Until the early 1950s, Pacific Northwest communities outside the larger metropolitan areas were passed over for natural gas service. In 1953, Pacific Northwest businessmen Lester Pettit, Spencer Clark, and Stewart Matthews formed Cascade Natural Gas Corporation to serve these communities with clean, affordable natural gas. In those early days, the founders faced many financial, engineering and operational challenges as they strived to expand service and enhance their operations. The company grew steadily to become one of the fastest growing natural gas utilities in the nation.