Lawrence Yaple

2017 Inductee

Lawrence C. Yaple III is the son of Lawrence Jr. and Connie Yaple. Mr. Yaple was born in Corry, PA, in May of 1974. His family moved to Elgin, PA when Larry was five years old, and he worked there on the family farm until he began college.

Mr. Yaple graduated with honors from Union City High School in 1992. While at Union City, he played basketball from grades 7-12, and football in 12th grade. Mr. Yaple was a member of the National Honor Society, U-Clan, and the Junior and Senior High Chorus.

Mr. Yaple attended college at Penn State University, Behrend Campus, and he majored in mechanical engineering. During his time at Penn State, Mr. Yaple managed to also work full-time at Venango Machine. He started as a machine cleaner and later became a computer numerical control operator and programmer. Mr. Yaple graduated with honors from Penn State Behrend in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

Upon completion of college, Mr. Yaple moved to Indiana, PA to work as a product engineer for FMC in Homer City, PA. He began his engineering career designing vibratory conveyors for the food industry. In 1998, Mr. Yaple was hired by Composiflex in Erie and moved back home to Union City where he and his family have resided for nearly 20 years. Over his 19 year career at Composiflex, he has worked his way from a front line mechanical engineer to his current position as the Engineering Manager and Chief Technical Officer for the company.

As Engineering Manager and Chief Technical Officer, Mr. Yaple manages a small group of engineers who design carbon fiber, fiberglass, and kevlar composites for cancer treatment, CT and MRI imaging, and general x-ray use. Additionally, he and his team design parts for military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aircraft, and ballistic protection measures. Mr. Yaple is not only responsible for overseeing product design but interacts on all levels of the manufacturing process.

Mr. Yaple is an avid member of the community. He has served over 10 years as a Little League baseball coach and has helped to coach the Union City Youth Basketball program for the last five years. He is a member of the St. Theresa of Avila Parish church and the Union City Moose Club. His hobbies include riding his tractor, gardening, coaching, and outdoor sports. Mr. Yaple and his wife Kimberly (also a Union City High School graduate) have been happily married for 23 years. They have three sons, Alex (graduate of Mercyhurst University), Nick (attending PSU Behrend), and Matthew (7th grade at Union City High School).