A Legacy of Giving: Walter E. Blessey, Jr.

From the start, children are given boundaries. Young people are told what they can’t do. And as they grow into young adults, they have learned to see obstacles as stop signs. But entrepreneur Walter E. Blessey, Jr. thinks differently; he thinks like an entrepreneur who knows that with critical thinking, hard work, and the support of good people, anything is possible.

Mr. Blessey believes in the boundless possibilities of the next generation and has spent decades mentoring and supporting young people to chase their own dreams of success. He created his business, Blessey Marine Services, Inc. in 1978 after working for companies with cultures that taught him everything not to do as a leader. From that early experience, he set out to create a company that recognizes the potential and value of each individual within it.

For decades, Mr. Blessey has given his time and support to Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans, from serving on the board of governors to the annual Crescent City Corporate Golf Championship hosted by Blessey Marine Services, Inc., which has raised more than $3 million for JA programs. He says that he supports Junior Achievement because "JA is the heart of the American Dream." He advises young people that “whatever your background, you can achieve anything with hard work, integrity and treating people with respect.”

In 2018, Junior Achievement named its building on the City Park Campus of Delgado Community College the Walter E. Blessey, Jr. Free Enterprise Center of Learning, recognizing Mr. Blessey’s commitment to fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs in our region.

Today, the young people who come to our facilities are greeted by a short video introduction to Mr. Blessey’s entrepreneurship story. His story serves as an inspiration, especially for our Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge students who enter the JA facilities to test and to grow their ideas. These budding entrepreneurs will look to the story of Blessey Marine Services, Inc. as proof that they can build something in our community with a world-wide impact.

We invite you to visit the Walter E. Blessey, Jr. Free Enterprise Center of Learning, where you can hear Mr. Blessey’s story and witness the powerful impact of giving as you see the next generation of entrepreneurs prepare to take flight.