Interviewer: Diane Austin, Laura Ek

Affiliation: University of Arizona

Mr. Briggs was referred to us by Harold Schoeffler; A Lafayette native, president of the local Sierra Club chapter and friend of Mr. Briggs. Don Briggs is currently the president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association (LOGA). We met with Mr. Briggs at the Petroleum Club in Lafayette, Louisiana.

A native of Miami, Florida Mr. Briggs moved to Lafayette to attend the University of Southern Louisiana (now ULL), graduating in 1964. He stayed in the Lafayette region after he completed his degree. Throughout college he worked for Owen drilling exploration doing odd jobs. After graduation, he worked inventory for them. In 1968 he got a job salvaging and refurbishing equipment selling it back to those in the industry. From that job in 1968 he built a conglomerate of companies he then sold it to New Park Resources in 1979 or 1980. He became the president of New Park Resources, but in 1992 he became discouraged with the current political state surrounding the industry and left his company to form LOGA (Louisiana Oil and Gas Association) with 12 of his friends to address the issues surrounding the industry, environment, and governmental regulations in the state of Louisiana.

In the interview, Mr. Briggs discusses the economic downturn in the 1980s (both in relation to the experiences of those in Lafayette and surrounding communities), and how his business responded to those challenges. He talks about his involvement in enforcing environmental regulations (cleaning up wells, working with the DEQ, etc.), and his engagement in politics of the state including environmental lawsuits the industry has faced. He remarks on the environmental movement, and the history of oil and gas policy in the state. He goes on to explain the role Lafayette plays in the industry as the “hub in the oil and gas world,” but mentions the transition to centralizing operations in Houston. He also discusses the overall climate of the industry in regards to Cajun culture, fishermen, what makes Lafayette unique, and other important people in the community of Lafayette, and the history of Lafayette (mainly in relation to the development of the Oil Center.)