The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Bonnie Johnson, The Quill Staff
Vancil Locker Service - Always Busy
The location of the locker was once a home for a horse stable, a Chevrolet Garage and a Ford Garage. In 1939 Otis and Lou Arnold, along with partner George Lewis and sons, started the Henderson County Locker. In 1954 Davison's garage, located next to the locker plant burned, catching the locker on fire. It took three months for the locker to be rebuilt.
In 1966, Ellis (Bud) Vancil, Sr. and wife Juanita, bought the locker plant, changing the name to Vancil Locker Service. Bud had worked for the Arnolds since 1947.
In the early years, the slaughtering was done at a location west of Oak Lane Nursing and Rehab Center, now owned by Mary Alice Huntoon. David recalls when he was a small boy how they would hoist the carcass upon a trailer and haul it to the locker to be processed. After David's dad, Bud, passed away in 1979, David and Margaret Vancil bought the family business.
When asked why he chose this profession, David said, "I always helped Dad. It was the family business and I wanted to be part of it".
"Many things have changed over the last 25 years. There are so many government regulations. There are check lists, meat samplings to be taken and sent in, tests to be taken and this all costs money. Operating a locker is so much more expensive than it used to be because everytime I send a test or sample in, it costs money that I have to pay out of my pocket. Nothing seems to be simple anymore". When asked if he is still as busy as he used to be, he answered, "There aren't as many farms with cattle and hogs like there used to be, but I still remain quite busy. I have butchered ostrich, buffalo, bear, emu, deer, elk, cattle, sheep, hogs, chicken, ducks and pheasants, which is quite a variety of animals to slaughter." When asked about the steps he takes in slaughtering an animal, he produces a large spiral notebook with step by step instructions that he must have written out and he must follow. On Monday and Thursday, he might have from 1 to 7 inspectors come in to watch the procedures. They may pop in at any other time during the week, so David must keep his locker in top condition. This was certainly obvious as one looks around at his office and in the coolers.
David said, "I tell myself that this is play, not work. It helps me to continue to keep plugging along. This is hard work". The locker is opened six days each week, from 8 to 4, and on Thursday and Saturday, it's open from 8 to 12. His wife Margaret helps him and he has a trainee, his 2 year old grandson, Bradon. Margaret and David are the parents of five children, Judge David, Arbry, Doug, Kristin and Amber and 11 1/2 grandchildren.
David's concern for the community is the dwindling economy. He really has more customers from outside the area than in the community. He does appreciate all who come to him for locker service.