MULLEN COOP - LATER YEARS

by Barbara Phillips

Entry B40 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Mullen Cooperative Oil Company at it's present location 204 Washington 1942

Mullen Cooperative Oil Company at it's present location of
204 Washington - 1957. It is the same building now being used.

The Mullen Cooperative Oil Company was
managed by Mac Osborne until his retire-
ment in 1968. Jack Kemp was hired to replace
Osborne in July, 1968, and continued to
manage the business until June, 1976.

The Creamery, which played a vital role in
the early Coop, was discontinued shortly
after Osborne's retirement. The last cream
shipment (to the Farmer's Union Coopera-
tive Creameries in Aurora, Nebraska) was on
January 18, 1969. One reason for disconti-
nuing this service was the train, via which the
cream was shipped, quit stopping in Mullen.
From that point on the basic products and
services of the Coop have remained the same:
feeds, petroleum products, propane, tank
wagon services, tires, accessories, auto repairs
and a service station operation.

The Cooperative building was expanded
for the last time in 1969, when the cement
block building west of the Coop was pur-
chased. Hooker County was selling this
property because of delinquent taxes, and the
Coop was able to buy it for $1,000.00. Don
Sullivan was hired to remodel the building.
The roof height and the floor level were raised
so it could be utilized as a dock. A walk-
through door was added to connect the
buildings.

In 1973 the Coop switched from hauling
petroleum products from Scottsbluff, Neb-
raska to Phillipsburg, Kansas. This change
was necessary because of federal regulations
and because of a shortage of product at the
Scottsbluff terminal. In 1976 Hank Holfeld
sold his transport business to John Roseberry
who continued to provide transport services
for the Coop. Now Robert E. Wolfenden
hauls the gasoline, diesel, propane and
kerosene from a pipeline terminal located in
North Platte, Nebraska.

Don Pearman was hired as manager from
July, 1976 - June, 1977. During this time the
Coop took over handling oxygen and acety-
lene products from Jack Carlson. In 1977 the
coop also began to sell unleaded gasoline as
well as regular (leaded) gasoline.

Nyle Hodges was hired as manager from
July, 1977, until his retirement in June, 1984.
AFter his retirement the current manager,
Tom Roseberry, Jr., was hired.

The trade area of the Coop extends from
Ashby east to Thedford and from south of
Valentine to Tryon. In January, 1986, a new
propane truck with a load capacity of 2,400
water gallons was purchased to replace an
older truck. Two other trucks are also used
to haul gasoline and diesel fuels. Since 1969
in excess of 15,000,000 gallons of gasoline and
diesel have been sold. This compares to just
over 10,000,000 gallons of propane sold
during the same period.

The Coop has employed many individuals
during its 60 years of existence. Since 1968
three individuals have worked over 20 years
and they deserve special recognition. They
include Don Hall, Josephine (McIntosh)
Johnson, and Ruby Simonson. Don Hall
retired in 1976, after 35 years as truck driver
and Josephine Johnson retired in 1977 after
25 years as bookkeeper. Ruby Simonson
continues to work part-time, after over 20
years of service. Other previous Coop em-
ployees during the last 19 years include: Ray
Bassett, Willard Boyer, Gene Garrett, Eddie
Gibson, Sam Gorsuch, Gordon Hendrickson,
Frank Hicks, Vernie Joe McCully, Bill Neu-
meyer, Clarene Revere, Vernon Shears, Mike
Shimmin, Shirley Sweet, Kenneth Tidyman,
and Harold (Club) Wright. Board of Director
members during this time include: Ivan
Boyer, Veldon Bullington, Lloyd Connell,
Vern Dent, Bob Finney, Larry French, Glen
Gier, Roy Haney, Forrest Harding, Gene
James, Jim O'Brien, Gaylord Porath, Leon-
ard Ridenour, Tom Roseberry, Jr., Carl
Simonson, Jr., Tilbert Wright, and George
Younkin, Sr. (Employees and Board Mem-
bers mentioned in Gussie Osborne's story
were not included. Due to an oversight, some
names may have been unintentionally omit-
ted.)

Current employees are: manager - Tom
Roseberry, Jr., truck drivers - Larry Sweet,
Gaylord Wright and Doug Cooley; service
station attendant - Dean Simonson; me-
chanic - Ted Swendener; and bookkeepers
- Barbara Phillips and Ruby Simonson.
Current Board of Director members include:
President - Lyle Phillips; Vice-President -
Tom Prentice; Secretary - Chuck Anders;
and Directors - Doug Finney, Joe Finney,
Terry B. Huddle, and Eddie Steel.