Deep Roots in the Old Dominion
The Yancey family has lived in Albemarle County, Virginia continuously for over 255 years. It is one of the area’s founding families whose ancestors were contemporaries of Thomas Jefferson. Charles Yancey, a member of the Virginia General Assembly from Albemarle County, enjoyed a lifelong friendship and collaboration with Thomas Jefferson. The family has taken an active role in the military, politics, and business for many generations. The Village of Yancey Mills near Crozet, Virginia is named for a family-owned grain mill from the 18th century.
Determination and Persistence
Born in 1905 in the village that bears his family name, Richard A. Yancey was raised working the land. After attending college at Virginia Tech, he returned to work with his family. After stints farming and selling fruit, he took over the family store at age 30 when his father died suddenly during the height of the Great Depression. Economic hardships forced him to close the store and search for other ways to support his young family.
Beloved father, Richard (Dick) Alexander Yancey, began our business in 1949.
“Flat Broke” but Unbowed
In 1941, Dick Yancey decided to give logging a try. He gathered what modest resources he could and later confessed he was “flat broke” at the time. With failure not an option, he threw himself into cutting trees along steep ridges of the surrounding area by hand and hauling logs down the hillside with horses to be loaded on the trucks. More than once, legend has it that the logs broke loose, racing down the mountain under gravity’s thrall, dragging horses and men behind them. Such were the perils of logging by hand.
By 1949, Dick decided to set up a portable sawmill on the site that has become the sawmill’s home for over 70 years. Located on existing family land located on VA Route 250, a major East-West highway that bisects the state from Richmond to West Virginia, the company has adapted and grown steadily.
By 1960, it was incorporated and cutting over 1,000,000 board feet of hardwood for flooring and furniture. There were 30 sawmills in the area at that time, a testament to the plentiful forest lands throughout Central Virginia. Today, only R.A. Yancey Lumber Corp remains as the last pine sawmill in Albemarle County.
Family History Repeats Itself
Just as Dick Yancey had to step in to run the family store upon the death of his father, so did his son, Dick Jr. when a rail car door crushed his father in 1966. Despite major injuries, Dick Sr. survived the accident, but Dick Jr. assumed the day to day operations and went on to run the mill for the next 46 years. Dick Sr. remained active in the business and supported his son’s continual improvements throughout the mill.
Values Create Value
In 1994, the elder Yancey died at age 88 having created a thriving business that is now in its 72nd year of existence. He was a respected civic and business leader having served on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and was a founding member of the Virginia Lumber Manufacturers Association.
A quiet, diminutive man of few words (though known to be a persistent whistler), he was revered throughout the area as “Mr. Yancey.” Stories abound of his numerous acts of kindness, generosity – giving folks second chances, helping families, and paying off their debts.
The quiet man from Yancey Mills went from being “flat broke” in 1941 to being one of the largest landowners in all of Albemarle County before he died. His legacy of hard work, self-reliance, determination, and adaptability continue to guide the family and the company to this day.
Mr. Yancey’s greatest legacy … helping his community. He believed in giving folks a chance to help themselves if they were willing to work. Not all of his second chance bets paid off, but for the ones that did, his help and heart changed families for generations.
R.A. Yancey Lumber Corp circa 1950’s
A Sawmill for the 21st Century
R.A. Yancey Lumber Corp circa 2010’s
Dick Jr. grew the company throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s. In the 1990’s Dick Jr.’s vision and leadership brought about broad automation throughout the mill and the introduction of kilns to dry lumber. These changes made the company more flexible, more competitive, and enabled new product offerings. After piloting the company through the Great Recession with 46 years at the helm, Dick’s siblings, Dan and Sarah Yancey May, assumed management in 2012. Dick Jr. remains active on the company Board and as a consultant. Dan retired from the company in 2018 and serves on the Board. Sarah currently serves as Chief Financial Officer.
Over the years, various members of the 3rd generation have contributed to the company success. None more than Dick’s daughter, Anne, who worked along side her Dad for 13 years, managing sales and administration throughout the Great Recession.
The last eight years have continued strong growth for the Company and seen the emergence of the youngest member of the 3rd generation - Sarah’s son, Patrick May.
Under Patrick’s leadership, the company has embarked on a renewal plan to position the company for long-term success in the 21st century.
Recognizing the twin demands to remain competitive with regional peers and to adapt to a changing residential landscape, the company has embarked on ambitious plans for new technology and site improvements. 2020 will be an exciting year for the company. We continue to be guided by “Mr. Yancey” and his belief to pay it forward. Values create value.
