Snow Job
Episode KH211
Original Air Date: 2/1/98

Hank questions his life and devotion to his job after discovering his boss uses an electric and not propane stove.

The Hills help celebrate the Strickland Summer in January Picnic, in which Strickland Propane employees and their families gather in a park for some hamburgers on the grill. The festivities are cut short when it suddenly begins to snow. Reacting quickly to the heating crisis, Strickland orders his staff into action in hopes of getting the jump on the electric company. Later, while ogling a company girlie calendar, Strickland suffers a heart attack. At the hospital, Strickland assigns Lloyd Vickers, an MBA-type in his thirties, temporary control of the company. Hank, meanwhile, is assigned to walk Strickland's dogs, much to his embarrassment.

Hank tells Peggy about the appointment and his disappointment in not being chosen to run the company. He later discovers that Vickers has ordered the installation of tattlers devices that meter when a driver makes a stop and for what duration into all company trucks. Outraged, Hank brings the issue to Strickland, hoping he will put a quick end to the insulting policy decision. But Strickland tells Hank he signed the purchase form himself. Later, Peggy and Hank travel to Strickland's home, where they feed his dogs. Inside the kitchen, Hank receives the shock of his life: Strickland uses an electric stove.

Completely shaken and disillusioned about his life and career, Hank packs his bags and heads out of town for some quiet time in the country. Meanwhile, Strickland drivers, outraged over the installation of the tattlers, walk out en masse. Vickers counters he will simply replace them with friends. But a driver points out that anyone who operates one of the trucks must be licensed for hazardous materials. When Strickland learns what happened, he promptly fires Vickers. While visiting a small mom-and-pop store in the country, Hank suddenly grows inspired. He realizes the secret to running a business is service with a smile and making people happy. He decides to quit the propane business and open his own general store. But when Hank returns home, he listens to the many messages from needy customers that have accumulated on his answering machine. Recalling fond memories from the past, Hank returns to work. He tells Strickland he has returned because he still believes in the product. Strickland, however, notes that the business cannot run without licensed drivers. Hank points out a window, where five large tow trucks are parked. He points out that a hazardous materials license is not required to drive the vehicles. Soon after, Hank and his friends are delivering propane using the trucks to tow the Strickland Propane vehicles.