Our History

The foundation was laid for Ratcliff in 1927, when James Ernest “Jimmy” Ratcliff returned to his Louisiana roots after obtaining a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University. Partnering with his former Louisiana College classmate, Simon Tudor, the two formed Tudor and Ratcliff, General Contractors. Enduring the struggles of the Great Depression, the new company emerged as a major force in the Louisiana construction industry. Click here to read more.
 

Throughout the 1930’s, the company steadily built its reputation, constructing some of the finest public schools, courthouses and other public works projects in the state. During World War II, Tudor and Ratcliff, General Contractors, operated as a builder of United States military training facilities throughout Louisiana. 

Following the war, the partnership dissolved when Simon Tudor’s son returned from the war to join his father. As that time, Jimmy Ratcliff formed J.E. Ratcliff, General Contractors in 1946, and moved forward into the post-war years with continued work as a premier builder of public buildings throughout Central Louisiana. 

In 1966, Robert T. Ratcliff, Sr. joined his father’s business, adding another generation of committed construction service professionals from the Ratcliff family. In 1974, Jimmy Ratcliff passed his leadership position to Robert Ratcliff resulting in the incorporation of Ratcliff Construction Company, LLC.

With a vision to move forward and grow the business, Robert steered the company into many new industry sectors while strengthening his in-house team. Ratcliff Construction Company easily found success in many areas including office, industrial, warehousing, multifamily, educational, retail, hospitality and gaming, with an added focus on private sector construction services.

In 1994, a third generation was added to the family business when Robert T. “Rob” Ratcliff, Jr. joined the firm after completing his education at Rhodes College and Louisiana State University. He has worked in many areas of the company including carpenter, estimator, project manager and now in his current position as president of Ratcliff Construction Company, LLC.

In an effort to expand Ratcliff’s service territory, Robert T. Ratcliff, Sr., Max Young and Rob Ratcliff formed a sister company, Ratcliff Constructors, in Dallas, Texas in 1997. In 2008 Ratcliff Development was created to formalize the owners’ efforts to pursue real estate development as its own profit center.

As we grow, Ratcliff builds upon the reputation for quality, reliability and service that J.E. Ratcliff based his company on almost a century ago. We strive to remain the property development provider of choice for our customers as we look to the future.