Jul. 21--Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP said Monday that it will "eliminate, relocate or reassign" about 45 employees in its Owensboro office.

That's about 15 percent of the 300 people who work at the headquarters of Boardwalk and its Texas Gas Transmission subsidiary on Frederica Street.

Nationally, 5 percent of the company's 1,100 employees -- 55 people -- were affected, all but 10 of them in Owensboro.

The company said one-fourth of those affected here -- about 11 people -- were offered jobs in other cities if they are willing to relocate.

"This has been a difficult day for us as it affects some longtime colleagues and friends," Brian Cody, senior vice president and chief operating officer, said in a news release.

"Our primary goal has been to treat these employees with the respect and sensitivity they deserve and to offer severance packages and outplacement assistance to ease the transition," he said.

The company said the move came during an evaluation of operations after a period of rapid expansion and is "designed to lay the foundation for future growth."

"We are committed to building a successful company that offers our employees professional challenges, competitive compensation and career growth," Cody said in the news release. "Their talent and hard work are crucial to our ability to deliver excellent customer service, take an active role in our communities and provide competitive returns to shareholders."

Boardwalk has been a major employer in Owensboro for more than half a century.

Cody said Monday's moves will not affect the company's support for community initiatives.

"Our Owensboro facility is still an integral part of our company, and we will still be a major employer here," he said. "We understand and value our strong historic ties to the community and our employees who call it home."

Boardwalk is a limited partnership operating through its subsidiaries -- Gulf Crossing Pipeline Co. LLC, Gulf South Pipeline Co. LP and Texas Gas Transmission LLC -- in the transportation and storage of natural gas.

Texas Gas Corp. was created here in 1948 by the merger of Memphis Natural Gas Co. and Kentucky Natural Gas Co. of Owensboro, both formed in 1928. It was one of the largest Kentucky-based corporations until it moved its headquarters to Houston in 1982.

The company went through four ownership changes between 1983 and 2003.

CSX Corp. bought Texas Gas in 1983. Six years later, it was sold to Transco Energy Co.

In 1995, The Williams Cos. bought Transco and acquired Texas Gas as part of the deal.

And in 2003, Loews Corp. bought Texas Gas from Williams.

Boardwalk was created in 2005.

Keith Lawrence, 691-7301, klawrence@messenger-inquirer.com

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