Fifty-five years ago, Charles Nelson answered a newspaper ad. H.A. Lott Inc. was looking to hire a field engineer. Fresh out of Louisiana State University’s engineering program, young Nelson sought to answer the ad by going to a jobsite in Jackson, Miss.
The superintendent, thinking he was a trespasser at first, greeted him with a flippant, “What do you want?” to which Nelson answered, “I want a job!” The impromptu interview ended with an invite into the trailer to sign Nelson up for his first construction job. Thus began a tenure with H.A. Lott that started Nelson on a distinguished career path.