Purchase expands S&S Territory
Special to the Gazette
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
S & S Oil & Propane Co., Inc., announced Monday afternoon that it has purchased Flint Hills Energy LLC from the Flint Hills Rural Development of Council Grove and Agri Producers of Tampa, Kansas.
The purchase will add new customers for S & S in Morris, Geary, Dickinson and Marion counties, in addition to the seven-county area the company has covered since it was created.
The company in February of this year purchased the unmanned fueling card-lock fuel outlet at 611 Main St. in Council Grove from Murphy Agri. Bonnie Kraus continues to work with customers at that site.
S & S celebrated its 50th anniversary with a customer appreciation luncheon in July.
The company has grown considerably since it was opened in 1958 by R. Hershel and Augusta Shepherd. At the time, the new firm employed three people. Now, S & S has 27 employees to handle farm gas, diesel and lubricants delivered to rural customers.
The Shepherds’ children — James R. Shepherd and Joyce M. Shepherd French — have operated S & S since 1971. Current vice president Larry Mechtley joined the company in 1978.
Propane Manager Jon Vopat will work with customers who have been served by Flint Hills Energy LLC, and George Dykeman, formerly with Flint Hills Energy, will work for S & S and continue to take care of propane customers in the area.
S & S plans to make pre-purchase propane contracts available to allow customers to lock in winter propane at summer prices.
Safety checks on new customers’ tanks will be completed as soon as possible.