WINTER 2017

6 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S

6 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK OBITUARY SFC Zachary Bannister SFC Zachary Allan Bannister, 33, of Ohio was killed in the line of duty October 17, 2016, while serving as a member of Alpha 3236, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Kenya. He had served 14 years in the military with the Marines and the US Army. While with the Marines, he was stationed as an air-rescue firefighter at Marine Hdqtrs, Quantico VA. At age 26, he left the Marines to become a member of the Special Forces. While serving two tours in Afghanistan, he was awarded three bronze stars, one with the Valor designation, the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and numerous other unit and personal decorations. A service was held October 29. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full Military Honors. Zachary was the grandson of NIFMSE co-founder Jim Bannister. Messages to the family may be sent to: Jim Bannister, 4140 Bulrush Lane, Kiawah Island, SC 29455 or email: Jim@Bannister.com. OBITUARY Jack Kerr September 21, 1930 - December 3, 2016 Jack started in the fastener industry in the early 1960’s at Dallas Bolt Nut and Screw as an outside salesman in Dallas, Tx. In the late 1960’s Jack started manufacturing center lock type locknuts out of his garage in the evenings under the Hex- Loc, Inc. name. In the early 1970’s Jack set out on his own full time and moved into a permanent location in Dallas. Through the 1970’s Jack increased his production capacity and had 5 employees working for him. During this time he was only manufacturing the center lock lock nuts. In the early 1980’s Jack took on additional investors and changed the name to Lok-Mor, Inc. With the additional resources Jack was able to start manufacturing a wider range of locknuts. Through the 8o’s he was able to develop the required machinery and tooling to run top locks, free spinning lock nuts, oval locks, Anco Pn-Locs as well as increase production on the center lock line. As a result the company grew quickly through the 1980’s and 1990’s and gave Jack the opportunities to increase the range of products he manufactured. Today Lok-Mor, Inc. manufactures 20 plus styles of locknuts and now includes a machine shop capable of producing internally and externally threaded specials. ZACH BANNNISTER (RIGHT) WITH HIS UNCLE RICK (PHOTO COURTESY OF RICK BANNISTER) LEFT TO RIGHT: JACK KERR, KEVIN KERR AND VERNELLE KERR