LP Gas timeline (1960-69): The buildout of infrastructure

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 1960s. You can also access these decades: 1940s, 1950s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-09 and 2010-present.

The Mid-America Pipeline: One of the world’s first LPG pipelines

LPG pipeline (1961)

Completion of the Mid-America Pipeline, said to be one of the world’s first LPG pipelines, is reported on schedule and at an estimated cost of over $63 million. The 2,184-mile pipeline extends from the New Mexico/Texas border to the Upper Midwest.

Dixie Pipeline planned (1961)

Meanwhile, a pipeline in the Southeast is taking shape. The 1,100-mile Dixie Pipeline will transport LP gas from Texas and Louisiana producing points to consuming areas in the Southeast. Propane delivery on the line is expected for the winter of 1961.

Cavern storage (1962)

The Texas Eastern Transmission Corp. completes a 19-million-gallon propane cavern at Todhunter, Ohio. The new cavern, the sixth and largest to be completed at Todhunter by Texas Eastern, boosts LP gas storage at the terminal to about 65 million gallons.

Turning 50 (1962)

The industry celebrates its 50th anniversary by reaching 10 billion gallons of LP gas production. Despite many pressures, LP-Gas says, the industry retained its free enterprise status over the years to become a major fuel industry.

LPGA merger (1963/1965)

A merger between the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association and the National LP-Gas Council forms the National Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA). The new organization aims to expand the promotional and market development phases of the industry and other vital activities on a national basis. John Caldwell is named CEO but resigns in 1965, replaced by Art Kreutzer.

The Big Easy (1965)

The Southeastern District NLPGA Convention and Trade Exhibit moves from Atlanta to New Orleans for one year as new facilities are completed in Georgia. The show returns to Atlanta in 1966.

Going international (1966)

1968 marked a new record for LP gas sales.

The NLPGA Convention and Trade Show takes on an international flavor, reflecting the growing nature of the industry throughout the world. The association expects representatives from at least two dozen countries at the annual event in Chicago.

Hill

Pargas president (1967)

Pargas elects William C. Hill president of a Maryland company that records net income for 1966 of about $3 million. He goes on to become an LP Gas Hall of Famer.

Futures market for LPG (1967)

The board of governors of the New York Commodity Exchange approves a plan to establish a futures market in LP gas. Trading begins in September 1967.

Gallonage record (1968)

LP gas sales increase 8.5 percent to an estimated total of 15.7 billion gallons, reports John C. Wallace, president of the NLPGA. The gallonage marks a new record for the industry.

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