R. J. Welch, affectionately called “Mr. Rube” by his business associates and friends, founded Welch Butane at Naples, Texas in January 1950, with one bobtail truck and driver and no storage. He quickly became known and respected by his peers and area citizens for his self-made business expertise and wisdom, and Welch Butane grew to become one of the largest independent Propane dealerships in the area.

    When he retired January 1, 1968, his sons, George Welch, Sr., and Hershel G. Welch, acquired the Welch Butane locations in Atlanta and Naples respectively. Both businesses acquired other Propane gas dealerships, which were consolidated with their parent operations. In 1984, the two separate family businesses, each operating under its own corporate charter, adopted the trade name, “WelchGas.”

    George Welch, Sr. turned the management of their four office locations – Atlanda, Linden, Douglassville and Texarkana –over to his sons, George, Jr. and Michael, and daughter and son-in-law, Jana and Tommy Granberry.

    Hershel G. Welch owns, and with the help of his son, Wesley Welch, manages his five offices in Naples, Daingerfield, Mt. Pleasant, Bogata and Clarksville.

    Welch Energy, a wholesale Propane transport corporation, was formed in 1977 by Hershel and George, Sr., primarily to supply propane to their own locations. Now owned by Hershel, Welch Energy supplies several area Propane dealers as well as all WelchGas locations.

    The name “Welch” is synonymous with “Texas Propane Gas Association” as all members of the WelchGas families, beginning with Mr. Rube, have been active in all levels of the State and National Propane Gas Associations. Four members of the Welch family have served as President of the Texas Propane Gas Association – George Welch, Sr., 1971-72, Hershel G. Welch, 1984-85, George Welch, Jr., 1996-97, and Wes Welch is currently serving the 2001-2002 term. Several members of the Welch families are currently serving on State committees and/or as State Directors.

    Known throughout Texas and the nation for their strong beliefs and efforts in Marketing, WelchGas was the winner of the National Marketing Achievement Award in 1985 and the recipient of the 1995 Texas Railroad Commission “SuperStar” award for marketing.