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

Affiliation: University of Arizona

I received P.J. Trahan's name from R.J. Cheramie in July of 2001. P.J. had been his driller for a long time and R.J. said that P.J. would make a wonderful interview since he had been in the oil field for many years. I enlisted the help from R. J. in January to help me get in touch with P.J., and he finally tracked him down in Gretna.

P.J. Trahan worked for Exxon his entire career. He began in 1943 when he was a senior in high school. He worked as a groundskeeper and carpenter for 3 months until he was sent to the Navy. By 1950, he was a derrick man, and 3 years later he made toolpusher, all before his 30th birthday. He made superintendent of his field before he was 34. He stayed on as a toolpusher for the remaining 30 years of his oil career.