Interviewer(s): E. Bernier. Bayou Blue, LA

Affiliation: University of Arizona

Elgin Rogers is a friend of F.J. Matherne. I had called him when I was in town in September, but our interview was cancelled at the last minute. This time around F.J. called and set up the appointment for me.

Elgin was educated at the MacDonald Mission School because his parents were so poor. This was a local school for orphans and the poor of southern Louisiana. Before finishing high school he went to work for the oil industry. Elgin worked for contract firms his whole life. He began at a contract company and then went to work for Texaco for awhile. Even though he got days off with Texaco he didn't like it as much because he didn't make as much money as he had working for contract firms. After working for Texaco for a year he went back to working for various contract companies. He worked all areas of the oil field but mainly stayed in production and drilling. Although he never received any retirement, he was able to save money over the years and has made a comfortable life for himself. He moved his way up to a field foreman for one of the firms. When asked if he would have rather worked for a big company he said, "Well, no I don't think so. No matter where you work, them hard days come like bananas, in bunches."