During the regular season matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, lineworker Cody DeLatte was honored as “Lineman of the Game” for his hard work and dedication to his job. At each Saints home game, Entergy and the Saints recognize a lineworker for excellent job performance, commitment to safety, community involvement and more.
DeLatte’s call to line work wasn’t something he always knew he wanted. It was something he discovered. At 18 years old, he began his career working for Atmos Energy. But it didn’t take long before he realized his path was meant to look a little different.
“We worked around Entergy on a regular basis, and I knew that’s where I wanted to be, working on powerlines,” DeLatte shared. His instinct proved right. Today, he is a proud Entergy Louisiana lineman for the last nine years, dedicated to keeping the lights on no matter the conditions.
Of all the challenges and accomplishments that come with the job, hurricane restoration holds the deepest meaning for DeLatte.
“There’s just something about showing up to a town that has been devastated and being a small part of putting it back together,” he said. “I’m very thankful for the training and experience we’ve received over the years to be able to help out communities across the state.”
Whether it is clearing debris, replacing poles, or rebuilding entire systems from the ground up, DeLatte says the work is tough but worth every minute. Being there when families return home, when businesses reopen, and when communities take their first steps toward normalcy again is the kind of impact that stays with you.
When he’s not on the job, DeLatte enjoys spending time outdoors. He loves to hunt and run his dogs, which gives him time to recharge and reset before the next call.
To those considering a future in linework, DeLatte offers this advice:
“Stay humble. Pick that lineman you want to be like and take care of him. If you listen to everything he says and make his life easier, he will teach you everything he knows.”
Line work is learned in the field, on the job, and through the guidance of those who have already weathered storms, both literally and figuratively.
DeLatte’s journey reflects what it means to serve: resilience, pride in craftsmanship, and care for community. Whether the skies are clear or the winds are high, linemen like DeLatte stand ready to restore, rebuild, and keep Louisiana powered forward.
