Joseph Beauregard “JB” Olinde, a decorated Army veteran who served abroad in World War II before returning to Baton Rouge to lead his family’s namesake furniture business for more than four decades, died earlier today. He was 90.
“He was just one of those guys that was a rock,” says Olinde’s Furniture President Tom Olinde of his father. “Just a really bright guy who was always very ethical in his personal and professional life. He was certainly my mentor and friend … and I think he could have climbed to even much greater heights in business had he not been so family-oriented.”
A native of New Roads, JB Olinde had lived in Baton Rouge for nearly 70 years, during which he not only led the well-known furniture store, but also served on a number of civic organizations including the local Civitan Club, Junior Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and Louisiana State Bar Association.
He entered LSU in 1941, but his studies were interrupted by World War II. After volunteering to join the Army in 1943 and serving in both Germany and Austria—for which he was subsequently awarded two Bronze Stars and received the Presidential Unit Citation for Extraordinary Heroism—Olinde returned to Baton Rouge in 1946 and resumed his studies at LSU. He was pursuing a law degree when his father fell ill and asked him to join the family business.
JB Olinde would eventually take over as president of what was then known as B. Olinde and Sons Co. Inc. He continued working into his 80s at the business, which today includes locations in Baton Rouge, Central and Lafayette. Aside from his work in the furniture business, he was also founder and board member of Guaranty Bancshares of New Roads and Baton Rouge Bancshares. Before his retirement, he also served as president of Olinde Hardware & Supply Co. and Brown Brokerage Company.
“He really put our company on sound footing, there’s no doubt about that,” says Tom Olinde. “He liked to work. He really enjoyed it.”
JB Olinde is survived by his wife of 65 years, Margery Ogden Johnson Olinde, as well as his seven children, 21 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
—Steve Sanoski
