Founder of Conrad Shipyard Passes

It is with deep sadness that Conrad Shipyard announces the death of its founder, John Parker Conrad, Sr. Surrounded by his family and friends, Parker died peacefully on July 6 at his home in Morgan City, Louisiana. He was 101 years old.

A shipbuilding pioneer and a legend along the Gulf of Mexico coast and beyond, Parker founded Conrad Industries in 1948. The firm now has five shipyards along the Louisiana-Texas coast. 

From age 12 to age 17, Parker trained as a Christian Brother, which formed in him a deeply rooted and lifelong commitment to others. He supported many charitable and community causes in South Louisiana, and he received numerous awards for his accomplishments and philanthropy. An avid hunter and outdoorsman, Parker was a conservationist with a profound respect for the environment.

Parker and Shirley Conrad were happily married for 64 years until her passing in 2006. Parker is survived by his son and daughter and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a kind and gentle man, and with his wry smile, his charismatic personality and lively sense of humor, he will be sorely missed by the many thousands of people whose lives he touched along the way.