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The LAPCO Legacy

View from the Mr. Charlie drilling rig of the three bridges spanning the Atchafalaya river from Morgan City to Berwick Louisiana

OUR HISTORY STARTS IN 1989

History + Roots

Like any good story, this one starts with roots. To understand the culture and mind set at LAPCO Manufacturing, you must first understand where we come from.

LAPCO is family owned and operated in Morgan City, Louisiana. In 1989, Freddie Triche established Louisiana Apparel Company in the Triche family’s backyard workshop. As a pipe welder, Freddie saw a need for high-quality protective apparel for welders. Freddie designed, patented, and began producing his leather arm pads with the help of his wife, Trudy. After receiving positive feedback from friends and local customers, Freddie began advertising his arm pads with a mail-in order form in a small welding publication. The demand for Freddie’s leather arm pads grew from there and the operation expanded to include high-quality welding shirts, welding leathers, and other accessories after a short time.

 

The Tri-City Area and Morgan City, Louisiana

Commercial Fishing

Morgan City became known as the “jumbo” shrimp capitol of the world in 1937. While shrimp is the most prominent catch on the docks of Morgan City and Berwick, crawfish, crab, oysters, fish, and alligator are close contenders.

 

Birthplace and Headquarters of the Offshore Oil & Gas Industry

In 1947, Morgan City gained national recognition when Kerr-McGee produced the first offshore oil well out of sight of land. In 1954, the first submersible, transportable offshore drilling rig was constructed in Morgan City. Named the “Mr. Charlie”, it is now used for training and is open to the public for tours as the International Petroleum Museum and Exposition. The oil & gas industry spurred the metal fabrication, ship building, and transportation industries needed to support its growth. Morgan City remains a hub of activity in the petroleum industry.


Timber Industry

The “Tri-City Area” consisting of Morgan City, Berwick, and Patterson, Louisiana, played a major role in the timber industry. Patterson was once home to the largest cypress sawmill in the United States.

Visit the Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum to learn more.

 

Aviation

Patterson was prominent during the “Golden Age of Aviation” as the home of Louisiana aviation pioneers, Jimmie Wedell and Harry P. Williams. Aviation and transportation remain very important industries in Southern Louisiana.

 

Passion + Dedication

LAPCO employees have rich histories and family legacies tied to some of the most dangerous industries in the world. Our family members and friends have careers that bring them into hazardous conditions on a day-to-day basis. We are proud of the work that we are doing and the products that we produce. We know that the job we do keeps people all around the world safe from harm so that they can return to their families. That is why quality and integrity are so important to us. 

Development

Over the last 3 decades, the industrial trades that use safety apparel have grown and evolved. Standards are in place to keep workers safe from hazards on the job. Workplaces have implemented safety cultures and employees are encouraged to work safely. These developments were the catalyst for the introduction of the LAPCO FR™ line of work clothing in 2005. Today, we  produce hundreds of protective products and offer many services with the same high standards for quality and family values that are inherent to the LAPCO brand.