Current and former refinery workers in El Dorado celebrated 100 years of the industry in the city at an centennial party organized by Delek on Saturday at the Murphy Arts District.
According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, a small refinery in the city was purchased by Col. Thomas Barton in 1922, when it originally became the Lion Oil and Refining Company.
One hundred years later, the company's impact on the city is hard to overstate.
At Saturday's celebration, retired Lion Oil workers, current Delek employees, their families and special guests gathered at the Murphy Arts District Amphitheater for a fun fair, complete with bouncy castles and carnival games, music, food and a memory lane highlighting the historical significance of the oil industry and Lion Oil's contribution to it.
An hour and a half after the party started, Mike Reed, the plant manager at the refinery, called workers and retirees to a DJ booth in the middle of the MAD Amp, where he congratulated them for their work that has helped to keep the industry going in El Dorado and shared some of the facility's history.
Lion Oil merged with Monsanto Chemical Company in 1955, and the company subsequently shrunk; where it once also boasted more than 2,000 gas stations across the south, by the 1970s, parent company Monsanto had closed many of its stores and in 1975, the refinery was sold to Tosco.
Not even a decade later, the refinery was in more danger when now-owners Tosco suffered a downturn, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Local oil producers found a buyer in Ergon Corp in 1985. The new owners saw the refinery's potential, re-named it Lion Oil and invested in the company to expand its production with the environment in mind.
In March 2011, Delek US Holdings purchased the refinery.
Reed said it wouldn't have been possible without local and state officials' help. Speaker of the Arkansas House Matthew Shepherd highlighted the importance of the oil and gas industry to the local and regional economy, pointing to the Delek refinery as a major driver for economic activity in the area.
"Oftentimes, when people think about innovative companies and companies that have made this country, they want to think of Silicon Valley, but what stands out to me are the companies that have stood the test of time. From the Depression, World War II, of course the ups and downs of the global energy market and the global pandemic, and y'all have stood the test of time, and that is something I want to congratulate you on," Shepherd said. "Sometimes people want to take shots at the oil and gas industry, but I'm proud of what the oil and gas industry and Lion Oil and Delek mean to our community, they mean to the country and what they mean to the world... I'm thankful for what you do each and every day. Thank you for all that you've done, on behalf of the state of Arkansas."
Former President and Arkansas-native Bill Clinton also appeared via video to thank refinery workers for the contribution to the nation's economy.
"Your refinery has been a cornerstone in El Dorado for a century now, and you should all be proud of the role you play in the community," Clinton said. "I know I'll always be grateful that I could help keep the refinery from closing early in the 1980's when I was governor, and I'm glad you're still going strong today."
Workers in attendance described their careers at the refinery positively, reflecting on how the safety-sensitive industry builds deep connections between co-workers.
"It was a very, very good experience -- a lot of good, quality people are out there," said Wayne Sewell, who started working at Lion Oil in 1997 and retired after 24 years with the company that promoted him from an operator on a crew unit to an area manager in the oil movements department. "This is good for the community, good for retirees to get to see each other, meet the new people... Delek does good for the community."
Presley Hartman, the refinery's health, safety and environmental director, who started at the refinery last year after moving from San Antonio, said the culture Delek is building at the refinery is worker-focused.
"I wanted to get back to the refinery side," Hartman, who previously worked at larger corporations in a health and safety role, said. "We're just trying to keep them safe, keep them engaged... If we do our jobs right, safely, everyone going to get a good product and everyone's going to go home safe... It's a tough job if you're used to receiving medals and awards for a good job. You do this job right and you get to have barbeques with your co-workers and their families."
Inside the First Financial Music Hall, Ann Hill could be found examining memorabilia from Lion Oil's early days, including everything from branded ashtrays and pens to a program for a play about the oil boom.
"It was a good company to work for, and this was a great idea. It was great to see everybody," Hill, who worked in purchasing for 20 years at Lion Oil, said.
Delek also took the opportunity Saturday to give back to the community with donations totaling $100,000 to local nonprofits. Gifts of $3,000 to $10,000 were awarded to the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund, Boy Scouts of America, the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado, Camp Fire USA, Character 1st, Compassionate Friends of South Arkansas, Court Appointed Special Advocates, the Eagle Foundation, El Dorado Service League, Hannah Pregnancy Resource Center, Helping Hands Food Bank, HOPE Landing, Kids 'N' Golf, LifeTouch Hospice, Magdalene House, Main Street EL Dorado, Next Step Recovery, South Arkansas Arts Center, SouthArk Foundation, The CALL, Turning Point, the Union County Animal Protection Society, United Way, Wings to Recover and Young Artist Studio.
Saturday's centennial saw hundreds of current and former refinery workers come together to celebrate the impact the oil and gas industry has had on the region and the path to prosperity it has provided to local residents over the past century.
"(Working here) has afforded me a lot of luxuries for my family, especially," said Kenneth Clemons, a corrective action management operator who's worked at the refinery for 16 years and who started out as a junior worker. "I believe the greatest thing is the knowledge that is passed on by those that are senior to you when you arrive."
"I love this because they're showing the community that we're glad to be here for 100 years," Clemons continued. "It's great to get a chance to meet my co-workers' families."
President Bill Clinton congratulates El Dorado refinery workers for the plant's continued success after 100 years. A centennial celebration of the refinery was thrown by Delek, the refinery's owner, on Saturday at the MAD Amp. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Lion Oil retiree Ann Hill examines memorabilia from throughout the company's history. A centennial celebration of the El Dorado refinery was thrown by Delek, the refinery's owner, on Saturday at the MAD Amp. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Delek workers and their families compete in a cornhole tournament during a centennial celebration of the El Dorado refinery on Saturday at the MAD Amp. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Speaker of the Arkansas House Matthew Shepherd fist bumps the child of a Delek worker during the centennial celebration of the El Dorado refinery on Saturday at the MAD Amp. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)