SHARE CHRISTOPHER WALKER/TIMES RECORD NEWS Shell station operator David Beck sorts through one of the service bays while a cleanup crew works to vacate the gas station. The business, on the corner of Taft and Midwestern Parkway, was one of the few Wichita Falls full-service filling stations and will shut down Thursday. The owner sold the property, which Beck said has had “environmental issues.” Beck, who leased the property, had a little more than a week to close the longtime business, which was once a finalist for the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award. CHRISTOPHER WALKER/TIMES RECORD NEWS A sign outside a popular full-service Shell filling station at Taft and Midwestern Parkway advertises $1.25-per-gallon gasoline. Operator David Beck offered the low gas price at a loss as he rushed to vacate and close the property by Thursday. Beck sold out of gas Tuesday and by Wednesday had windshield wipers and a few tires to sell. The business, formerly Herring’s Shell, was one of the few full-service stations in Wichita Falls and was once a finalist for the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award. CHRISTOPHER WALKER/TIMES RECORD NEWS Shell Station operator David Beck (left) and technician Derik Scarborough worked with a cleanup crew Wednesday to vacate the gas station at Taft and Midwestern Parkway. The station, which was one of the few full-service stations in the city, will close Thursday.

By Lana Sweeten-Shults of the Times Record News

David Beck has checked under the hood of countless cars over the past four decades.

He has checked the air pressure on countless tires and has pumped gas for countless customers.

But the owner of Shell on Taft and Midwestern Parkway — one of the few full-service gas stations in the city — has checked under the hood of his customers' vehicles for the last time.

He found out a couple of days before Christmas that the property's owner sold the land on which the filling station sits. It has had "environmental issues," he said, and it was too costly for the owner to keep. So Beck, who was on a month-to-month lease, is rushing to vacate the property and close the gas station by Thursday.

To move the 1,500 gallons of gas he had on hand, he sold it at a discounted price — and sold out the same day.

"I sold it for $1.25 yesterday (Tuesday)," Beck said. "I had to sell it at a loss."

By Wednesday morning, he and half a dozen or so others were clearing out other inventory.

"The oil is going back to the supplier. But we've still got some tires, wiper blades."

Beck started working for Howard Herring, his son Ronnie and their Herring Shell station in 1974.

The business was once voted Texoma's Best Service Station and was a finalist for the Better Business Bureau's Torch Award.

After Howard retired, Beck went into partnership with Ronnie in 1982. Then when Ronnie retired in 2011, Beck took over the business. Ronnie Herring died in 2012, and Beck has been leasing the property from his wife.

"At one time, we had 10 employees," Beck said. At closing time, the station was operating with two employees.

The business remained a full-service filling station even though they fell out of popularity decades ago. It was in the 1970s, when gas prices started to soar, that businesses started cutting costs and began operating as self-service stations to save money.

Beck said he continued to offer full service when few others did "as a customer service" and that the business' full-service work was "second to none."

"We have a lot of elderly people that still need full service," he said, and he heard that his neighbor, Midwestern State University, recommended the business to incoming freshmen.

"Over the years, I've seen second- and third-generation kids come back to me. It's always been a family-oriented business. We used to give gum out to kids when pumping gas and all that."

Customers would stop by, not just to get their oil checked or washer fluid level checked, but for some friendly conversation, too.

Beck through the years has been an avid FFA and 4-H supporter, so customers likely have heard him talk about showing such prize animals as rabbits for FFA.

Beck said he has no plans to open a gas station at another location or to retire. He has another part-time job that will keep him busy.

He said the property has had problems with diesel and oil residue and that a two-year drinking water survey is being done on the property.

"I would hate to see, in the future of this location, for the environmental problems to cause problems," he said, for whomever ends up with the property.

He added, "To all the people over the years that trusted us, I appreciate their trust, and we'll see you down the road."