Lee P. “Pedro” Gutierrez, Jr.

Lee Paul Gutierrez, Jr. was born in Biloxi in 1927. He was the eldest of four sons born to Lee Paul Gutierrez and Katherine Slay Gutierrez. A lifelong resident of Biloxi, Lee was a graduate of Biloxi High School and attended Vanderbilt and North Carolina Universities. In 1948, he married Helen Sekul of Biloxi, and they had four children.

As the son of an ice and coal merchant, “Pedro”, as he was known to family and friends, learned about the industry. He worked at Biloxi Freezing Company as it grew in service to the community and especially the Gulf Coast’s seafood industry. In 1968, upon his father’s retirement, Lee Jr. would assume the role of President and General Manager of Biloxi Freezing. His three brothers, Henry “Duke”, Ramon “Ziggy”, and Frank would also be instrumental in the growth of the company while also pursuing other areas of business that complemented the operation. With the innovative technologies to flash freeze shrimp the company began focusing heavily on the cold storage services and began processing its own shrimp under the “Biloxi Pride” brand.

In 1986, Biloxi Freezing was sold to International Seafood Traders, but Pedro and Ziggy would repurchase the company in 1993 evolving the company into Biloxi Freezing-Processing. The cooperative efforts with his other brothers would maintain the company’s firm standing as a major participant in the Gulf Coast’s seafood industry.

However, Pedro’s interest did not lie solely in seafood. While he pursued other business interests in addition to Biloxi Freezing-Processing, he found much enjoyment in raising thoroughbred horses, traveling the world game hunting and was an avid gun collector. He was a member of such civic organizations as the Lions Club, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, multiple coastal carnival associations and was the first king to reign over Les Badineaurs, in 1983.

Lee P. Gutierrez, Jr.’s legacy of serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s seafood industry was passed down to many over the years - not only to his own children who pursued their own seafood careers, but to others who would find their own love of the industry while working with Biloxi Freezing Company. The company is still in operation on Bohn Street in Biloxi today, reminding all of the contributions of the Gutierrez family.