On January 1, 1951 HK (Pudge) Kendrick and his wife Deke bought the local Phillips jobber and created Kendrick Oil. Located just southeast of the Sante Fe grain elevator in Friona, Texas, Pudge drove the delivery trucks and Deke kept the books. In 1954, Kendrick Oil relocated to some old barracks from the Amarillo Air Base. That was an arrangement that worked well until the early 1970’s. Then the couple opened the first Fast Stop Convenience Store which was situated in the old Conoco Station. As the business grew, Pudge and Deke’s son, Danny, joined the company and began working as a delivery driver. Throughout the late ’70’s and early 80’s, the list of jobbers continued to expand, including the Fina brand. By the late 1980’s, Danny had taken over as President of Kenrick Oil and moved the corporate offices to the present location at 824 Main Street in Friona.