Lane Grigsby, chair emeritus of Cajun Industries, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was recently awarded ABC’s inaugural Legacy Medallion for Advocacy for his contributions to the merit shop construction industry over more than 50 years.

The ABC Legacy Medallion was introduced in 2024 to recognize transformational leadership by a volunteer leader directly related to living the association’s purpose and objectives as documented in Articles I and III of the ABC bylaws and establishing ABC as the voice of the merit shop.

“Lane embodies the belief that all Americans can best be served by cooperation and following the tenets of free enterprise and democratic government, and that leaders in our industry best preserve these tenets by being active in politics and civic affairs,” said ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman. “Lane’s authentic, uncompromising commitment to sustaining a culture of giving has propelled the Free Enterprise Alliance and ABC PAC to new heights and led to recognition of ABC as the premier advocate for merit-based principles and fair and open competition. These principles are the key to innovation, achievement and opportunity for all who employ and are employed in the construction industry.

“We thank Lane for these significant achievements and the legacy he has created for the betterment of the construction industry and the nation,” said Bellaman.

An Army veteran who attended the U.S. Military Academy, Grigsby earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Louisiana State University before founding Cajun Contractors and Engineers in 1973. Today, Cajun Industries is a nationally recognized construction leader providing fully integrated self-performed engineering, procurement and construction services to some of the largest and most renowned companies in the world in a broad range of markets, from oil, gas and energy to refining, chemical processing, manufacturing, infrastructure, disaster response, communication and water quality, among others.

Cajun joined ABC New Orleans/Bayou in 1976 and Grigsby later founded the chapter’s Baton Rouge branch. A strong advocate for merit shop construction at the state and federal levels, Grigsby served on the chapter board of directors for 18 years, is a former ABC state and chapter president and was named ABC’s Man of the Year twice.

From left to right, ABC Pelican Chapter President and CEO David Helveston, ABC National Senior Director of Political Affairs Melanie Pfeiffenberger, Cajun Contractors Chair Emeritus Lane Grigsby, ABC National President and CEO Michael Bellaman and ABC National 2023 Chair of the Board of Directors Milton Graugnard, executive vice president of Cajun Industries.