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...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): A. Anand. Chauvin, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaMr. D.J. Chauvin, a retired mud engineer, was referred to me by Rob Gorman of Catholic Social Services (Houma). I met him at his home in Chauvin, where I also met his wife Lucy. They live in a relatively new subdivision, and the house was easy to locate. D.J. and I conducted the interview by the mantelpiece in their dining room, while Lucy sat further away at the dining table. D.J. and Lucy...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): A. Anand. Chauvin, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaMr. Ferrel Chauvin was referred to me by his younger brother, Mr. D.J. Chauvin, who also called him to introduce me. Both Mr. and Mrs. Chauvin (Grace) were quite friendly (she came in mid-interview), and the interview was quite informative. We talked for a while about traveling, and about various things in general like cultural differences. The Chauvins have traveled a fair bit, and Mr. Ferrel...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): J. Sell. Houma, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaA significant number of people in government and business suggested talking to Kerry Chauvin, who is chairman and chief executive officer of Gulf Island Fabrication. The interview took place at the corporate offices near the main yard at the end of Thompson Road. His office is unpretentious, considering he is CEO and chairman of the board of a NASDAQ listed company. That, and small things like the...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Galliano, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaMJ Cheramie and his son, Tony, had been recruited by Kerry St. Pé of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program to be part of the "action team" for this project, and both had agreed to talk with us. For several days, I had been working through Tony to set things up with some of the companies old-time captains, and I interviewed MJ in his office when he returned from a trip to Mississippi...

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...