Out of 60 years in business, this person, Jerome Anthony ‘Stick’ Dahlkemper, has been around for 50 of them, single-handedly improving Erie’s environment. Graduating in 1963 from Cathedral Prep, I think Stick had always worked in the business, except for the two years he spent at Penn State in landscape horticulture, which was interrupted by service in Vietnam.

Here he is in a vintage 1961 photo (front row, second from left ) with the work crew after a hard day of landscape labor. Stick’s experience has helped to make us a strong company. A natural teacher and instructor on the philosophy of life, Jerry helped train countless seasonal employees, taught laborers to become foreman, and trained landscape architecture interns and office staff on the method and importance of technique and vision in the field.

The test of ‘digging the perfect hole’ was a ritual of this arboreal yoda. The ability to cajole clients and enjoy his work has made this business a delight. Retired just a year now, he has found it difficult to stay away from his ‘roots’ and visits often, working part-time for special clients. Today we want to wish this special person a happy birthday!