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Friends Of the River San
Bernard board members, committee members and volunteers are
preparing for the Third Annual Town Hall "State of the
River" meeting, February 23. On this night, one of the
"highlights" of the evening will be the presentation of the
Third Annual Ralph Primeau Memorial Award. The award will be
presented to the person, whom the organization feels has
done the most for the San Bernard River in the previous
year.
But have you ever wondered who Ralph Primeau was or what he
did for the San Bernard River that was worth remembering?
Ralph Primeau was the true embodiment of this prestigious
award and Marie Breakiron will tell us all about it in Part
I of the "war", which became his legacy to our river
community.
Marie
Breakiron
F.O.R. San Bernard
Board Member/Secretary
*Secretary/ San Bernard River Foundation
Continued from
Feb 08: The San Bernard River Coke Range War
of 1999- PART I
Some
local concerned citizens were upset with the
Phillips’ coke conveyor and barging plans.
Like the sheepherders and the cattle
ranchers over a hundred years ago, Phillips
and the concerned citizens were headed for a
showdown. Enter: Ralph Primeau
Ralph Primeau speaks with
Phillips Petroleum Co.
Representatives
The San Bernard River Coke
Range War of 1999- PART II
By Marie Breakiron
The showdown
came when Phillips and a
modern day Wyatt Earp, named
Ralph Primeau, disagreed on
how many cattle (make that
barges) should be herded
down the SBR.
A local group of concerned
citizens (lead by retired
carpenter Ralph Primeau and
his wife, Arlene) reacted
strongly and negatively to
the over-head conveyor
transport method and the
barge transport method
Phillips had chosen to
transport its petroleum coke
product [The Primeau’s
credited their friend Nolan
Link with being the first to
be concerned]. Although
everyone (private citizens
and Phillips) wanted the
Coker Project to be a
success, there was a major
difference of opinion as to
how the coke product should
be transported.
Many concerned citizens
banned together to convince
Phillips that the proposed
method of transporting the
coke (overhead conveyor
system and barge) would be
unsafe, unreliable,
environmentally unsound,
damaging to private
property, and esthetically
offensive. Literally,
thousands of private
citizens signed petitions,
donated money, and wrote
daily and nightly letters to
government agencies and
elected officials protesting
Phillips’ coke
transportation plans. Even a
city-slicker-lawyer got
involved.
Within 39 days, the
“incident” was over and the
disagreement was settled.
Even though Phillips was
absolutely confident that
its coke transportation
plans were sound, would
bring jobs to the area, and
would meet all environmental
regulations, Phillips
decided to cancel its
conveyor and barge
transportation plans, and
transport its coke product
by rail.
Although Phillips may have
felt it was well within its
legal right to utilize the
SBR as much as it needed to
transport its product, and
already had millions of
dollars invested in the
conveyor and barge systems,
the San Bernard River Coke
Range War of 1999 was
settled within 39 days with
a symbolic western
handshake. Phillips
Petroleum kept its white hat
and did the “neighborly
thing”.
Rail transport was a more
expensive method of
transportation for the coke
product, but rail
transportation would be safe
and reliable. Most of all,
according to the Phillips’
“Sheriff” (AKA General
Manager) Bob Ridge,
transporting the coke
product by rail would be
“the least intrusive for its
neighbors”.
So there: You have the true
story of the San Bernard
River Coke Range War of
1999. Most observers felt
everyone involved acted in
the best interest of the
SBR. They all rode into the
sunset as good guys. Some
folks even think Ralph
Primeau was a hero. To this
day, a group of San Bernard
River lovers get together
once a year and bestow the
“Ralph Primeau Memorial
Award” to the most
deserving person.
No matter what campfire yawn
will be spawn and handed
down in the coming years,
and no matter who tells the
story, the one absolute
truth of the tale is “many
Friends of the River were
made during the San Bernard
River Coke Range War of
1999”.
Letter from the Governor:
In October of 1999, a SBR
private resident received a
hand written note from
George Bush, Governor of
Texas that read:
Dear …, I received your
letter and your kind words.
It was my pleasure to have
received the petition from
you all. I understand
Phillips has withdrawn their
plan. People can have an
impact. Sincerely, George
Bush
Ralph Primeau
January 14, 1938 - March 18,
2002
Ralph
Primeau, at
home, with
Kelli
Ralph and
Arlene share
happy times
in Las Vegas
Disclaimer:
The Phillips
Petroleum
data
included in
this
document
were taken
entirely
from
archived
local
newspaper
articles.
All other
accounts of
the event
are based
solely on
the author’s
first hand
knowledge,
the author’s
personal
opinion, and
the author’s
interviews
with Arlene
Primeau.
*Definitions:
Petroleum
Coke is a
solid,
coal-like
petroleum
product used
in the
cement,
power
generation
and steel
industries.
The product
is thought
to be
non-hazardous
by OSHA, but
its dust can
cause
respiratory
irritation
and it could
easily blow
into the air
if not kept
moist.
The Coker
Unit
uses a
thermal
process to
remove heavy
materials
from crude
oil and
turns them
into
petroleum
coke, a
substitute
for coal in
power
generation
and steel
industries.
The Coker
Project
included
construction
of a
4.6-mile
overland
conveyor
system and
barge
loading dock
on the San
Bernard
River. The
conveyor
would begin
in the
Sweeny,
Texas
refinery and
travel
overland
(approx. 25
ft in the
air) to a
barge
loading
facility on
the San
Bernard
River.
~Marie
Breakiron
2008
Come share a
bit of
history of
life on the
San
Bernard
River
3rd Annual
Friends Of
the River
Town Hall
"State of
the River"
Program
Saturday,
February 23,
2008
Dido's
Restaurant
- County
Road 519,
Brazoria
Buffet
Dinner will
begin at
5:00 p.m.
Program
following,
at 6:00 p.m.
Chicken
and Shrimp
Fettuccini,
Bread,
Salad, Tea
and Dessert
$10.00 per
person
tax and
gratuity
included
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One of F.O.R.'s
primary functions is to educate the public
regarding the issues concerning the San Bernard
River and it's Communities. Contact Pat Webb
pat@sanbernardriver.com to schedule a
guest speaker for your group or special event.
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