For more than four generations, the Smith and Riecke families have played a meaningful role in shaping communities across Louisiana and the Gulf South. Builders, contractors, architects, and business leaders across both family lines helped construct homes, churches, businesses, and institutions that continue serving families today.
From handcrafted church pews and custom millwork to entire neighborhoods and financial institutions, the work of these families has touched the daily lives of thousands across the region.
Growing up in this environment, Jared Riecke was surrounded by examples of entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, and leadership. Both sides of his family built businesses from the ground up, guided by a strong work ethic, practical skill, and a belief in creating things that endure.
This page highlights several individuals whose work laid the foundation for that legacy, and whose influence continues to shape the values behind Jared Riecke’s work today.
Born in Grand Coteau in 1873, Alexander L. Smith moved to New Orleans as a young man where he worked as a carpenter while supporting his growing family. During those early years, he lived in a rented home in the city’s 9th Ward while steadily building his reputation in the construction trade.
By 1920, Smith had become a respected contractor, building homes alongside his 22-year-old son, L. P. Smith. His work became known for forward-thinking residential designs that he often referred to as “homes for the future,” incorporating features that anticipated the evolving needs of American families.
Smith’s projects helped shape neighborhoods throughout Metairie and Gentilly during a period of rapid growth in the New Orleans region. His innovative approach to homebuilding earned national recognition and industry awards, establishing a foundation for the Smith family’s long-standing involvement in residential development.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Lawrence P. Smith expanded the family’s construction and development activities throughout the greater New Orleans area and the emerging communities of the Northshore.
During the years surrounding World War II and the decades that followed, Smith became one of the most active residential developers in the region. His work contributed to the development of subdivisions such as DeSaix Boulevard in New Orleans, Golden Shores in Mandeville, and River Forest in Covington — communities that remain important parts of the region today.
Smith was also deeply involved in the professional organizations shaping the homebuilding industry. He was a founder of the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans and later served as President and lifetime National Director of the National Association of Home Builders.
Through both his development work and leadership within the industry, L. P. Smith helped establish a lasting legacy of residential construction and community development throughout Southeast Louisiana.
Henry S. Riecke, born in 1882, grew up in New Orleans as one of eight children in a working-class family living on Poydras Street. His formal education ended after the fourth grade when he left McDonough Grammar School to help support his family.
At the age of fourteen, Riecke began working in a woodworking plant where he trained as a “turner,” a craftsman who used a lathe to shape wood into curved forms. This early training laid the groundwork for what would become one of the most successful millwork companies in the region.
In 1904, with a $1,000 investment and a small workshop on Magazine Street at Girod, he founded Riecke Cabinet Works, Inc.
The company quickly earned a reputation for high-quality craftsmanship and began manufacturing custom furnishings for banks, offices, stores, and churches. As demand grew, the business expanded into larger facilities and employed as many as 120 workers during peak seasons.
Over time, Riecke Cabinet Works furnished more than 1,200 churches around the world, becoming one of the largest companies of its kind in the Southern United States.
The craftsmanship, perseverance, and entrepreneurial spirit that defined H. S. Riecke’s work became a central part of the Riecke family legacy.
Continuing the family’s involvement in the building materials industry, Louis George Riecke, Sr. served as President of Tulane Hardwood Lumber Company, one of the South’s largest distributors of plywood, millwork, insulation, tile board, and other building materials.
Following his father’s retirement, his son Louis “Lou” Riecke, Jr. assumed leadership of the company and continued its growth until the business was sold in the early 1970s.
In addition to his business career, Lou Riecke, Jr. was a world-class weightlifter and Olympic competitor. His expertise in strength and conditioning later led him to serve as a strength coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, bringing his discipline and work ethic into the world of professional athletics.
Edward T. Riecke represents the next generation of the family’s entrepreneurial legacy through his work in real estate development and banking.
A longtime developer and business leader, E. T. serves on the Board of Directors of American Bank and Trust, a financial institution he acquired in 1986. Under his leadership, the bank expanded its services and geographic footprint, helping support businesses and communities throughout Southeast Louisiana.
His career reflects the same values that guided earlier generations of the family — building organizations that support long-term economic growth and opportunity.
Jared Riecke credits much of his own mindset to his father’s example.
“He instilled in me the drive for continuous growth and building. Watching him lead American Bank taught me the importance of creating and sustaining a thriving organization.”
The entrepreneurial values established by previous generations of the Smith and Riecke families continue today through the work of Jared Riecke.
Growing up around construction sites, development projects, and the banking industry provided him with a practical understanding of how businesses grow and how communities develop over time.
Today, Jared’s work in real estate, banking, and regional development reflects the same principles that guided the generations before him. He's building long-term value, creating opportunities for others, and contributing to the continued growth of the communities he calls home.
The Smith–Riecke legacy is not defined solely by the businesses that were built, but by the enduring belief that strong communities are created by individuals willing to invest in their future.
1873 – Alexander L. Smith is born in Grand Coteau, Louisiana
1904 – H. S. Riecke establishes Riecke Cabinet Works in New Orleans
1920s – Smith family expands residential construction across New Orleans
1940s–1950s – L. P. Smith develops major subdivisions in Southeast Louisiana
1960s – Tulane Hardwood Lumber Company becomes a major regional supplier
1986 – E. T. Riecke acquires American Bank & Trust
1990s–Present – Jared Riecke expands into real estate development, construction, and finance
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