AutoGas recognized as inventor of a “Top-25 life changing invention”
USA Today lists AutoGas' pay-at-the-pump as #9 of the top 25 inventions most affecting American lives in the past 25 years.
Abilene, Texas—Pay-at-the-pump innovator and AutoGas Systems founder and chief executive officer Randy Nicholson has reason to be proud of his 20-year-old epiphany. In the May 21, 2007 issue of USA Today, Nicholson’s invention, pay-at-the-pump, was listed as #9 of the top 25 inventions most affecting American lives in the past 25 years. USA Today listed pay-at-the-pump along with other notable advancements such as online stock trading, laptop computers, debit cards and digital cameras.
“Believe it or not my idea of pay-at-the-pump had its critics, several saying it would hurt retail sales inside the store,” said Randy Nicholson. “I knew 100 percent it had the potential to change lives, including mothers who could pump and pay without having to get their children out of the car. It was also convenient for people with physical handicaps. The convenience of pay-at-the-pump continues to defy critics and attract more traffic to the stores, both inside and out.”
Nicholson paid his way through college by working at a grocery store. It was this experience that gave him the idea to sell gasoline on unused parking lot spaces. Through lease agreements with storeowners, Nicholson’s petroleum marketing company, E-Z Serve, was born.
Testing of the pay-at-the-pump concept began modestly with one E-Z Serve in Abilene, Texas and a second store in Honolulu, Hawaii. The E-Z Serve brand was made famous in the hit comedy, “The Jerk” where Navin Johnson (Steve Martin) worked as an attendant while dodging potshot from a hillside gunman.
Now with 93 percent of all gasoline retailers offering pay-at-the-pump technology to customers, it has become a convenience most take for granted.
USA Today is celebrating its 25th anniversary and will be compiling a weekly top 25 list on various subjects for the remainder of 2007.
For more information on Randy Nicholson, pay-at-the-pump technology or AutoGas Systems please contact Bage Anderson, E.H. Anderson Public Relations at 254-772-5909.
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Link: USA Today article
