Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): E. Bernier. Bayou Vista, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI accidentally found Mr. Burgess. There was a Leroy Burgess on the contact list who was a friend of Julie Delaune's. When I looked up the number this is whom I found. Leroy's son answered the phone and was excited to hear that someone might want to talk to his father who had worked at McDermott for 25 years. Leroy is an extremely soft spoken but polite man. He offered to get me water and...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): J. Sell. Houma, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaHarold Burton was recommended by Adrian Bonnette as a toolpusher who really knew how to do the work. Adrian called me earlier with the news that he had talked to Harold ahead of time and had gotten him to agree to be interviewed. We met at Harold's home on a nice Saturday morning and spent the whole interview time on his back porch. We talked for almost 3 hours. He was very responsive to my...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): A. Gardner. New Iberia, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaPat Byler was referred to my by Jimmy Hebert. Pat and I met fairly early in the morning at his place. His mother had a minor stroke the day before, and he had to leave to go to the hospital. I attempted to make plans for another time, but he insisted we go ahead with the interview. The interview itself is a little short, but he's a very clear speaker and he addressed all the questions quite...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Ocean Springs, MSAffiliation: University of ArizonaDr. Ed Cake was one of Ron Dugas' referrals. We had communicated through email on an earlier trip; Ed remembered me well, and was anxious to give me some time. We agreed to meet in Ocean Springs on a Saturday, and held the interview in a Chinese restaurant over in Pascagoula. Driving over (I had left my car at the Chamber of Commerce/Visitor's Center in Ocean Springs), I raised the...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Golden Meadow, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaRonald Callais is a regular at PJ's in Golden Meadow for early morning coffee. The last time out, he agreed to talk, and also gave me the name of Mr. Web Callais (TM034), his uncle. I interviewed him in his office at the shipyard, an office well-stocked with novels (James Lee Burke, among them), with walls filled with official certificates, marking perhaps his service on Lafourche Parish's...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Golden Meadow, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaMr. Web Callais, 88 years old, had been referred to me by his nephew, Ronald Callais of Allied Shipyard (a regular with the coffee group at PJ's in Golden Meadow). I had contacted him on previous trips but never hooked up with him. His grandson, Brad, was visiting him when I arrived, and I explained the project to both of them; several other female relatives came in and out during the...

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Interviewer(s): J. Sell. Houma, LA

Affiliation: University of Arizona

Ruth Camp is the widow of Robert Daniel Camp. Robert worked for Penrod Drilling from 1937 until his retirement in the early 1970's. Robert moved up from roughneck to toolpusher by the 1950's. He worked inland and received an award for deep drilling in a lake.

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): A. Anand. Larose, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaMr. A.J. Cantrelle was referred to me by his son, Buddy Cantrelle. Initially, I was to interview them together, but Mr. Cantrelle Sr. could not make it to that interview, so we met later at his home. Mr. A.J. had a large CCFC (Concerned Citizens for Community, an anti-union group initiated by Edison Chouest Offshore) sign out in his yard and told me that he was one of the first people to put it...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): A. Anand. Cut Off, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaMr. Buddy (A.J.) Cantrelle was referred to me by Mr. Ferrel of Crosby Tugs as a person with extensive offshore experience. He was younger than I'd assumed. Mr. Cantrelle lives in a fairly new house. His wife and daughter were home watching TV in the living room, and I was cursorily introduced to them. On the phone he'd mentioned to me that his father might join us, but Mr. A.J. Cantrelle (Sr.)...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Amelia, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI was referred to Richard Carline by Dewey Wilson. Dewey had worked with Richard when he took a job with Tidewater, and the two of them did many overseas deliveries together. They also were very involved in Tidewater's training program. When I called Richard, he was busy trying to get a vessel ready to go overseas, so we agreed to wait until the following week. I reached him at his office on Monday...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Amelia, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaWallace Carline is the owner and CEO of Diamond Services Corporation, and when I interviewed Earl Hebert, a long-time employee of his, Earl said that I really should interview Wallace. He talked with Wallace about it and arranged for the interview. After a couple of attempts to get together, we managed to coordinate our schedules. I met with Wallace in his office and explained the study, and he...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Galliano, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaRoy Champagne, Sr. was shrimping at night off Campeche when he got chased by gunboats, so he decided to quit shrimping and went to work on crew boats. Roy's friend, Elvis "Al" Chabert, worked his way up through his career as a driller, beginning on Rowan rigs, then working mostly for Texaco. Unlike many of the old-timers, Al and Roy don't hang out for early morning coffee at the Fed Pond in...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): S. Wiltz. Lafayette, LAAffiliation: University of Louisiana at LafayetteMr. J. C. Chargois was born in 1924 in Lafayette and was the third child of Kezz and Louise Chargois. His father was the first city marshal in Lafayette parish in the late 1920s. His grandfather and later his father owned a plantation and opened 450 acres of land that included four springs, which serviced as Lafayette's only swimming pool. After graduating from Lafayette High...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Amelia, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaLloyd Charpentier was referred to me by Richard Carline, another long-time Tidewater employee. Lloyd was not at work when I interviewed Richard, but Richard talked with him about the study. When I called, he was happy to arrange an interview. I met him at his office at Tidewater.Lloyd began his career on the water in the 1950s when he went to work on his uncle's fishing boat. He then...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Galliano, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI called Mr. Jimmie Martin for referrals to shrimpers; he recommended Steven Charpentier as a man who had really made a living on the water. He's been retired for 6 years, and is 71. He is an avid duck carver, on the board of directors of a carving club. After the interview he showed me around his workshop; he intends to donate many of his carvings to the Cajun Heritage Museum that is being set...