Higgins Industries used mahogany because he had a big supply of it. He originally was a lumber importer.
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/107/s991/text
S. 991 (107th): Andrew Jackson Higgins Gold Medal Act
2) Andrew Jackson Higgins designed, engineered, and produced the ‘Eureka’, a unique shallow draft boat, the design of which evolved during World War II into 2 basic classes of military craft, high speed PT boats, and types of Higgins landing craft (LCPs, LCPLs, LCVPs, LCMs and LCSs);
(3) Andrew Jackson Higgins designed, engineered, and constructed 4 major assembly line plants in New Orleans for mass production of Higgins landing craft, and other vessels vital to the Allied Forces’ conduct of World War II;
(4) Andrew Jackson Higgins bought the entire 1940 Philippine mahogany crop and other material purely at risk without a Government contract, anticipating that America would join World War II and that Higgins Industries would need the wood to build landing craft, and Higgins also bought steel, engines, and other material necessary to construct landing craft;
I wish I had that kind of foresight.
Higgins Industries work force and contracts
Higgins believed in a diversified workforce for his plants, including all races and genders, and sought highly skilled employees. This type of workforce drew the attention of politicians, including Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, who were frequent visitors.[11]
Higgins Industries was one of the world’s largest manufacturers, with over 85,000 workers and $350,000,000 in government contracts.[12] With his first plant built on City Park Avenue, Higgins began to produce LCVPs non-stop. As more and more rail cars were filled and delivered to Bayou St. John, his government contracts increased, allowing him to expand to seven plants with the ability to produce larger landing crafts, PT boats and airplanes. One Higgins Industries plant was built on the Industrial Canal, allowing greater transportation access.[13]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Higgins
I worked on an albacore boat out of San Pedro in the 60s. The boat tied next to us was a converted landing craft (don’t know if it was Higgins or not). You could see where they added a pointed bow and a cabin, but the original lines were still there.