Interviewers: Laura Ek and Lillian Miller

Affiliation: University of Arizona

Laura was referred to Claire Hernandez by her brother Gary Hernandez. She worked offshore as a roustabout for Exxon for just over a year. Laura called her and set up an interview at her home in Carencro, Louisiana. Claire sat with Laura and Lillian in her living room and pulled out a few photos and an article which Laura borrowed to scan and add to her archives. Claire was looking forward to speaking with Laura and Lillian since her brother Gary mentioned he’d referred them to her. She lives on her family’s property along with Gary, their mother, and another brother.

A French and Cajun by descent, Claire has resided in Carencro all her life except for a five year period she when she was in France. Claire graduated from college in 1964 and moved to California (near San José) where she got married and had a child. She was part of an artist’s colony there where they were followed sustainable living. Claire was also very involved in the anti-war movement. She then moved with her daughter to Mexico for a year and lived in a “grass hut.” She began working for Exxon in 1977 and quit in 1978. She was the first woman hired out of the Lafayette Exxon office to work offshore. She showed us a newspaper article that highlighted her work offshore. She also gave us a picture of the first rig she worked on offshore.

After she came back to Lafayette from France, she worked as a teacher for 30 years, and worked as an advocate for CODOFIL as well. She currently works at rehabilitation clinic for abusive spouses, counseling husbands and wives. Her work offshore, while only about a year and a half in time, made a lasting impression on her. She describes her experience and work offshore, and what ultimately led her to leave that work. Observing a lack of safety practices within in the industry, she saw an accident as inevitable if she continued working for Exxon. She held Exxon stock until several years ago when she decided she didn’t want to invest money in Exxon.