Kenny’s Auto
Driving past Kenny’s at 2606 Nichols Street (Route 31) it doesn’t appear any different than most other vehicle repair shops. It is the owner that adds a measure of uniqueness to it. Kenneth Lee Geil was literally born into the car business since his father, for many years, operated the Mobil station at Manitou Road and Route 31, about two miles east of Kenny’s shop. Growing up, Ken spent most of his time learning from his dad and developing his love for all types of motorized vehicles.
That is evident from the pictures which decorate the walls in the reception area. Among them are photos of his motorcycle and a former drag racing car he drove named the “Sledge Hammer,” perhaps so named because it “beat up” the competition. Also several of his nine classic cars or trucks are depicted there. Of course there are photos of his wife Shauna and their three daughters, Lilly, Violet and Kenlee. Sadly there was also a picture of a young man named Dylan Takett, who died when his motorcycle crashed on Hinkleyville Road. He was Shauna’s nephew and worked at the shop.
It would be impossible not to notice a number of deer antlers that are placed around the office area. That brings us to Ken’s other interest, namely breeding and raising White Tail deer, which he does in a fenced area behind his home on Chambers Street in Ogden. It is a DEC licensed facility and currently has about 14 adult deer soon to be joined by a number of fawns. This venture started about 11 years ago when they purchased two deer from a breeder in Ohio.
On my visit to Ken and Shauna’s home, I was greeted by Chuck the duck, a colorful and quacky little guy who is the survivor of a fox feeding attack that consumed his two buddies when they were kept in a cage out near the deer yards. Since then, he has been housed in their garage at night but has the run of the place during the day. There is a convenient little landscaped pool near the front door where he can frolic, but Chuck will also go up the steps and into the house if the door is open.
Assisted by Shauna, Ken artificially inseminates some does to help develop the herd he wants to have. He predicts that May 23 is fawn arrival date, or thereabouts. Ken also notes that most does have a single fawn their first year but in following years may have twins or triplets. Fawning time is also a family affair with the girls, under Shauna’s supervision, helping to bottle feed the fawns that need it. I was treated to a ride around the perimeter of the fenced deer pens and was even able to pet one of them. Not all of them are friendly and on entering a pen to feed them, Ken has to be on guard as some bucks would rather fight than eat.
Yes, there is a connection between the deer and the collision business. Ken says that during the fall mating season, there is a period when about 60 percent of his customers come there because of a deer-car collision. The deer usually lose that battle. Fortunately none of them involve Ken’s deer!
