Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 2814 15 www.htcinc.net | Winter 2017 Winter 2017 | www.htcinc.net It’s not every day that you run across a fourth- generation family business. Then again, the story of Frankie Ford Jr. and his brother Bunky isn’t exactly common, either. With deep roots in Horry County, Ford’s Fuel & Propane connects locals to a variety of resources and a history of outstanding service. The Ford family legacy dates back to the early 1900s, when Frankie and Bunky Ford’s great- grandfather began dealing standard oil. With only a mule, a wagon and a hunger to help build something bigger than himself, Walter Boyd Ford delivered gasoline to construction workers building a road in Lake View, South Carolina (then called Page’s Mill). Today, we call that road Highway 9. As the community expanded, Ford’s Fuel was officially established in 1923. From those humble beginnings, the business has grown to include locations in Loris, North Myrtle Beach and Supply, North Carolina. Over the decades, the family has continuously adapted to the evolving industry, but the original core values of honesty and a strong work ethic still drive the business. Now, they offer everything from gasoline and diesel fuel to residential and commercial propane, generators, space heaters, and outdoor kitchens. “There’s truly nothing we don’t do,” says Frankie. “We have you covered from start to finish.” “You can buy the appliance from us; we’ll install it and have the maintenance element, too,” adds Tiff Guilliams, business growth manager for Ford’s Fuel & Propane. “With the outdoor kitchens, for example, it’s so much more than just selling grills — we consult, do customized designs from computer-aided design drawings, install and maintain. We take care of the customer on an all- inclusive level.” For Frankie, helping people on such a comprehensive spectrum is the best part of the business. “I’ve been doing this for 28 years now, and it’s never the same,” Frankie says. “The people make it interesting — there’s always something new to look forward to every day.”