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Vance and Reba York recently celebrated their golden wedding
anniversary.
Photo by Tom Campbell
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He and his wife, Reba, moved from Des Moines, Iowa, to Zionsville upon
his retirement in 1996 from Pioneer Hi-Bred International after 42 years
with the company. When he retired, he was the manager who was responsible
for linking sales, production, and research. Purchasing a place in a
warm and sunny climate didn't seem to suit the couple, who last year
celebrated 50 years of marriage.
"We had family nearby at the time, and didn't want to try to maintain
two homes," he says. The Yorks do travel to the Caribbean island
of St. Maarten for three weeks every January, just to get some reprieve
from the blustery Hoosier cold.
York's passion for helping youth developed long before he left his
prestigious career at Pioneer in 1996. Whether it was leading a children's
chorus at a church in Tipton, Ind., or serving on the 4-H and FFA Foundation
boards, York has enjoyed his service to young people.
"4-H'ers and the FFA young people are a great bunch of kids. I
like to help them in any way I can," he says.
Being a man who finds it hard to say no, he has worked with the Pioneer
Village at the Indiana State Fair and organized the Farmer's Day parade.
"When the Pioneer Village took over the parade in 2001, Mauri
Williamson grabbed me and got me to organize it," he says. York
added a few new ideas to the parade, and this year he hopes to add a
band.
"It takes a band to make a good parade," he says.
And York ought to know, as music is also one of his passions.
In addition to singing in his church choir, he sings in the chorus
of the Indianapolis Scottish Rite and participates in a quartet that
travels to churches and other events.
Despite his many and varied interests, this 1952 agronomy graduate
has never lost his fondness for agriculture.
"I still oversee the family farm in Greene County. I don't farm
the 550 acres, but we rent it out and I look after the details,"
he says.
It's also the place where he was raised and where he later married
the little sister of his best friend. The couple have three children,
seven grandchildren and a 19-month-old great-granddaughter.
So is there anything he'd change about his life?
"I can't think of a thing I'd do differently," he says. "God's
been good to us and I have a lovely family and friends. I really wouldn't
change a thing."
Contact Vance York at vanceyork@aol.com
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