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

Affiliation: University of Arizona

Historian Tom Becnel suggested we talk with Elton Darsey, a still-practicing lawyer with an office near the courthouse in Houma. During the interview, he frequently calls out to Ms. Bee in the outer office to help with facts and dates. The interview contains some interesting discussion of both the Intracoastal Waterway and the Houma Ship/Navigation Canal, the first taking its route through the city at the behest of powerful property owners, the second built to attract oil business. Both, Elton suggests, have been unfortunate for Houma.

In his 90s at the time of the interview, Elton Darsey was born in Houma, went through high school and got a job working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in New Orleans. While at that job, he attended night school at Loyola University for 7 years, got a law degree, and came back to Houma in 1935 to start practicing law. As a French speaker, he was able to represent local oystermen in their case against the Texas company in the 1930's, then won an important case against the highway department by researching French civil law about the batture, lands along the bayous and rivers. He and his wife, now deceased, have traveled extensively throughout the world. He walks into the office every day.