Scope and Contents Interviewer: Preetam PrakashAffiliation: University of ArizonaGeoffrey Clark, a Waynesboro resident knowledgeable about local workforce development and economic affairs whom Preetam had spoken with had recommended Benny West as someone who might be willing to participate in the study. Preetam had contacted Benny soon after and they had arranged to meet at Benny’s house in a development on the outskirts of Waynesboro. Benny had begun working offshore in the mid 1970s...

Scope and Contents Interview by: Laura EkAffiliation: University of ArizonaI was referred to Mr. Don Begneaud by Aaron Broussard, one of Don’s employees at Begneaud’s manufacturing. He is the founder and owner of Begneaud’s, a local company that does high precision metal work repairs and artistic creations.Don Begneaud was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana. He graduated from a catholic high school. In his sophomore year of high school, he began welding for ARC welding...

Scope and Contents From the Collection: When UH’s Center for Public History and the University Libraries collaborated to create the Houston History Archives (UH-HHA), part of their mission included a repository for oral histories that tell stories of the growth and development of the Gulf Coast region from multiple points of view. To that end, the Houston Oral History Project in the Center for Public History trains history graduate students to research and interview Houstonians with recollections of the city’s civil rights,...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Jacob CampbellAffiliation: University of ArizonaMr. Bergeron read the description of the study in the Courier article, and called to say that he wished to participate. We met at the main Terrebonne Parish library for this interview. He regularly commutes to New Orleans for work every day, but had this Monday off so was able to speak with me. Mr. Bergeron has always maintained a separation between his work and family lives, travelling regularly and not...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Laura EkAffiliation: University of ArizonaI met Abigail Ransonet at her home in Lafayette. Running into her since then at the post office, I gave her a call and we set up an interview at her company office, Abacus Data Exchange.Abigail Ransonet was born and grew up in Loreauville, LA. She describes her community there as an agricultural (sugar cane) and boat building community. Her father started out in the oil industry and ended up with a job...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Preetam PrakashAffiliation: University of ArizonaDavid Berden had contacted Preetam following the appearance of an article in the Meridian Star regarding the project. David and Preetam met a few days later at a local diner for an interview. David had somewhat of an unusual work history in that he had worked as a credit manager for nearly 13 years prior to going to work offshore as a sample catcher. He had worked as a mud logger during the majority of his...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Preetam Prakash and Kelly McLainAffiliation: University of ArizonaClenistine had suggested that we try to speak with Mr. Robinson about the history of the African American community in the local area. I contacted Mr. Robinson soon after Kelly had arrived in town. He was open to the idea of doing an oral history interview and we arranged to meet at his place in East Biloxi later on that day. We conducted the interview in Mr. Robinson’s living room....

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Laura EkAffiliation: University of ArizonaI met Dennis Sullivan at a radio station fundraiser event in the fall of 2010. He put me in touch with several other contacts. At one point we were able to sit down for an interview together at his house in Lafayette.Dennis Sullivan describes himself as an army brat that moved around all the time growing up. Born in 1951 in Germany, he is originally from Miami, Florida (this is, because, he says he...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Jacob CampbellAffiliation: University of ArizonaMelvin was first interviewed in 2001 for the History II study, as EB046. We met at his home on the north side of Houma – his wife sat in on the interview, and made several comments. They were happy to receive a cd containing materials from the previous project. Mr. Blanchard retired from Marathon in 1986, and has chosen to distance himself from the oil industry – saying he cares not to follow very closely...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Preetam PrakashAffiliation: University of ArizonaDiana and Rodney Thompson had been recommended to me as two people in the area who had experience in both the seafood industry and the offshore oil business. I contacted Mrs. Thompson over the phone and after a few calls we set up a good time for the interview. Our interview took place in the living room of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson’s home in Coden, AL.Both Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were born and raised...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Jacob CampbellAffiliation: University of ArizonaMerlin was first contacted during the History II study, after a Halliburton retirees’ breakfast, but was never interviewed. We met at his home just north of Houma, on land which his father once used to farm cane and dairy. He worked for Halliburton for 31 years; retiring in 1997 because he no longer wanted to deal with the terrible seasickness he experienced traveling offshore. He continues to meet...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Preetam PrakashAffiliation: University of ArizonaBobby Regan had been referred to Preetam by Johnny McKinsey, another Sandy Hook resident with a long history of working in the oil industry. When Preetam had interviewed Johnny a few weeks earlier, Johnny had mentioned that Bobby Regan might be another person in the Sandy Hook area who might willing to participate in the study. Preetam contacted Bobby the following week and they had arranged to meet a few...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Preetam PrakashAffiliation: University of ArizonaI had originally run into Mr. Sanzin while conducting another oral history interview in the area. I had spoken briefly with Mr. Sanzin at the time and he had said that he might be willing to do an oral history interview at some point. I had spoken with Mr. Sanzin a few times over the following weeks and we finally agreed to meet at his house in Gulfport to do the interview.Mr. Sanzin was born in...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Preetam PrakashAfiliation: University of ArizonaRobert Boles was a resident of Stonewall, MS who had contacted Preetam shortly after the Meridian Star featured an article about the study. Robert was born in Stonewall, MS, about 15 miles south of Meridian. Stonewall and the nearby community of Enterprise were historically highly dependent on the nearby denim plant for local employment. Robert worked in the denim plant himself before another local, already...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Preetam PrakashAffiliation: University of ArizonaMr. Sevel had been referred to me by a couple who were involved in the seafood industry in Bayou La Batre, and with whom I had conducted an oral history interview a few months prior. They had described Mr. Sevel as someone who had a long history in the shrimping industry and who could give me some insight into this industry’s development along the MS Gulf Coast. I contacted Mr. Sevel in December 2010 but...