Hooked on Hard Work: How Lucas Langston brings the patience and precision of fishing into his family drilling business.

Lucas Langston, Operations Manager at Tri-County Underground, didn’t just stumble into the horizontal directional drilling industry; he was born into it. He learned the value of grit, determination, and hands-on problem-solving from an early age, applying the lessons his father—and fishing—taught him. Today, it’s clear that family, hard work, and a relentless drive to grow are at the heart of everything Lucas does.

It Started with a Chance Encounter

Horizontal directional drilling wasn’t the original destiny for the Langstons. Lucas’ father, Randy, owned a car mechanics shop next to the Charleston navy base. When the navy base closed down a few years later, Randy faced a sudden loss of business.

But accepting defeat wasn’t in his nature. Lucas recalls:

“From an early age, I noticed my friends saying, ‘My dad had to call a plumber’ or ‘My dad has to call an electrician.’ In my house, it was ‘My dad is working on this today. My dad’s fixing this today.’”

So Randy looked to his new opportunities.

Which came quickly down the side of Interstate 526—one day while driving home, he spotted a drilling rig on the side of the road. He’d never seen one before, and pulled over to ask the guy what it was.

Three months later, Randy bought that same drilling machine and proclaimed he was now in the drilling business. That was in 1995.

Like Father, Like Son

Like his father, Lucas’ path wasn’t always set on HDD. In fact, he originally thought he might want to be a lawyer or go into real estate. But construction always piqued his interest, and it was something he grew up seeing his dad do.

His dad would also bring him to drilling jobs on weekends or summers when he was out of school. He started him with small “groundwork” tasks, like putting the locator in the truck or spotting cables, but as time passed and Lucas got older, he started to notice “how cool the industry and technology were—I was probably 14 or 15 and I felt like it was magic. Just like, ‘Wow, how can equipment do this?’”

Lucas continued to work with his father through college, where he realized he wanted to be part of the family business and see it grow.

A Legacy of Hard Work

From a young age, Lucas observed his dad’s resilience and hands-on approach to life and work. And that’s something he strives to emulate both in his own life and work every day.

“One of the biggest things that my dad has passed down to me is that anyone can do anything that they want to do, but it takes a couple of things and hard work is the biggest one. It’s show up every day, give it what you got, work harder than the next guy, and you’ll be successful.”

He continues:

“I give my dad a lot of respect because I think some of the grit that I have and my work ethic comes solely from his determination, his grit, his tenacity just to keep moving forward every day.”

It’s clear that there is tremendous respect across the Langston generations, and it’s something they make felt in their day-to-day operations at Tri-Country Underground.

Good Things Come to Those Who Bait

When Lucas wasn’t helping his dad on the job site, he was fishing with his grandpa. He grew up with a pond less than a mile from his house, and starting as young as age eight, his grandpa would pick him up after school to fish.

While he loves fishing as a leisure activity, Lucas’ meticulous approach to his business shares a surprising parallel with his fishing passion. Both require patience, precision, and a level of dedication that’s not immediately visible to others.

For instance, much like the careful planning needed to drill a precise underground bore, fishing demands a level of patience and preparation. Per Lucas:

“A big thing my dad likes to say all the time is ‘Do your due diligence.’ And to me, doing my due diligence is checking the tides, knowing the water’s temperature, having a plan for the day. I’m not a ‘wing it’ guy—I like to have a plan, follow that plan, and execute it.”

There’s also an attention to detail required when he’s out on the water. “Fishing isn’t just about casting a line and hoping for the best; it’s about being prepared for every scenario, adjusting when necessary, and waiting for the right moment.” The same holds true for drilling—it’s analyzing underground plans for a utility project or ensuring that the drill is in the right position.

Much like in the drilling world, where sometimes the hardest work is invisible until the results show, fishing can often feel like a test of perseverance. And Lucas is one who has mastered this perseverance both on and off the water:

“I’ve never been the one to sit around and say ‘Oh that’s hard work.’ I tend to look at it as a challenge. I have a hard time of letting things beat me…. So I tend to look at it as a challenge. How can I overcome this? What can I do to be better at this? What can I do to do this quicker? What can I do to get to the next level?”

The Next Chapter for Tri-County Underground

Speaking of the next level, today, Lucas and his father co-operate Tri-County Underground, always looking for how they can not only complete jobs but make a real impact.

Lucas describes his vision for the company: "I don’t want someone to call us just because they need a piece of conduit under a road. I want them to know that when they call us, they’re calling a company that stands behind their work and will get it done right, no matter what.”

The Langstons have also recently purchased a new 10-acre yard, positioning Tri-County Underground for expansion. For Lucas, the ownership of the property is a significant milestone. "It gives you a little bit more tenacity. What can we do here? How can we continue to grow?" The possibilities are exciting, and he’s eager to see where they can take the company.

Looking ahead, Lucas hopes to instill in his own children the values of hard work and integrity that he learned from his father. “To be able to grow the family business—I just have immense pride for it. I try not to be prideful, but sometimes I can’t help it because I’m just so proud of where we’re at and where we’re going.”