100th Anniversary of the Town of Sinclair and the Sinclair Refinery
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the town of Sinclair and the Sinclair Refinery in Sinclair, WY.
The town of Sinclair is undeniably unique and filled with a rich history of rural industrialization. Located in Central Carbon County, Sinclair is home to 366 residents. Its residents are fortunate to live in the charming and quaint ``Oasis in the Desert.''
Frank Kistler, the head of Producers and Refiners Corporation--P&R Co.--came to Wyoming in 1922 to find an area suitable for a refinery location. He chose a site close to the town of Rawlins, along both lanes of the Lincoln Highway. The ground was broken for the refinery in October 1922. The town was not yet established, so corporation officials lived in Rawlins. Workers resided in ``Rag Town,'' rundown tents and shacks on the south side of the Union Pacific train tracks. March 13, 1923, marked the first day of operation for the Producers and Refiners Corporation Refinery. News about the refinery spread throughout the region, and business started to boom.
The land adjacent to the refinery was bought by P&R Co. in 1922-1923 so it could be used as a townsite. The refinery post office began receiving letters using the initials P&R Co. This led to the name ``Parco'' for the new town.
In 1924, Frank Kistler hired Fisher and Fisher, a Denver architectural firm, to design the style and layout of the town. The result was a Spanish colonial revival style, with a central plaza and fountain commemorating Frank Kistler. Most of the original buildings remain standing today, illuminating the town's rich history and development.
With the town established, a community began to form. People flocked to the Parco Inn, a bustling 60-room hotel spanning an entire block. The Parco Inn housed a dry cleaner, bar, cafe, clothing stores, and a barber shop. It was the main attraction for the booming town and remains an important relic today.
Low crude oil prices during the Great Depression caused Frank Kistler's firm to sell the Parco holdings in 1934. The firm was purchased by Consolidated Oil--later Sinclair. The name Parco was changed to Sinclair in 1942. In 1967, the Sinclair Refining Company sold the townsite and buildings to local residents.
During World War II, the oil market improved due to increased demand. The war efforts comprised 24 percent of the Sinclair Corporation's total business. As the oil industry constantly shifted over the years, Sinclair continued to adapt and evolve.
The refinery is a cornerstone for the people in Sinclair and surrounding communities. Sinclair believes ``if you take care of your people, your people will take care of you.'' The corporation focuses on job and community prosperity, which can be seen by their support to the residents of Sinclair and Rawlins, WY.
In 2022, the HF Sinclair Corporation was formed when Sinclair joined HollyFrontier Corporation. The Sinclair refinery is one of two operated in Wyoming by HF Sinclair.
Serving the greater Rocky Mountain region, the Sinclair Refinery runs a mix of Canadian and United States sweet and sour crudes. They process 94,000 barrels per day. The refinery site also contains a 10,000 barrels per day renewable diesel unit. This unit participates in the Low Carbon Fuel Standard Program pathways in California and British Columbia.
The Sinclair Refinery has 475 employees and an average of 350 contractors. During ``turnarounds,'' there are over 3,000 contractors. Thank you to vice president and refinery manager Jim Ruble and his dedicated staff who keep this refinery in operation.
The town of Sinclair is led by mayor Cullan Meeks, vice mayor Michelle Serres, clerk/treasurer Becky Slater, assistant treasurer Gina Helmetag, and council members Forest Ortiz, David Robinson, and Brennan Dunlap.
On August 17, 2024, the town and refinery will celebrate this momentous occasion, They will commemorate their joint history with many festivities including a parade, lunch, a children's carnival, entertainment acts, and music bands. A fireworks display will close out the celebration.
It is an honor for me to rise in recognition of this significant milestone. I applaud the workers and citizens who have worked tirelessly to contribute to the success of this booming oil town and refinery. They should be proud to welcome this momentous accomplishment. Congratulations to the town of Sinclair and the Sinclair Refinery on their 100th anniversary.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source