Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence - 1957 to 2007
Born in Iota, Louisiana, J.B. Prudhomme, Sr. was one of 13 kids. Upon finishing high school he fought in World War II. It was after the war when he turned his attention to iron work. At that time, he was one of few skilled erectors. He started the business out of his home, and at the age of 35 he decided to incorporate. The business, known as Lafayette Steel Erector, grew very fast and completed large, notable projects such as building most of LSU, UL Lafayette and the Baton Rouge Centroplex.
In 1975, Ronnie Prudhomme was asked to join the family business and eventually assumed the role of chief estimator. He was later promoted to vice president, a position he still holds today. In 1994, J.B. Prudhomme, Jr. was invited by his father to join the corporation. During J.B. Jr.’s third year with LSE, J.B. Sr. passed away unexpectedly. J.B. Jr. knew he had to continue what his father had started. J.B. Jr. assumed the role of President and General Manager. Together with Ronnie they have secured some of the nation’s most significant construction projects. The company recently built a Nissan Automotive Plant in Mississippi and a Honda Plant in Georgia. LSE was called to repair the Cingular/AT&T cellular network towers that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina, and LSE helped in the rebuilding of important communications buildings in New Orleans.
LSE has also made extensive additions to its equipment rental division and is poised to maintain its position among the best in the country.