My father, Les, upon returning from the service, (1947) boarded a train at Grand Island, Nebraska and headed west to Sterling, Colorado to attend the Jim Hoover School of Auctioneering and Radio Broadcast. After returning from Colorado, he established the Cedar Rapids Sale Pavilion at Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. He co-owned and operated the sale barn until the fall of 1957 when fire destroyed it.

In 1957 he, moved to Aurora, Nebraska and bought into the Aurora Sales Pavilion. From that time on, he conducted numerous auctions throughout Hamilton and adjoining counties. He cried livestock sales at various times in Grand Island, Ravenna, and Wahoo.

Later, his brother Bill joined him in the auction business and in 1979; I started working auctions with him. He held a Real Estate license in conjunction with the Auction business. In addition to his brother (Bill) and myself, my brother Bill and Cousin Doug Cornwell also followed in his footsteps as auctioneers. My brother Kent has also been active in the auction business as a ring man.

I have many cherished memories during my childhood following dad from auction to auction and growing up in the auction environment. Even though dad and I only worked a short time together before he retired from the business and I went at it on my own, I will always cherish our sales together and his coaching me as a young auctioneer upon coming home from auction school, at Billings, Montana – June 1979. - Tom Cornwell

Les’s Legacy – our family of auctioneers who followed in his footsteps

From left to right
Dad’s brother Bill, his son Bill, Tom (in topper), his nephew Doug (actively working with Engel Sales at Fullerton, NE)
Picture taken September 5, 2004 at my uncle Bill Channer’s Farm Sale - Belgrade, Nebraska