CHICKASHA - It’s what didn’t happen that actually launched Steve LaForge’s real estate career.
CHICKASHA - It’s what didn’t happen that actually launched Steve LaForge’s real estate career.
In one of his first attempts at buying, he made an offer of $30,000 to the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). “I didn’t hear anything and then six months later I found out that it sold at auction for $1,500,” he said. “So, I started to go to auctions and that’s how I got into the real estate business.” Since that time LaForge has bought and sold property in various states, including Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, Tennessee and California. He said only about 25% of his business is located in Chickasha.
CONSTRUCTION FAMILY/ BUSINESS
LaForge’s story actually begins in southeast Kansas where he was born to Paul and Bernice LaForge in the city of Parsons. He was raised in the area and graduated from St. Patrick High School in 1969. He was an athlete and played all sports, but running track was his favorite activity.
“I loved track. It’s the best sport. I ran the 100-yard dash; the 220-yard dash; the 440- yard dash; the half-mile and relays. I set the school record in every event I participated in. The school closed in 1981 and so my record stands forever,” he said and then smiled. LaForge’s father Paul was a longtime Parsons businessman, contractor, and cattleman. After serving a two-year stint in the U.S. Navy from
1944-1946, the elder Mr. LaForge moved to Iowa City, Iowa, where he started working as a carpenter and married Berniece Treiber. The couple eventually moved to a small Kansas farm near St. Paul and lived there for 10 years, 1949-1959, farming and raising cattle. It was there that the elder Mr. LaForge began working on homes in the area and started LaForge Construction in 1952. Paul and Berniece raised a large family of 10 children, six boys, and four girls. Paul passed away in May of 2014 at the age of 90. “Mom is still living in Kansas and is 94-years-old,” LaForge said. “Dad was a mentor to me. He started a construction company when I was a young child and set an example that hard work pays off.”
After graduating from high school, LaForge went to college in Lawrence, Kan. at the University of Kansas.“I worked construction through college,” he said. “The summer was busy. I hired out with construction companies there in Lawrence. I enjoyed it.” LaForge, who earned two bachelors of science degrees from KU - one in business and one in civil engineering - said his last two semesters in college he carried 47 hours and maintained a 3.7 GPA (grade point average). When asked if he considered himself a self-driven person, he laughed.“I knew I was close to making money,” LaForge said of his motivation to carry a heavy class load.
In 1974, with college degrees in hand, he took a position of vice president and contract administrator for LaForge and Budd Construction, a company the elder LaForge, Paul, founded in 1960 with Bernard Budd. They completed projects in 17 states for various private and government agencies.
MOVE TO OKLAHOMA
LaForge traveled to Chickasha in 1976 on a project for LaForge and Budd Construction and decided to stay. He managed the Chickasha branch office until 1981, performing estimating, purchasing and management responsibilities on construction projects in Oklahoma and Kansas.
“We were the low bidder on a construction project in 1976 - the wastewater treatment plant,” LaForge said. “I loved the community [Chickasha] and never left. I chose to stay rather than move on.” In 1981, LaForge founded his own company and became president and owner of Labco Construction, Inc.
Over a 10-year period from 1981-1991, LaForge completed over $20,000,000 worth of construction projects through Labco Construction as a general contractor in five states. The largest project was a $4,000,000 project in Guymon. “There was an economic recession in 1989-1990.
All contractors started losing money and I decided to quit construction,” he said. “I thought I might go back to it, but I found it was less stressful to buy and sell real estate than worry with the weather and subcontractors. And, there was the paperwork.
“We did construction projects in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. With federal government contracts, there is a lot of paperwork. It’s significant. You have to be patient and thorough to complete work for them. “There is about as much paperwork as there is manual labor,” LaForge said. “I began buying distressed real estate.” Labco Construction has been dormant since 1991.
REAL ESTATE
For the last 28 years, LaForge has been the president and owner of LaForge Properties, LLC, Ace Investments, Inc. and other real estate owning entities. The companies are still active, although he said, “I quit buying. I’m just selling what I own. I want to spend more time vacationing. I’m 68 now and it’s time to slow down.”
OKLAHOMA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
In April, newly-elected governor Kevin Stitt appointed LaForge to the Oklahoma Transportation Commission, representing District 7. It’s not his first time around to serve on a state board, as Frank Keating appointed LaForge to serve on the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority during the governor’s tenure from 1995-2003.
LaForge served as secretary-treasurer for all eight years. “I’m honored that Kevin Stitt would appoint me and trust me to be a good steward of taxpayer money. “I’ve been critical of how ODOT (Oklahoma Department of Transportation) has spent money in the past and now I can possibly do something about it,” he said.
LaForge explained that a transportation commissioner provides input to the ODOT management on where road dollars should be spent. “My pet project is to improve the road between Chickasha and Lindsay,” he said.
CHICKASHA BYPASS
Also falling in District 7 that LaForge represents is the Chickasha Bypass project. He said, in general, it is a high priority project for the State of Oklahoma. “As a long-term goal, it is hoped to be a reliever route off I-35. You will be able to take the Chickasha Bypass to Oklahoma City and not go through Chickasha,” he said.
That has been a concern of Chickasha businesses since about the time the project began being discussed several years ago and ODOT was holding public meetings. “Everyone wants the trucks off of 4th St., but you will also lose about 50% of the cars off of 4th St. also,” LaForge said. The bypass project is still a work in progress and will take years to complete, depending on the funding, he said
“The vast majority of right of way has been acquired,” LaForge said. “With the existing revenue, we could be looking at closer to 10 years down the line. You can’t take 100% of a district’s money and put it into one project. No one else gets any money.” LaForge said he will serve on the transportation commission at the “pleasure of the governor.” It could potentially turn into an eight-year appointment, depending on whether Gov. Stitt seeks another term and is reelected.
MEMBER LIST
Through the years, LaForge has served his city and state through many boards and societies. His member list includes the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce, the Chickasha Economic Development Council as a board member, the Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Chickasha Rotary Club, Paul Harris Fellow, the Oklahoma Economic Club and the Chickasha Industrial Authority as a board member.
SLOWING DOWN
LaForge said he has begun traveling and vacationing with Abby, his wife of seven years. He has two children, Mike and Rusty, from a previous marriage. He also has eight grandchildren. During the recent interview for this article, LaForge pointed out the Hawaiian shirt he was wearing and said he wears one every day, owning over 100 of the tropical-styled shirts.
“I was told to dress for where I want to be. For me, that would be on an island on vacation. I try to go at least once a year,” he said. When asked if he has a favorite island, he said, “Tahiti is nice.” Looking back over a long, successful business career, LaForge offered this advice to others: “Word hard. Do the best you can do. Don’t look back and wish you had worked harder.” Sometimes, he said, reaping rewards comes at a later date. “Just treat people with respect and honesty and it will come back.”