Interviewer(s): E. Bernier. Cocodrie, LA

Affiliation: University of Arizona

I received Herman LeBlanc's name from Diane Austin. She had received his name from Jerome Zeringue. Herman was said to be related to the Lapyrouse family of Cocodrie who opened a general store back in the 30's and 40's. We decided to meet at the general store as I had never been there before.

Herman worked on boats all his life. In 1955, he began working on crew boats full time. He made captain in two years and was working with his father from then on. He and his father started up a boat business running crews and supplies to the rigs. All of the initial jobs were inshore jobs; in 1960, he began running boats offshore, mainly for Exxon.