Dunedin man Eric Lundquist, who worked for Fulton Hogan for 54 years, including 44 as director, turned 100 yesterday.
Mr Lundquist was born in Foxton in 1919.
He started a partnership with Bob Hogan and Jules Fulton as a works mechanic at Oamaru lime works in 1945, the year he married his wife Dorothy (nee Thompson).
He then ran a phosphate plant in Milburn, before moving to Cromwell in 1949.
The partnership between the three resulted in the creation of Fulton Hogan Holdings Ltd in 1955 and Mr Lundquist was on the board of directors.
He became general manager in 1968 and helped to expand its South Island presence.
He relinquished the role to John Fulton in 1981 but continued as a director until his retirement in 1989.
Mr and Mrs Lundquist had three children, Anne, June and Robyn. Daughter Robyn Galvin said her father was "very humble and unassuming''.
"He spent a lot of his time helping people who needed it. If someone wasn't well he'd be around visiting them.''
Mrs Lundquist died seven years ago and Mr Lundquist now lives at the Birchleigh Residential Care Centre in Mosgiel.
Fulton Hogan described him as someone who believed good results were achieved with a genuine dedication to the wellbeing of staff.
He continued to visit the Dunedin office for many years after retirement to check on the people there, and the company's financial position.
