LP Gas timeline (1950-59): Growth and unity

LP Gas is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2021. To commemorate the milestone, LP Gas editors have combed through magazine archives from the past eight decades to create a timeline marking the industry’s history through our own pages. Here we present the 1950s. You can also access these decades: 1940s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-09 and 2010-present.

The propane industry in the 1950s explored promotional strategies.

Expanding promotions (1950)

The LP gas industry is on its way to raising $500,000 to promote LP sales at the local level. The advertising program includes a national and local component, as well as publicity and employee training. The program is later recognized by LP-Gas as “the biggest thing ever undertaken to promote the LP gas industry.”

More unrest (1950)

A decade after World War II received much attention in the magazine, references appear to the fighting in Korea. Businesses must consider possible changes to personnel – accounting for the draft and those volunteering for a new war – as well as to appliance sales and equipment needs.

National defense plans (1951)

The National Defense Advisory Committee under the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (LPGA) is formed. Mark Anton, president of Suburban Propane, is named to lead the group, tasked with ensuring adequate industry representation in defense plans in Washington, D.C. LP-Gas launches a “defense emergency notes” department.

First Southeastern show (1951)

The convention and trade show of the Southeastern LPGA is held at the Atlanta Biltmore Hotel. The new regional association is composed of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. It’s directed by an executive committee made up of the presidents of the five state organizations.

Richard Nixon, a U.S. senator in 1952.

Unifying the industry (1952)

An integration plan helps to unify the LPGA with state associations around the country. States can now look to LPGA-affiliated district offices for services on a local level. A single dues payment to LPGA also gives a company membership in the state where it’s principally located.

Nixon speaks (1952)

U.S. Sen. Richard Nixon of California addresses the opening luncheon of the LPGA convention and trade show in Chicago. He calls for vigorous and dynamic leadership as the chief need of the nation.

First woman director (1952)

Frances Holliday, a partner at Cumberland Natural Gas Service in Burnside, Kentucky, becomes the first woman director of the LPGA.

Filling station directory (1952)

LP-Gas launches a filling station directory, designed to help marketers build new and enlarged sales volumes by better preparing them to promote propane and butane as a motor fuel.

A filling station directory helped marketers promote propane and butane as a motor fuel.

Gasser organizations (1954/1959)

The Order of Ancient Gassers organization forms as an outgrowth of an industry old-timers party held at the national convention in 1953. Similarly, the Young Gassers, for those industry members under age 40, is founded in 1959.

Rosy picture (1955)

The magazine reports that 1955 is the “rosiest year in LP gas history.” Gallons increase by more than 880 million – the biggest single gain in the industry’s history – to top 6 billion for the year. The data is attributed to a Phillips Petroleum Co. report.

Featured image credits: Cover 1: Robertshaw Thermostat Co.; Cover 2: Impco Carburetion; Cover 4: Photos courtesy of LP Gas Hall of Fame inductees and their families, and background photo by Istockphoto.com/Herbert Bias; Cover 5: LP Gas staff; USGirl/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images; balipadma/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images; spawns/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images; Logo/background: Olha Huro/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Social media image credits: Cover 1: Robertshaw Thermostat Co.; Cover 3: Impco Carburetion; Cover 5: Photos courtesy of LP Gas Hall of Fame inductees and their families, and background photo by Istockphoto.com/Herbert Bias; Cover 6: LP Gas staff; USGirl/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images; balipadma/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images; spawns/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images; Logo/background: Olha Huro/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images