James Lucas, who grew up in the construction business, at 15 could manage a work site while his father attended to other matters.
The late Werness Lucas traveled wherever the jobs were, often with his two sons in tow, and they completed projects in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and elsewhere.
"He and dad traveled to Mississippi before I was even born," said Tom Lucas of Orlando. "We worked in the summers between high school and we have stayed with the construction industry. Our dad taught us how to deal with people and that was James' strength. People respected him for that."
On Thursday, James Harold Lucas, an engineer who lived in Jonesboro, suffered a stroke and died at Atlanta Medical Center. He was 77. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Atlanta's Cator Woolford Gardens. A.S. Turner & Sons is handling arrangements.
Mr. Lucas worked at Lockheed Martin in Marietta, where he met Joye Lucas, his wife of 33 years. He retired from that job in the late 1980s, turning to a career as an industrial engineer. He was a senior project manager for the city of Atlanta's aviation division during the construction of the nearly 400-foot air traffic control tower. He worked on the fifth runway, too.
Matt Daugherty, a Federal Aviation Administration engineer, said Mr. Lucas was pragmatic and focused about any construction project.
"He made sure it could be the best that it could be," Daugherty said. "He could tailor his approach to the audience, and was very capable and persuasive with anyone he dealt with. It doesn't surprise me that he could run a construction site at 15."
Mr. Lucas attended more than 20 elementary schools because of his father's business. Wanting stability for his daughters, he chose to work in the metro Atlanta community. He built the family house on Clayton County's Lake Spivey and luxury homes for clients.
"Many times he was offered bigger, more lucrative jobs all over the world, including India and Russia," said Jennifer Lucas, a daughter from Atlanta. "They were extremely lucrative, but he turned down several offers so we could stay rooted."
Said Brooke Lucas, another daughter from Atlanta, "It was important to him that my sister and I attend the same school and live in the house we were born in. That's why we stayed put."
The engineer worked for various construction/engineering firms that handled federal contracts at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. A Georgia Tech alumnus, he was affiliated with Parsons Corp. and had worked a full day on an airport project the day he died.
Two weeks ago, Mr. Lucas took part in his younger daughter's wedding, held at the Georgia Tech alumni house.
"I am very thankful he was able to do it, to toast me and my new husband, and to have a first dance with me," Jennifer Lucas said. "That meant a lot."
Additional survivors include four grandchildren.
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