Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/743325
4 Oil Prophets Most of you, having read my remarks in this column, know that I consider myself to be a "Country Boy" from a small town in south Alabama. I call myself this out of a sense of pride for both my hometown of Opp, Alabama, but also for all of the other small towns across Alabama and, in fact, across this great Country of ours. One of the things that you learn pretty quickly in a small town (and I admit this isn't limited to small town folks. Some city dwellers do this too….. But I am not from the city so I am talking about small towns!) is respect for your elders. Not just your parents and grandparents, but the elders in your community. Those folks who have earned the respect given them through hard work, a strong moral compass and unquestioned ethics. If you were around Opp, Alabama while I was coming up you would have known a man who fit this description: Mr. Henry Morgan. Mr. Henry, as he was known, built a strong business and a stellar reputation selling tires, gasoline, and eventually cookies and pies. And it was with Morgan Distributing Company that I got my start in our industry. Yep, it's all Mr. Henry's fault. So, as with most of my columns, now is about the time you begin to wonder, "where is he going with the column this time?" Mr. Henry Morgan, a long-time member and past president of the association, is a Charter Member of the Petroleum & Convenience Marketing Hall of Fame, recognized by our association as one of the pioneers of our industry. To date, nineteen individuals have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, the highest honor bestowed by our association. Over the past three years, the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held in conjunction with the summer convention. This year, the decision was made to move the ceremony to the December General Membership Meeting in order to make it easier for more members to attend and honor the inductees. This is a great way to see industry friends from years past and catch up on the association's activities for the previous year. In addition to the Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, the meeting will feature our election of officers and directors for next year, a State of the Association report, a silent auction benefitting PMAA's Federal PAC and a breakfast featuring Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon from the Huntsville area. This year's event will be held in Montgomery on December 6-7 at the Renaissance Hotel and Spa. A detailed agenda and registration materials will be sent out very soon. Be on the lookout for it and make plans to join us in Montgomery. The 2016 Class of Inductees are: Marketer Members: Mr. W.C. Rice* Rice Oil Company Birmingham Mr. Millard Young Young Oil Company Piedmont Mr. Jim McGuire McGuire Oil Company Mobile Associate Member: Mr. Dan Hensley* Triangle Refineries, Redwing Carriers, Transport South, Leader Transport Birmingham Sincerely, Shayne Lord P&CMA Chairman CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS R. Shayne Lord P&CMA Chairman Great Respect for Those Who Paved the Way