Rivals come together to build converter

Members of Louisiana L-37 and Florida L-433 stand in front of a converter they built, displaying flags of their favorite college teams.
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MEMBERS OF LOCAL 37 (New Orleans) and 433 (Tampa, Fla.) are big supporters of their respective — and rival — state colleges: the LSU Tigers and Florida Gators. Yet they were able to put aside their differences for the common good — in this case, the fabrication of a converter and sulphur burner for Central Maintenance and Welding at the Mosaic Phosphates Plant, formerly known as the Uncle Sam Plant, in St. James, La.

Because of limited space, the members had to assemble the converter on tracks, and then roll it into position. Nearly 90 Boilermakers completed the job ahead of schedule and within budget. But as soon as the 10-month job was finished, they couldn’t resist displaying their ”true colors” once again, this time in the form of college banners hung on their completed task.