The beginning of the story of Arrick's Propane takes us back more than fifty years. The year was 1952 and Ralph Arrick (Sr.) had finished college and had been teaching and coaching for three years at a small high school in Southern Ohio. At the time money was hard to come by for Ralph and his wife and small son. Ralph’s stepfather, a construction foreman, knew that a large construction project was moving into the area. He knew that in Piketon, Ohio construction was beginning on an atomic enrichment plant. Ralph’s stepfather suggested that Ralph could earn some extra money to help make ends meet by delivering propane bottles to the construction site part time. He knew that this project was going to be huge and the plans were for it to last three years. Trailer courts were being built to house the great influx of workers so there would be a great need for propane bottles for heating and cooking. A used pickup was purchased for Ralph to deliver the bottles in and he talked to Bob Litteral to fill the bottles. From then on evenings and weekends were filled with deliveries and from this a new business was born – Arrick’s Bottled Gas. When the three years of the project were complete and Ralph had earned some extra money, the small family assumed that everything would return to “normal” as they knew it.

The part time job was still in demand and more customers were added to the delivery route. Five years after its start Ralph decided that it was time to quit his teaching job and try his luck at a full time business. He soon became a Pyrofax dealer of propane. His idea was that the business was something to try and with his degree, if it did not turn out as he hoped he could return to teaching and coaching. Fortunately, for Ralph and his family, this was never going to have to occur. Life as they knew it would never be “normal” again.

By 1958, two more sons had been added to Ralph’s family, giving him and his wife three sons. In this year Ralph decided to build a gas station and the business expanded to be Arrick’s Gas and Oil with the addition of the delivery of fuel oils to customers’ homes. Ralph felt that these two additions fit in well with his existing business of propane. So, bulk plant storage of fuel oils and propane were built and Ralph dropped his association with Pyrofax to become his own independent business with the help of his wife and 3 full time employees as well as a few part timers.

In 1963, a great opportunity arose for the small business. A bottle delivery and fuel competitor of similar size to Ralph’s successful business was going to be sold. Although it caused some tough financial times and many loans had to be taken, Ralph seized the opportunity that was right in front of him.

Around this same time though the young family and business fell on some hard times as a truck wreck nearly took the lives of Ralph Sr. and his youngest son, Ralph Jr. The business hit a slump while Ralph Sr. was laid up for several months. Not long after the accident, natural gas came along and took nearly half of Ralph’s propane customers. This, of course, caused a financial strain on the up and coming business. Because of the success of the oil business, the company persevered.

Through the late 60’s and early 70’s, the business continued its growth and success, especially the propane business. In 1972, the company was tested through the oil embargo, and due to the embargo, a tough time of price controls. Despite these things though, things were looking up for the company as loans were being paid off and business was booming. Through the tough times, the strength of this business and its owner shown through.

In 1976, Ralph Jr., the youngest son of Ralph Sr. and his wife, Louise, joined Arrick’s full time. Ralph and Louise’s other two sons had since found successful careers in other fields. With the addition of Ralph Jr., a true family business was formed – father, mother, and son. In 1978, Ralph Jr. married Patty Roe who would later help in the business by becoming the payroll clerk and a secretary as well as raise her and Ralph Jr.’s three children.
By 1980, the business had grown to include three small gas stations, the fuel and propane businesses and around fifteen full time employees and a few part time workers.

In the 1990’s is when the ride really began for the company. This was a decade of great growth. In 1991, Ralph Jr. became manager of Arrick’s Gas and Oil. Because of his youth and enthusiasm Ralph Jr. jumped in with both feet and began taking risks right away. He was very aggressive in his growth ideas, and with the help of some very fine employees, the business expanded rapidly. Ralph Sr. continued to help his son with his knowledge of the business that he had acquired through many years of experience. During the 1990’s three new offices opened to expand the area of service. In addition, during this decade more trucks and tanks were added to keep up with the demand and more employees were added to better serve the growing number of customers.

In 1998, the decision was made to discontinue the gasoline and fuel oil businesses to focus on the growing propane business, changing the name to Arrick's Propane . In the year 2000 a great loss to the business and the family behind the business occurred when Ralph Sr. passed away.

Presently Arrick’s continues to be a family owned business. It has grown to include 15 delivery bobtails, 4 retail offices, and over 40 employees. A company that was started from a part time job that was going to last three years has now been in business for over fifty years. At first Ralph Sr. and his family saw this business as an exciting possibility but that they could always return to “normal” if things did not work out. Now fifty years later, with the excitement and challenges of owning a small family business, who needs “normal” anyway?

A note from Ralph Jr. - Propane companies are connected in ways that many people do not know now. The Litteral family helped Arrick’s get off the ground at the very beginning. My dad always held a great respect for the Litteral family and appreciated all they did for him and his business.