Interviewer: Jacob Campbell

Affiliation: University of Arizona

Mr. Smith was first contacted during the History II study, referred by DJ Chauvin, but refused to be interviewed at that time. While he was suspicious and unwelcoming at first, through persistence he agreed to speak with me. We met at his home in north Houma. His wife continued to be very skeptical of the project, and read the consent forms several times before finally allowing Mr. Smith to participate. As the interview progressed, he became more comfortable and shared a wealth of information, demonstrating an uncanny memory of places, dates and names. He was an astute observer of evolving trends in equipment and technology in the oilfield, and named many people responsible for these innovations. Mr. Smith should be interviewed again.

Smitty was born in 1936 in Brookhaven, MS; his father was a roughneck for Marshall R. Young Co., Delta Drilling and Southeastern Oil. He came to Larose in 1954, to work for Southern Production, now called the Offshore Drilling Company. He started as a roughneck on inland barges, spinning chain on the floor- because his father was known as best chain spinner ever born. He moved to Houma in 1962. He was promoted to driller at 26 years old, and 6 years later became a tool pusher. He also worked on steam rigs for Standard Oil, until this was phased out in 1967. Mr. Smith then worked for Bay Drilling Company (owned by Texaco) as an assistant drilling superintendent, in an office on Bayou Blue in Houma. In 1987, after the downturn, he was moved back to the rigs as a toolpusher. Three years later, Bay Drilling was bought out and Smitty became the drilling foreman, aka “company man” for Texaco, and retired in 1999. He has been offered consulting jobs but has refused them.