It’s a prestigious award – rendering’s version of an Oscar – and only seven have been handed out in the past 25 years. Now a seventh Tallowmaster has been bestowed upon an individual everyone agrees is well deserving of the recognition.
The Pacific Coast Renderers Association (PCRA) presented Dr. Don Franco, vice president, Scientific Services, National Renderers Association (NRA), and president, Animal Protein Producers Industry (APPI), with the coveted plaque at the group’s 70th Annual Convention in February. Jim Andreoli, president, Baker Commodities, Inc., made the presentation.
Franco was born and raised in Trinidad, Spain. He traveled to Canada’s University of Guelph where he majored in animal husbandry, and later received a doctor of veterinary medicine from the University of the Philippines. Franco then traveled back to his homeland with his new wife to practice veterinary medicine, becoming a specialist in equine medicine.
“Large animal practitioners are on call at all times,” commented Andreoli, “and there was one incident that significantly influenced him to consider another line of veterinary medicine. He and his wife were all dressed, tuxedo and gown, for a major event in Trinidad. As they were ready to leave, a friend called and said one of his prized horses was ill. They looked at each other and almost cried. Off came the tuxedo and out he went to take care of the horse.”
Shortly after this incident, Franco accepted a position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service. In April 1964, he began his veterinary training for inspector in charge for USDA in Vernon, CA, near Los Angeles. It was here the rendering industry got its first taste of Franco’s dedication to his job.
“After his arrival in Vernon, it wasn’t long before we [renderers] started to hear that the trucks were dirty, get them washed, and don’t return until they are clean and sanitary,” Andreoli shared with the audience. “And what about the barrels and containers? It seemed like we were washing them on an hourly basis to satisfy the inspectors. It took the renderers a couple of years to get rid of him.”
Nowadays, renderers would like to keep Franco around longer than he plans to be. He will retire from NRA and APPI at the end of this year.
Franco worked at various positions and organizations within USDA, including in the meat and poultry inspection operations. In February 1992, he retired from government service and started a new career with the NRA. Over the past decade, the rendering industry has benefited immensely from Franco’s expertise, experience, knowledge, and dedication. He has published several rendering and biosecurity books, authored numerous articles on the industry, made presentations at countless meetings throughout the world, and founded the Institute for Continuing Education sponsored by APPI, a certification program in biosecurity and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point.
“The renderers have been fortunate to have this individual represent them during the past 10 years,” Andreoli commented. “A talented individual who is a person with the highest integrity, intelligent, a hard worker, very considerate, compassionate, thoughtful, understanding, informative, and always available when we have a problem that needs to be solved.”
PCRA established the Tallowmaster in 1977 as a means to single out individuals for their “sustained distinguished service and outstanding contributions to the American rendering industry.” Working from an illustration in Diderot’s 18th Century Dictionary, an artist was commissioned to create the award. The statue is of a tallow maker from the 1700s wearing a loose fitting shirt, briskens, stockings, and a long leather apron and wielding a wooden paddle stirring the bubbling fat in a cauldron atop a stone fire pit.
Previous award recipients are Bob Peterson, John Haugh, Dean Specht, Dr. Fred Bisplinghoff, Eddie Murakami, and Jim Andreoli.
April 2002 Render