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Laborde Endowed Chair: John P. Laborde

Laborde Endowed Chair

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John P. Laborde

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John P. Laborde
1923 – 2021

The John P. Laborde Endowed Chair for Sea Grant Research and Technology Transfer was established at LSU in 1994 with a gift of $600,000 from Tidewater Inc. and a match of $400,000 from the Louisiana Board of Regents.

John P. Laborde served as Tidewater Inc.’s chief executive officer for nearly 40 years and is currently chairman emeritus. He was the founder and first chairman of what is now the Offshore Marine Service Association and has played a major role in the worldwide development of the offshore service industry. Mr. Laborde earned his bachelor of arts degree and juris doctorate from Louisiana State University. He also was chairman of the board of Laborde Marine Lifts Inc., Laborde Products Inc., Lab-More Properties LLC, and Laborde Integrated Services Inc.

Mr. Laborde received numerous honors, including the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Boy Scouts of America, the St. Elizabeth’s Guild Volunteer Activist Award, Distinguished Alumnus awards from the LSU Alumni Federation as well as the LSU Law Center Alumni Association, Junior Achievement Lifetime Achievement Award, and honorary doctorates from LSU and Loyola University.

Mr. Laborde passed away on October 21, 2021.