LP Gas, March 2014
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES William B McHenry Described as an industry patriarch and politically astute Michigan marketer made inroads at state national levels illiam B McHenry emerged from western Michigan and Muskegon based Pro Gas Sales Service as a calm quiet persistent force that people could not ignore The sharply dressed man with the familiar brown briefcase became a reliable representative of the propane industry on a state and national level He was gentle thoughtful and outgoing He made complete strangers feel welcome He was a mentor to many He would try to like everybody and kill them with kindness whether they were negative toward him or not says his son Ryan McHenry He always tried to be a consensus builder He might lose a lot of battles but he was great at winning the war While William McHenry owned the family business that his father started in 1947 he entrusted much of the daily operation to sons Ryan and Phillip and devoted much of his time to industry issues He traveled around the country out of a passion for propane because he knew the issues and how to convey them to others Every issue that came along he had a hand in says Bruce Montroy senior vice president of sales for Bergquist who knew McHenry through the Michigan Propane Gas Association MPGA He didnt pick and choose his projects He was involved in all of them McHenry enjoyed the political process how state and national legislatures affected the propane industry He spent 14 years as MPGAs governmental affairs chairman He sunk his teeth into technology and standards and he knew the NFPA 58 code inside and out because he helped to write it Ryan McHenry says When government attempted to heap regulations on propane William McHenry fought that bureaucracy with the smart and intelligent industry people who really knew what was going on Ryan McHenry adds Mission impossible William McHenry is well known in Michigan for his role in legislation that exempted propane marketers from paying personal property tax on residential tanks at customer locations He worked voluntarily and tirelessly with the National Propane Gas Association NPGA staff and lobbyists He accomplished the impossible Everyone said no this will never happen theres too much against us here recalls Tom Jaenicke owner of ATomiK Creative Solutions in Charlevoix Mich In the end Gov James Blanchard in his last day in office in 1990 signed that bill into law It was a memorable moment for NPGA and for Michigan McHenry was a member of numerous state and national committees He served as president of the Michigan association and the NPGA board of directors In 1988 he represented the BY BRIAN RICHESSON Editor in Chief brichesson@ northcoastmedia net Continued on page 54 McHenry right serviced Pro Gas first customer after his father started the company in 1947 52 LPGas March 2014 www LPGasmagazine com
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