Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Larose, LA

Affiliation: University of Arizona

Allen Danos, "semi"-retired now from Danos and Curole, still comes in to his office in the modest shop on the bayou-side along Hwy 1 in Larose, D&C's main operation is on the other side of the bayou, up near the Intracoastal Waterway. Hank, Allen's brother, pretty much runs the multi-faceted business from there. Ronald Callais suggested I talk to him; when I called, Mr. Danos politely asked for references. He called Ted Falgout, then called me back, saying "Ted says I should give you some time." I drove up for the interview; the office had a family-like feel, and Al was extremely friendly, sending me out with a CD recording of a brief story NPR had done recently on the Danos family. They interviewed his mother, and when he started to answer her, she hushed him up and talked for herself.

Danos and Curole Marine Contractors evolved out of an association between Allen's father and an uncle, Civiac Curole. The uncle was a shrimper and oysterman who converted some luggers for oil work. Allen's father was a shrimper, but worked for the Coast Guard during the war, looking for German subs. Together, they bought a tug, pushing fuel to Gulf operations in East, Black, and Quarantine bays, working 7 and 7. Then they bought a crewboat in bad shape, but the boat came with a job - supplying Gulf's Bully Camp operation near Cut Off. At the time, Vic Jones, head of the Gulf operation, was looking for a new labor contractor; boat captains had been providing their own labor, so it was natural that vessel owners moved into the labor contracting business. They date the start of the present operation to 1947.

By age 14, Allen was working summers in shipyards. After college, he and brother Hank bought out the Curole interest in the company and expanded into lift boats and marine construction. Allen has been a 2-term president of Offshore Marine Services Association, and now takes an active interest in Nicholls State University, serving on its foundation board. He is working now to recruit for a chair in entrepreneurship, with the Bollingers.