Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Grand Isle, LA

Affiliation: University of Arizona

Frank "Peco" Besson was recommend to me by Jean Landry. I called him at his souvenir and bait shop along the highway, and he told me to come over. He was doing some repair work, getting the shop ready for the season. Most of the first side of the tape is concerned with looking through photos and other materials Peco has at the souvenir shop. The second side has some discussion of oil and gas industry involvement on the island, as well as his observations on efforts made to turn the Tarpon Rodeo into a family affair.

Peco Besson's father was from Grand Isle, and his mother was from Golden Meadow. "Uncle Nat" Chighizola "adopted" Peco, because he had no children. Nat is the great-great grandson of Nez Coupe, Louis Chighizola, a lieutenant for Jean Lafitte. Peco worked for Grand Isle Shipyard for 25 years, has been a councilman, and expects to run for mayor in the next election. He got laid off 1990, then worked for Dolphin Services out of Houma for 3-4 years. He and his wife bought the chicken/hamburger place and the souvenir business from his mother and then bought the daiquiri shop across the highway.