Jack B. Harper's Obituary
Jack B. Harper, founder and CEO of Gulf Industries, Inc., a highway safety engineering company, Jack B. Harper Contractor, Inc. and several subsidiary entities, died Wednesday, March 14, 2007, at the age of 77.
For over five decades, Jack B. Harper was a pioneer and leader in responding to public demand for greater transportation safety by representing and installing advanced products that have saved numerous lives and prevented injuries on our roadways.
Under Mr. Harper’s leadership, Gulf Industries, Inc. has grown into one of the largest companies on the Northshore, with a number of offices throughout the Gulf South, and is recognized nationally as one of the industry leaders in highway safety.
Jack B. Harper began his career with Hurricane Steel Industries in Houston, where he was the leading salesman in the United States. He established Hurricane Fence Company of New Orleans in the late 50’s, Gulf Industries, Inc. in 1963 and Jack B. Harper, Contractor in 1970. He and his companies were significant in developing highway safety procedures and products in Louisiana and other states.
Mr. Harper was born in 1929 in San Antonio, TX, attended Southern California Military Academy, graduated from Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, and graduated from the University of Houston where he was Commander of the Cullen Rifle Drill Team. At the age of 12, he had his first car and continued collecting antique cars throughout his life, with a particular fondness for the Ford Thunderbirds. Mr. Harper served his country as a CWO-4 in the United States Army Military Intelligence Corps. He was a Fourth Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus and an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.
He served on the Board of Directors for Metairie Bank for nearly 30 years and was active in the Association of General Contractors (AGC), The Louisiana Asphalt Paving Association (LAPA), American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) and various other highway safety organizations. He was also active in the Central Catholic High School Alumni.
While Mr. Harper is well known and respected for his successes in the business world, those who knew him best say his love for his family meant more to him than any professional accolade he received. He was an inspiration to all who lived and worked around him and he possessed the kind of charisma that is seldom found today. Jack Harper loved the camaraderie of his friends, grandchildren and employees, while deer hunting. He owned two ranches in South Texas and one in Louisiana where he hunted and spent many nights playing poker, telling stories and jokes with his family and friends. Mr. Harper was an unforgettable man of character, who touched the lives of everyone he met.
He is preceded in death by a daughter, Alona Harper Hicks and his parents, Otto “Jack” and Lois Speer Harper.
He is survived by his wife of more than 55 years, Mary Wade Harper, a daughter, Lisa Harper-Cairns, 12 grandchildren, Shannon Hicks, Brandon Hicks, Jason Hicks, Jack Ramirez, Luke Ramirez, Hollie Power, Kate Kelley, Blake Cairns, Joel Cairns, Virginia Cairns, Madeline Cairns, Lara-Elise Cairns, seven great-grandchildren, a brother, Richard Harper and four sisters; Barbara Lightfoot, Virginia Hoosier, Patricia Gochnour and Mary Jackson and his Gulf Industries, Inc. family.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday March 19, 2007 at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 312 Lafitte Street, Mandeville, LA 70448.
Visitation will be on Sunday March 18, 2007 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, 2260 West 21st Street, Covington, LA 70433 and on Monday March 19, 2007 from 10:00 AM to service time AT THE CHURCH.
Interment will follow mass in Garden of Memories Cemetery, 4800 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA 70001.
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