Interviewer(s): S. Wiltz and D. DiTucci. Sunset, LA

Affiliation: University of Louisiana at Lafayette

[Note: Mr. Proffitt's wife also contributed to the interview, especially when talking about moving.]

Born in 1926 in Iowa, Jack Proffitt was the son of a machinist. He graduated high school in Ottumwa in 1943 and enlisted in the Navy (V-12 Program). While in the Navy he attended Iowa State College, where he received a degree in electrical engineering in 1946. He tried graduate school for a bit, but then decided to look for a job instead. He was hired by Geophysical Service (GSI) and spent several months in Texas before being transferred to Louisiana; he continued to move around a lot while working with the company (both within LA and out of state). He had his first experience doing offshore work as a supervisor outside of Houma in 1953. Later in his career he became manager of operations in the Gulf Coast Region and then manager of operations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. When he returned to the U.S. he ran the company's worldwide marine operations for several years. He retired from GSI in 1981 and began a consulting business which he ran for about 15 years. He consulted for companies that manufactured equipment for the geophysical industry; his longest term client was DigiCOURSE. During the interview they discuss the evolution of seismic practices, moving around, and Mr. Proffitt relates several anecdotes from his time doodlebugging.