Yoder Oil Co. bids farewell to Citgo

South Bend Tribune ^ | June 21. 2007 | MICHAEL SANSERINO

[BBell]

ELKHART -- When Yoder Oil company switched to Citgo-brand oil in the early 1990s, the move was in part a political decision.

Citgo is owned by the national government of Venezuela, explained Kent Yoder, chief executive of the Elkhart-based Yoder Oil company, and his company wanted to invest in oil produced in the Western Hemisphere rather than send its business to the Middle East. But that was then. Before Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called President Bush "the devil" during a September address at the United Nations.

Those remarks, plus complaints about Chavez's handling of human rights in Venezuela, led to an Internet-born boycott of Citgo gas in the United States,

Gerry Yoder, Yoder Oil's founder, said the company had received complaints from customers about the company's association with Citgo.

On April 1, Yoder switched from Citgo to American-owned Marathon for mostly business reasons, though there were political undertones for the decision.Brett Yoder, president of the family-owned business, said a few people were not happy with the company's association with Citgo.

"We've gotten compliments for switching from people who appreciate the move," Brett Yoder said in reference to the April 1 switch. "For the most part it's been a good business decision for us."

He said he preferred Marathon over Citgo because of the benefits that come with Marathon gasoline, like credit card discounts.

"In the world today, you've got to set yourself apart," he said. "We just felt like Marathon was the right image for us."

Changing oil brands is not uncommon, said Fernando Garay, spokesman for Houston-based Citgo.

Scot Imus, executive director of the Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenient Stores Association, agreed.

Imus said gas boycotts like the one against Citgo end up hurting local retailers more than they hurt the corporations.

"I think the boycotts are certainly misplaced," Imus said. "What they're boycotting is someone who's been in the community for a long time. Once we start down that list, are we going to boycott fuel coming from all countries that are not run by good people? It's awfully tough to do that, and I don't think it's fair to single out a company."

Yoder Oil still sells some Citgo products, including most of its industrial lubricants, a cornerstone of its business. They also sell lubricants from other brands, in case some customers are not comfortable buying Citgo products.

"They have a democratic society down there," Kent Yoder said of Venezuela. "They voted on someone (Chavez) that not necessarily everybody agrees with. It's not very different in this country. We've had presidents, as you know, that not all of us have agreed with. They have a different political persuasion, and some people in this country support what he's saying, and some don't."

The Yoders say they just want to serve the customers as best they can.

[RightWhale]

It’s a complicated history. Goes back to the Teapot Dome scandal. The railroad was built to Fairbanks and by total coincidence ended there when Teapot Dome broke. FedGov still has that Teapot Dome thing in the back of its alleged mind every time oil on Fed land is involved. Prudhoe Bay is on State land. Teapot Dome was also a Naval Petroleum Reserve.

[bert]

Well, I’ll go study what’s out there on line.

Thanks

[bert]

Well for the FR record, here's a report on the National Petroleum Preserve Alaska dated in 2005.

There is work underway per Presidential directive to Department of Interior that is acting through the BLM.

The .pdf with good maps is Here

The work apparently is not satisfactory to certain enviros who are apparently holding it up.

[Shots]

Perhaps you were not or did not read my previous reply . I stated oddly enough we do not have unbranded stations around here. Years ago we did but now in order to find one you have to look real hard they are few and far between.