Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Morgan City, LA

Affiliation: University of Arizona

Bob Cockerham was referred to me by Jerry Cunningham during our study on the impacts of the offshore oil and gas industry on individuals and families in southern Louisiana. I had asked Jerry for help getting more information on drilling and on the history and evolution of the offshore oil and gas industry, and Jerry introduced me to Bob. Bob was 80 years old at the time of the interview and was very happy to participate. We met in his office at the VFW and talked for a couple of hours. Bob passed away in November 2002. After his death, I contacted his wife, Joyce, for permission to include his interview in the oral history study. I met with Joyce, their daughter Frances, and Frances' husband Buddy Justillien in July 2003 (see DA119).

Bob Cockerham was born in Louisiana and raised in the Texas oil fields. His father owned and operated drilling rigs. Bob went into the service in 1940 and met his future wife, Joyce, when he was passing through Conroe, Texas on army maneuvers. The two of them were married in 1943, and after Bob returned from serving overseas during World War II, they moved to Morgan City. He was working on shrimp boats in 1947 when Kerr-McGee began drilling what was to become the first successful offshore well out of sight of land. Bob heard about the well and went to work for Kerr-McGee. He then worked for Dansiger, a drilling company, and stayed with them for ten years. He moved on to another drilling company and remained in drilling for 22 years. He then went into consulting until his retirement in 1984. Shortly before his retirement, Bob was given responsibility for managing the first women's crew to work offshore.