need. Great Americans then, now and forever!

– Tom Van Buren, executive vice president and COO, Meritum Energy

✪ “The propane industry represents the very principles the United States was founded upon: Innovation that creates opportunity, resilience in times of challenge and a commitment to serving communities with reliability and integrity. Propane is more than just energy. It reflects the pioneering spirit that built this nation and continues to fuel its future.”

– Jennifer Jackson, director of territory operations, AmeriGas

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