VALENTINE, Neb. - After nearly five decades of service, Doug Boyer, Cherry County’s Road Supervisor, is retiring. Boyer began his career with the county in May 1976, starting out as a truck driver.

“Our roads have come a long way since I started,” Boyer said. “Back then, you’d run the equipment for one day and spend the next two days fixing it. They didn’t perform nearly as well, and air conditioning was unheard of.”

Boyer quickly moved up the ranks, becoming an assistant foreman just a couple of years after he started. About a year later, he was promoted to foreman for district two. For more than 40 years, he has served as the county’s road supervisor.

“What I’ll miss most is the people. I’ve had the privilege of working with some great folks and getting to know a lot of people along the way,” Boyer said.

Cherry County, the largest in Nebraska, spans around 6,000 square miles and includes approximately 1,200 miles of county roads.

“One of our biggest achievements was installing a classification system for our roads. It’s been a lifesaver for the road department, helping us prioritize the most critical roads,” Boyer explained.

While Boyer has taken pride in his work to keep the roads safe and maintained, he acknowledges the challenges that came with the job.

“I’ve always felt God guiding my steps, even when I wasn’t sure where they were leading. Now, I believe He’s guiding me into retirement,” Boyer said.