Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Golden Meadow, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI met Chester Cheramie at the boucherie in Cut Off and arranged to interview him the following morning at the Fed Pond in Golden Meadow, where he is a regular at the morning coffee gathering.Born in Golden Meadow in 1923, Chester Cheramie was one of seven siblings in a trapping/fishing family. He graduated from high school, spent three and a half years in the Navy, then returned...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Grand Isle, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaArthur Bellanger, referred to me by Jean Landry, was born and raised in Lockport, and visited Grand Isle while his father, a carpenter, was building camps. After school, Arthur took a job with Louisiana Power and Light, and for 11 years was responsible for electrical work from Leeville to Fourchon to Grand Isle. He then took a job with Conoco, getting tired of being on call 24 hours a day for...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): E. Bernier. Houma, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI met Jerry Benton through his sister, Mary Samaha. I had a brief interview with him in January when I stopped by to talk to Mary, and she called Jerry to come over. He is the oldest son of Mary's mother and stepfather, Escoe Benton. Jerry helped to run Benton Casing for many years. Since selling off his father's business due to the recession of the 80's, he has slowly been saving money and has...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): J. Sell. Houma, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaBobby Bergeron is the Parish President of Terrebonne Parish. As such, he was someone I wanted to interview to gain his perspective on oil and community development. Other people also recommended him because he also represents something of a success story in oil service business.Bobby Bergeron worked in the oil fields as a floor hand during summer vacations from high school. After...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): Tom McGuire; Diane AustinAffiliation: University of ArizonaMelvin Bernard is part of the network of Chevron people I got into after first interviewing Butch Renois early on in the project. Some of the discussion deals with his recollections of the relations between Otto Candies and Humble: Otto could speak French, and thus negotiate land leases for Humble, so Humble gave Otto all of the company's supply/crewboat business. He also passed on some...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Grand Isle, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaFrank "Peco" Besson was recommend to me by Jean Landry. I called him at his souvenir and bait shop along the highway, and he told me to come over. He was doing some repair work, getting the shop ready for the season. Most of the first side of the tape is concerned with looking through photos and other materials Peco has at the souvenir shop. The second side has some discussion of oil and gas...

Scope and Contents Audio Only.Interviewer(s): T. Priest. Weimar, TXAffiliation: University of Houston/History InternationalMr. James Bibee graduated from University of Tennessee with a degree in Geology in 1950, and immediately went to work for Gulf. After spending a couple of years with another company in Colorado, Gulf hired him again in 1956 to work offshore at their New Orleans office. He worked on the 1970 and 1972 lease sales at the time when bright spots became an...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): Betsy Plumb; Joanna Stone. Dulac, LA.Affiliation: University of ArizonaThis interview was conducted as part of the study of the links between WWII and the offshore industry. Win was referred to us by Corinne Paulk, and she set up this interview. Win came with his wife, but she sat across the table and did not participate in the interview. He talks about his service during WWII and also his years as a tugboat captain servicing the offshore industry....

Scope and Contents Audio Only.Interviewer(s): S. Kennedy. Dulac, LA.Affiliation: University of ArizonaI was referred to Mr. Wilbert Billiot by Kirby Verret. Mr. Kirby told me that he thought that Wilbert was one of the first Houma Indian to really move up the chain of command in the oil and gas industry. When I mentioned this to Mr. Wilbert, he chuckled and said not really. When I arrived at his house he was wearing an oil-stained tee-shirt, and said that he was getting...

Scope and Contents Audio Only.Interviewer(s): T. Priest. Dallas, TX.Affiliation: University of Houston/History InternationalMr. Charlie Blackburn had a long career with Shell begining in 1952 after he graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.S. in engineering physics. He became Chief Petroleum Engineer for Houston E/P area in 1964. In 1966 he served as Budget Coordinator for Shell E/P and later became Southwestern Production Division Manager. In 1968 he became...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): J. Sell. Houma, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaAcklin Blanchard was recommended by Diana Edmonson, and is one of the people from Montegut who went to work for Texaco. He and his wife met me in his new home.Acklin Blanchard started work with Texaco in 1947 at the shipyard and warehouse in Montegut, loading supplies, cement and pipes, for $.87 per hour with an extra ten cents for overtime. In 1949 he started in field production,...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): E. Bernier. Houma, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI received Melvin's name from Herman LeBlanc. Melvin worked for several different contract companies during his time with the oil field. Melvin talks about his oil experiences with much interest. He seems glad to be out of it, but is also thankful to the oil industry for providing him with work. His last comment was very telling. He said, "Well the oil industry hasn't changed one bit. My nephew...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Morgan City, LA.Affiliation: University of ArizonaRosalie Blum was referred to me by Steve Shirley. She is a lifelong resident of Morgan City, and Steve suggested she would be able to talk about the oil and gas industry and its impacts on the community. Rosalie was hesitant as she felt that she did not know much about the oil and gas industry, but after we talked for a while she agreed to be interviewed. As a native of Morgan City, Rosalie...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Lockport, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaIn addition to her position at Bollinger's, Charlotte is active in various community organizations. I interviewed her when I was investigating educational issues in southern Louisiana for the baseline study we conducted in 1997. When I called her to ask if she would be willing to do an oral history interview, she invited me to come over within the hour. I met her in her office and we talked for a...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): J. Sell. Houma, LA.Affiliation: University of ArizonaBob Bonnette is another person identified by Diana Edmonson of the Houma Council on Aging. He and his wife live in a newer part of Houma, not far from the Civic Center and YMCA. He has a good retirement package, and has been able to be active in community politics. While he doesn't regret the work, he is very aware of the "fast and loose" accounting of the oil fields.Adrian (Bob)...