Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): J. Sell. Houma, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaA number of people said I should talk to Ron Brooks at Patterson Real Estate. While he has been living continuously in Houma since 1978, he was president of a major real estate firm and known as a collector of economic information about the community. I called him and told him I was interested in his perspective of the role of oil in community development, and he said he could spare an hour. As we...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D.Austin; Norma Cormier. New Iberia, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI (Norma) met Mr. Broussard through a couple I had previously interviewed. When I asked them if they would know someone who had worked in the oil business that would be at lest 60 years old, they referred me to their neighbor. Mr. Broussard is 64 years old and had been retired since 1993. He retired from Otis after 29 years of service. He did an outstanding job for them and was...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. New Iberia, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaSammy Broussard, Jr. had participated in the 1998-1999 study of the impacts of the offshore oil and gas industry on individuals and families in New Iberia and Morgan City. I called and told him about the history study, and he agreed to participate. He was very pleasant and open and alternated talking about his father and his own history. He described struggling to keep the company going during...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Lake Charles, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaWilliam Brown was referred to me by Mary Ann Galletti. Willie had worked for J&J Divers, a company out of Pasadena, Texas that was started by John Galletti and Joe Carroll. I met Willie at his home near Lake Charles. Willie met me out front and informed me that he had prepared his "props". He sat me down on the couch and then brought in albums, boxes of materials, and other items. We...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): A. Anand. Houma, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaMr Billy Bundy was referred to me by Mr James Dishman of Rainbow International Carpet Care in Houma (Mr Dishman's daughter Jamie struck up a conversation with me at Sunrise Fried Chicken in Houma when she noticed the Arizona license plates on Diane's car; upon hearing of the offshore history project, she suggested I look up her father). Mr. Bundy is also a notary public and is a friendly, talkative...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): C. Leza and C. O'Donnell. Thibodaux, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaLeon Burcalow was referred to us by another participant in the project. Leon spoke at length and in great detail about his experiences in World War II. Leon also answered questions and spoke to us about his career in onshore oil. He was eager to share some pictures from an excellent book he had on World War II and treat us to some great seafood at a local restaurant. This...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. River Ridge, LA.Affiliation: University of ArizonaSeveral people told me I should contact Jim Burgess for an interview, but I had a hard time reaching him because he still works on a 30 and 30 schedule overseas. When I was at Buddy Ayers' house in July, Buddy told me that Jim was home and took me over to his house. Jim was packing to return to work, but he took time out for the interview. While Jim and I talked, Buddy sat in the kitchen with...

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...