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

Affiliation: University of Arizona

Gilbert Talbot's name was on the contact list for many months. Diane had gone to his barber shop to talk with him for a bit but ran out of time. She told him that she'd give him a call in March and passed Gilbert's name on to me (Emily). I drove down to Montegut to see if I could catch him at his barber shop, but a sign on the door said closed due to surgery. I looked him up and called him to find out what his health situation was. He was very chipper on the phone and excited to meet with me. He said that he had several names for me and that he would give them to me when I came to talk with him. He lives a couple of blocks from his barber shop down in Montegut. His brother, Russell, was there. As I had no idea that his brother was going to be there, I felt over-whelmed at once. They both began talking about all the people they knew in the industry, Gilbert handed me a piece of paper with 4 or 5 names and addresses on it, and Russell began pulling out pictures, all before I had time to sit and put my bags down. I eventually got the recorder turned on and listened to them talk, often at the same time.

While Gilbert Talbot was never in the oil field, his four brothers were. He has been a barber for over 50 years, which has afforded him the luxury of getting to know most of the people down the bayou. Gilbert is also involved with several committees, one of which is the levee board. Their father worked in a box factory for Texaco in 1917. It was difficult for the family when he was laid off in 1932. Russell Talbot had to drop out of high school to work. He operated a drag line after dropping out of high school. His two older brothers were already in the oil industry and suggested he start working for the industry as well. In 1947, Russell and his brothers were all working for the same contract firm, Crown and Gracie, for 3 years. He was then drafted for a few years but as soon as he was out he began working for Texaco in 1952. The most interesting thing about Russell is that he never moved up beyond roughnecking. He knew that he didn't want the responsibility. He was moved around because of his expertise over the years, but he never moved officially up to anything else. He retired in 1983 after 36 years in the oil industry and 31 with Texaco.