Julie Prestenbach Barilleaux was born and raised in Morgan City, Louisiana. When she graduated from high school in 1977, her parents could not afford to send her to college, so she began looking for a job. At the employment office, she learned that King Trucking was looking for help, so she applied for the job. She was hired and has been with the company since then. She has enjoyed working for a smaller company where she has many different responsibilities and has earned enough to raise her son. In 1996, while still working for Earl King, Jr., Julie returned to college; she was awarded her baccalaureate degree in 2001.