Interviewer(s): S. Wiltz. Lafayette, LA

Affiliation: University of Louisiana at Lafayette

William Rucks III was born in Nashville, Tennessee but at an early age moved to Oklahoma City. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1952 with a Business Administration degree. He became interested in scouting and found a job shortly after graduation with Phillips Petroleum in Lafayette. After 2 years, he was promoted to District Land Manager. He then became an independent contractor after 8 years of working for Phillips. He discusses his relationship with Heymann and the development of the Oil Center in Lafayette. As an outsider, moving to Lafayette took a little cultural adjustment, but overall, he enjoyed working in the oil industry.