Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/953148
EquipmentWorld.com | March 2018 59 I n 1972, Hiram DuRousseau Sr. decided he wanted more out of life. He bought a tractor, bush hog and box blade. "You can't go wrong cutting grass," says the family patriarch. Both Hiram Sr. and his wife, Jeanette, already had jobs. He was a plant shift worker, she worked at AT&T. But both used their off hours to get their business going. The kids helped out, too, after school, cleaning up the trash behind the bush hog and doing other chores. "I couldn't afford a babysitter at the time, and I wasn't going to leave them at home, so they worked with us every day," says Jeanette. "We saved every penny we could because Hiram wanted to have his own business one day. Everything went into the bank." Other opportunities popped up including bulk-material handling at the Port of Lake Charles, then some dock repairs. They got on the bid list for the city of Lake Charles and did small jobs like patching roads, sewer taps, and then a parking lot at nearby Chennault International Airport. Though the jobs were small, over time, the DuRousseaus' persistence strengthened the family company. The sons, Hiram Jr. and Justin, took to construction like ducks to a Louisiana marsh. Before they were out of high school, Hiram Jr. was bidding and running jobs and Justin was driving trucks and running equipment. The company remained small for some time. It was just mom, dad, the boys, and two daughters: Jena and Jalin. But the seeds for success had been planted. contractor of the year finalist | by Tom Jackson | TJackson@randallreilly.com Hard work, family unity and taking the big chance bring long-term success The DuRousseaus, HD Truck & Tractor City, State: Lake Charles, Louisiana Year incorporated: 2001 Number of employees: 35 Annual revenue: $15 million Markets served: Site development, road construction, drainage, mass ex- cavation, golf course construction, levee construction From bush-hogging two decades ago to building casinos and infrastructure, everybody in the DuRousseau family has pitched in: Justin (top), Jena, Hiram Jr., Jeanette, Hiram Sr. and Jalin.