It’s hard to imagine that a teen-age summer job could be a direct path to a fulfilling career of nearly 50 years. But that’s what happened for Erdman An­thony employee Dick Yost of Port Gib­son, who celebrates the milestone this month.

Yost, a land surveyor, has traveled many miles over the years for Rochester­based Erdman Anthony, working count­less hours and surveying all types of ter­rain in all kinds of weather.

“I have found great pleasure in work­ing for, and being a part of, what I be­lieve to be the finest engineering firm in the business,” says Yost, who was born in Port Gibson and attended Newark Central High School.

When he retires next month, Yost will be missed by co-workers, management, and clients of Erdman Anthony. “It has been an honor to have Dick as part of our team at Erdman Anthony for all these years,” said CEO Russell Bullock, PE.

Bryan Merritt, LS/PSM, Geospatial Manager, agrees. “It will be impossible to replace Dick’s dedication that he brought with him every day,” he says. “When you needed something done quickly and completely, he was the go­to- guy. His attention to detail will be dif­ficult to match.”

Erdman Anthony clients will miss working with Dick as well. “It will be hard to find a replacement for Dick who will have the love of the fieldwork; the vast amount of knowledge, experience, professionalism; and a great personal­ity,” says Mike Parrella, a Senior Land Surveyor with the New York State De­partment of Transportation A graduate of the New York State Ranger program in Wanakena, N.Y., Yost also holds an AAS in Civil Technology from the State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences. Yost left full-time employment to serve in Vietnam from 1966-1967 but was hired back upon his return home.

He has witnessed the evolution of sur­vey practices and technology over the years. “Technology has advanced very rapidly, and it goes without saying that the modern electronic equipment has had a tremendous impact on surveying to­day,” says Yost. “And Erdman Anthony has been committed to having the best technology and continues to have some of the most modern equipment in the business.”

Yost’s 25-page resume lists a wide range of projects, including work on in­dustrial buildings, educational facilities, state agencies, the private sector, and more. But his role in the preliminary de­sign of the New York Interstate System is one of his most memorable projects. “This job was almost 100% cross coun­try, and the field work was done in the middle of the winter with snow as deep as 6 feet on the level,” he says. “We did a lot of work in snowshoes, so you can see why I remember this project!”

Except for 20 years as a resident of Newark (NY), Yost has lived for 45 of his 65 years in Port Gibson. The young­est of three boys, Yost is father of three and grandfather of seven. He and his wife, Mae, now live with their miniature dachshund, Fiona, and cat, Onnie. He is a Life Member of the Port Gibson Vol­unteer Fire Department who during the past 40 years has served as President, Treasurer, and Games of Chance Chair­man. He plans on becoming more active once again as a “social” member when he retires.

Yost is also active in several veterans’ groups, including the Veterans of For­eign Wars since 1968. He is a member of V.F.W. Post #6778 in Palmyra and has been a member of the American Le­gion Post #286 in Newark for the past 12 years as well as a member of AMVETS Post #2 in Palmyra for nearly 10 years. He was also a member of the 19th Com­bat Engineer Association Vietnam, since 1992 and has served as Treasurer ever since its first formal meeting.

For nearly 60 years, Erdman Anthony has been providing infrastructure engi­neering and support services to private industry and government clients. The firm employs nearly 300 people, in­cluding 80 professional engineers and licensed land surveyors throughout its offices in Albany, Buffalo, Hudson Val­ley, and Rochester, NY; Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, PA; and West Palm Beach and Orlando, FL. Erdman Anthony is one of a relative handful of engineering con­sulting firms nationwide to have earned ISO 9001 quality certification. For more information, visit the firm’s website at www.erdmananthony.com.