Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Larose, LA

Affiliation: University of Arizona

On an earlier research, project, I had paid a visit to Windell Curole director of the South Lafourche Levee District. In his office at the time, poring over maps and engineering drawings, was Leon Theriot, then head of the Levee District Board. Leon Theriot, recently passed away, was an impressive man, and had a succinct response upon hearing the description of that research project. The oil industry had a tremendous economic legacy for south Lafourche, and a sad environmental one. When I returned to Windell for additional suggestions for this project, he suggested Norman Theriot, a partner in Leon's insurance firm in Golden Meadow. After several unsuccessful attempts on successive trips, I met up with Norman as he prepared to go on a hunting trip to Texas. The interview was relatively brief, as Norman had to break it off to get his hair cut by one of his granddaughters, in preparation for his hunting trip. He did, however, provide interesting, if short, accounts of entrepreneurship along Bayou Lafourche - the proliferation of grocery stores, the creation of local banks, and the economic difficulties of the 1980s and earlier.

Norman Theriot, born in 1931, is the son of Henry Theriot and the oldest of 11 children. Norman's grandfather was Leon Theriot, a shrimper and captain of the Petit Corporal, the small lugger that has been restored and is on display along Bayou Drive (Hwy 1) in Golden Meadow. Norman's father went into the grocery business, several other uncles stayed in shrimping and shrimp processing, and one uncle, Leon, started an insurance business. Norman, after returning from service in Korea, joined the uncle in the insurance business, where the majority of their clients were boat owners.