Donald W. Willis, CEO and
Founder (1925-2007)
Don was born and raised in an Iowa
farming community. He graduated in the top 10% of his 1942 class of 232 students from Fort Dodge High School.
Don was a highly decorated Marine
Corps Veteran of World War II, seeing action in the South Pacific 1942 thru
1944. In 1945, he qualified for the United States Marine Corps
officer candidate school at Quantico, Virginia and was relocated from the
South Pacific to the school.
In 1947, Don attended the University of
Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, majoring in Civil Engineering.
He moved to Lompoc, California in 1970
where he started Wilco Distributors, Inc. (1971) in his garage. In 1978,
Don moved the business into a manufacturing and warehouse facility: After 22
years the business out grew that facility and moved to a larger
building. Wilco is the number one manufacturer of rodenticides,
for the homeowner and agriculture business, West of the Mississippi.
In 1990, Don "retired" but
still
served as a consultant for the company until his death.
Don and his business have always been boosters for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and the 4-H
Clubs in the
Lompoc Valley.
The company is one of the city's largest supporters of the Lompoc Valley FFA and 4-H
Clubs at the Santa Barbara County Fair auction.
Don served on the FFA board for five years, receiving the Honorary Chapter's
FFA Degree in 1989-1990.
He received the Industry-Education Council Award
from the Lompoc High School, in 1996.
1986 thru 1990 Don restored his home
located at 105 East Olive Avenue, the old Douglas home built, in 1910, to
achieve the status of Historical Landmark #12.
Don's partner in marriage for forty one
years, Gene, passed away in 1986. They raised two children, son
Jeff, and daughter, Cheryl. He was the proud grandfather of five.
Don married Evelyn, on January 31, 1992. Don
and Evie received several honorable mentions from the Lompoc Valley
Home Beautification Committee and won the first place ribbon and
plaque three times in six years.
Brent Hazen, President
Brent was born and raised in Iowa.
He attended college in the field of Business Administration at Culver
Stockton in Canton, Missouri.
As a young man in Iowa, he was very
involved in the rodeo circuit and lived on a farm. Brent
worked in the field of construction and became a store manager of a farm
supply. In 1980 he and wife, Cheryl, with twin boys, Blake and
Bryon moved to California to help his father-in-law with the family
business.
In 1986, he became President and
manager of the family business, Wilco Distributors, Inc. Wilco is
a manufacturer and distributor of rodenticides in the Western portion of
the United States and Canada. Brent represents the company at
three of the prestigious Agriculture Shows in California each year.
He has been
fundamental in the company's growth. He has presented numerous
educational seminars on the subject of gopher and ground squirrel
control.
Organizations that Brent is an active
member of are: California Farm Bureau, Lompoc Chapter of Ag Boosters,
Lompoc 4H and FFA advisor panel, Kiwanis, Ducks Unlimited, and Pest
Control Operators of California. He has been a strong supporter of
the Santa Barbara County Fair for many years.
