Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Cut Off, LA

Affiliation: University of Arizona

E.J. Richardelle's wife, Katherine, became involved in the history project during the first meeting of the project action team established by the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program. We talked about the study design and goals, and Katherine became animated as she realized that her entire life had been affected by the oil and gas industry. I suggested that Katherine and her husband should be interviewed, and she invited me to their house. I arrived the morning after Katherine and E.J. had returned from visiting their son in Mississippi.

E.J. was born in February 1933 in Larose, Louisiana, and worked for Chevron from 1955-1990. He started working on boats and was transferred to platforms in 1971 when Chevron sold its marine fleet. He worked as an oiler, gauger, and safety man.