[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 114 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S5148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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             100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SINCLAIR OIL CORPORATION

 Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate 
Sinclair Oil on its 100th anniversary of operations. Based in Wyoming, 
Sinclair Oil is one of the largest privately held, vertically 
integrated oil companies in America.
  Sinclair Oil and Refining Corporation was founded in 1916 by Harry 
Ford Sinclair. Under his leadership, Sinclair opened America's first 
modern service stations in the 1920s. These stations offered gasoline, 
oil changes, car repairs, and, for the first time, public restrooms. 
With the establishment of this network of full service gasoline 
stations, Americans were finally able to experience what drivers have 
for nearly a century referred to as ``the long road trip.''
  In the 1930s, the world suffered through the Great Depression. 
Sinclair Oil continued to operate during those tough times, expanding 
its national operations by acquiring dying competitors, and, more 
importantly, protecting hundreds of jobs at a time when employment was 
scarce. By 1935, the company had 20,000 employees, 8,100 company-owned 
or leased service stations, and 14,000 miles of pipelines.
  It was also during this time that Sinclair introduced Dino the 
Dinosaur as the company's mascot and logo. Dino remains the face of 
Sinclair Oil and is one of America's best known oil industry mascots.
  Following the retirement of Mr. Sinclair in 1948, the company 
continued to operate under various ownership groups until 1976, when 
Earl Holding purchased the company's assets. Earl Holding, like Harry 
Ford Sinclair, was a self-made man. As was the case of many in his 
generation, Mr. Holding grew up with nothing during the Great 
Depression. He learned early on that hard work and dedication to one's 
goals was the path to success.
  Earl Holding's long business career began in 1952 when he and his 
wife, Carol, invested in a motel and service station called Little 
America. Located in a remote area along what is now I-80 in Wyoming, 
the Holdings took 2 years to turn their single operation to 
profitability. They fell in love with Wyoming and the people they met, 
and it is where they raised their three children, Anne, Kathleen, and 
Stephen. With their business successful, they began building the Little 
America chain of hotels and gas stations that exist throughout the West 
today. Just prior to the Holding's purchase of Sinclair Oil in 1976, 
Little America became Sinclair Oil's biggest customer.
  Today Sinclair Oil remains a vital player in providing American 
drivers with quality gasoline. Incorporated in Wyoming, the company 
owns refineries in Casper and Sinclair, WY. There are more than 1,300 
Sinclair-branded stations located in 24 States. The company markets 
high-quality products, including DINOCARETM TOP 
TIERTM Gasoline through a network of 400 distributors. 
Sinclair also operates a network of pipelines and terminals in the 
Rocky Mountain and midcontinent regions, and the company continues to 
invest in its workers and operations to insure reliable and affordable 
products for generations to come.
  When Earl Holding passed away in 2013, Wyoming lost a remarkable 
individual. His love of family and community, and his commitment to 
hard work and pursuing one's dreams, led him to a life of tremendous 
success and fulfillment.
  We are fortunate that his legacy continues through the Holding family 
businesses, particularly Sinclair Oil. Headed by current CEO and 
chairman of the board, Ross Matthews, the Holding family remains 
intimately involved in the company's activities, and the values Earl 
and Carol Holding lived their working lives by are still reflected in 
Sinclair Oil's company vision: Love of Country, Care for People, 
Commitment to Safety.
  I invite all members of the Senate to join me in celebrating the 100-
year anniversary of a truly American company, Sinclair Oil, and wishing 
the company, its employees, and the Holding family much success in the 
future.

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