ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Most people will have more than one employer during their career, but James Roper has worked at the same place for 50 years.

Roper, a clerk at the U.S. Postal Service Rochester Processing and Distribution Center, is celebrating 50 years on the job. 

With family and co-workers at his side, Roper received a special recognition award for federal service.

He joined the post office in 1972, add on his four years in the U.S. Air Force, and he has quite a record of service and commitment.

Roper is a man of few, but modest words.

“It ain’t really been that much," Roper said. "I just like, just doing my everyday thing, that’s all. I’m not used to all this attention, you know, I wasn’t expecting this.”

When Roper first started at the post office, the price of a stamp was only eight cents and the average pay at the post office was about $11,000.