When Horrocks and Associates was founded 40 years ago, there was exactly one engineer and one associate -- Gil Horrocks and his wife Lois. Today the company has grown to 200 employees in six offices in three states.

"It is gratifying," he said. "I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of good people, but I have never had anybody work for me."

He emphasized that he works together with them.

Perhaps that is why the company has been so successful in retaining employees.

"A lot of our people have stayed with us for a long time," he said. "Some have been with us 30-plus years. We have been fortunate in retaining people who stay with us a lot longer than the average."

Recent projects the firm has done include the Pleasant Grove freeway interchange, St. George Boulevard reconstruction, American Fork pressurized irrigation system, Wasatch County Water Efficiency Projects and the I-80 reconstruction project with rapid bridge technology.

Of the 13 bridges in that project, seven have been built off-site and moved into place; the rest will be built traditionally, Horrocks said. The off-site construction is an effort to minimize inconvenience to the motorists.

"Our most recent major project is widening I-15 from the Point of the Mountain to Spanish Fork," he said. "This means designing all structures and the roadway."

He said he has enjoyed the experience.

"It has been a good ride," he said. "I have very fond memories of American Fork. I don't feel like we are moving away."

Horrocks said the best part of his business is helping people with basic needs.

"I have always felt that we had the opportunity to furnish the basic things that people use each day," he said. "They turn on the tap and there is good water, they flush the toilet and it works, they have good roads and streets to drive on. They all help make life a little better."

There is an additional reason he identifies with the idea of turning on the tap. He grew up in the Uintah Basin at a time when that was not available.

"I grew up hauling water," the 82-year-old said.

He had his start as an engineering aide in the Soil Conservation Service in 1944. After additional schooling, he and his wife decided to open their own business. At first most of their work was related to water issues. Today, about three-quarters is based on transportation, with one-quarter on water.

"Transportation has become such a critical item the last few years," he said.

He said that engineers live on growth in an area and that the population forecast has been exceeded, creating the need for more work.

Growth in the company has included expansion from the one office, to additional ones in St. George, Heber and Roosevelt, plus Boise, Idaho and Phoenix, Ariz. Horrocks said it was hard for him to anticipate such change.

"I remember when I thought if I got more than 10 people I wouldn't be able to meet the payroll."