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BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Not many people can claim they’ve worked at the same place for half a century.

Cabell County EMS Director Gordon Merry was honored this week for that distinction.

At the organization’s employee cookout Tuesday at their Barboursville station, they celebrated their 50-year-anniversary. Merry has been there since Day 1.

“There is a long time of service that needs to be recognized and celebrated,” Cabell County Commissioner Kelli Sobonya said.

“It’s rewarding,” Merry said of his emotions looking back.

Sobonya listed many of Merry’s half century of contributions as she addressed the crowd Tuesday, including his collaboration with the National Guard on flood relief efforts and how he helped provide transportation during the sudden closure of an assisted living facility.

Merry says Cabell County EMS started with 24 employees and two ambulances, and now they’re up to 200 workers and 35 ambulances.

“Gordon has been responsible for the building of eight new ambulance stations during the past 50 years, and the ninth one is in the works,” assistant director Steve Murray said.

“My roots start back in ‘74 when Ted Barr started this,” Merry said. “He basically helped me. I learned a lot from that man. I contribute a lot of my success to him.”

Merry was presented the WSAZ Hometown Hero award at Tuesday’s event.

“I could not do it without my staff,” Merry said. “They are the ones who truly deserve the credit. They do the day-to-day operations. They’re excellent. I feel very confident if something happened to me today, the service would continue.”

The Cabell County Commission declared Thursday as Gordon Merry Day.