He planned on a career in civil engineering and his first job out of college was as a draftsman for the Moffat Tunnel Commission in Denver.

He returned to Boston after a few months due to a family illness and spent some time studying at Harvard Law School.

He became a member of the Boston Stock Exchange in 1936 and in 1937 joined its board of governors and public relations committee.

After the war, he spent six years as New England regional manager of Pan American World Airways.

He then served as vice president of Allied Research & Service Corp.[2] In 1927, Yerxa married Constance Gilpin.