Interviewer(s): S. Wiltz. New Iberia, LA

Affiliation: University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Originally from Franklin, Ben Garacci first forayed in the oilfield as a roughneck with Humble Oil in 1948 and worked out of Grand Isle. Wanting to be home at night, he left the industry for a bit, but after he found he made much less money, went back into the industry by taking a job with Rowan Drilling Company. After two years and feeling that he was being passed up for promotions, he took a job with a smaller drilling company; when they looked like they were going to go under, he rehired with Rowan and stayed with them about six years. At that time he hired on with Movable Offshore (later Teledyne Movable Offshore). He started out as a driller and then became a toolpusher, where he spent some time overseas in Nigeria. In 1970 he was promoted to superintendent and later went to Singapore where he acted as project engineer on the construction of a number of rigs. When he returned to the area, he was promoted to assistant operations manager, where he stayed until he retired in 1992, after 30 years with Movable. After retiring, he worked as a private consultant helping to move rigs.