Dependable and dedicated employees are hard to come by these days, but there is a northeast Missouri man who knows all about dedication and dependability.

A longtime local lumber company employee is retiring after almost half a century in the business.

The retirement of Bill Fugate, of Lancaster, was celebrated Friday at Lancaster Lumber. It was his last day on the job.

The owners presented him with a plaque and cake, recognizing him for 34 years of dedicated service at Lancaster Lumber and a total of 46 years in the lumber business.

We're told Fugate's retirement plans include just taking it easy and enjoying not going to work for a change.