LP Gas, March 2014
prepared him for the GAS Check project he says There were many of us who did a lot of lobbying in the 1970s Sawyer says We had committees that would meet with DOE Department of Energy and help them understand the rules We became more Washington aware It was a real educational experience for me to deal with the bright people on that committee The entire time Sawyer served on the National Committee on Propane Allocation and Price Regulations as well as NPGAs first vice president tackling the development of GAS Check he continued to run his retail business Sawyer Gas which expanded to seven northeast Florida locations at its height was actually a venture Sawyers brother launched in Jacksonville Beach Fla with a partner Sawyer bought out his brothers partner in 1958 after borrowing 3000 from his mother and he Sawyer represented the smaller retailer on important industry issues gained experience in all areas of the propane business Sawyer grew over the years by buying small companies in the area He also had an air conditioning business I invented leverage buyout because I didnt have a dime to invest he says Others kept saying yes So I ended up buying quite a few companies We had FFUT UIF 1 EJFMFDUSJD SFRVJSFNFOU XXX KPNBSWBMWF DPN QIPOF ɾ GBY HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES 36000 customers when we sold out But of all of Sawyers industry contributions GAS Check is the one that stands out Charlie was there at the beginning of GAS Check Myers says It was Bill Denny from Petrolane and Charlie who put that together There were other people involved too but they were the driving forces These two men regularly worked with manufacturer representatives they oversaw development and it was Charlie who came up with the name GAS Check At a time when small propane businesses needed an answer on safety it was Sawyer a propane marketer with a small business who delivered Charlie was devoted to his company employees and customers Myers says But he had the mind of a large businessman He had the vision of a corporate CEO and the heart of a small businessman Thats always been his hallmark www LPGasmagazine com March 2014 LPGas 71
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