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

Affiliation: University of Arizona

I was put in touch with Mr. R. H. Marmande through Phillip Fanguy and Billy Coyle. They knew him from being a successful business owner and tool inventor in the oil field. He owned 2 tool companies at different times during his oil career. He was extremely knowledgeable about the history of offshore commissions and mineral rights. He was also very matter of fact about the damage that has been caused to Louisiana's coast line as well as how the state got in the predicament it did. He had some pictures that he took out of the old tools, boats and rigs and we talked about them at the end of the interview.

Mr. Marmande was born and raised across the street from where he now lives. He was in the Navy for 4 years and would work at Texaco when he was at home. He went to college on the G.I. Bill and earned a petroleum engineer's degree. He decided to work in the service industry supporting the ever-growing oil field. The first business he was involved with was Delta Iron Works. He worked for that company for 30 years and then started his own business, Dolphin Construction, in 1980. He retired in 1997 when he sold his business.