Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Cut Off, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI was referred to Linwood "Boz" Cheramie by his coworker, George St. Pierre. George had recommended that I talk with Boz because he was known as the practical joker on the rigs, so I was looking forward to hearing his stories. I talked with Boz's wife on the phone, and she was hesitant at first because Boz had fallen on his head and also suffered a mild stroke, and he has trouble with his memory....

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): A. Anand. Houma, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI met Mark Cheramie and Eric Vizier at Penny and Ray Adams' home, where they seemed to have dropped in for a conversation and some food. Diane and I were there to talk to Ricky Cheramie, but often the conversation was general, and it turned out that Mark and Eric (who are cousins) had both recently lost their jobs for trying to organize their workplaces. They were both very outgoing and worked up...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): E. Bernier. Cut Off, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI received R.J. Cheramie's name from Raymond Dupre. Mr. Dupre seemed hesitant to give any names but then decided that the President of the Exxon Retirees Club would be a good person for me to talk to. R.J. was skeptical at first as to what our future purposes were for the information we were going to be gathering. After I explained that the interviews would be for posterity's sake for a large...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): A. Gardner. New Iberia, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaHubert Chesson was recommended to me by Rene Seneca. Both are Texaco hands. I met Hubert on his porch on the outskirts of New Iberia. He was working in the yard and wearing the ubiquitous coveralls. His hands were dirty with oil and grease from whatever he was doing. Hubert was a fun guy to talk to - he was frank and forthright with me, and there was lots of good material in the interview. He...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): James Sell; Diane Austin. Houma, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaBoth L.J. Folse and Hartwell Lewis mentioned C J Christ as a local historian, although his reputation had to do with his knowledge of U-boats in the Gulf so I put off contacting him. When I had some free time, I looked up his address and found that he lived right next to my motel, so I called. He invited me over immediately, so I gathered my notebooks and tape recorder and walked...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): J. Piekielek. Boothville, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaMichael and Daisy Dardar suggested that I talk with Joe Clark, their new council member who represents them in the Parish government, and a family friend. Michael called and arranged for me to meet with Joe at his new office after work. They said that Joe was someone their parents' age and had worked several kinds of jobs which allowed him to be familiar with various aspects of the...

Scope and Contents Audio Only.Interviewer(s): T. Priest. Amarillo, TXAffiliation: University of Houston/History InternationalRobey Clark went to LSU in 1939 and joined the Navy before graduation. However, they still gave him a diploma. After serving on the Gulf Coast during World War II, Mr. Clark got a job with Magnolia. He worked in various locations throughout the Southern U.S. in geology, mapping, and analysis. He became heavily involved in Offshore Gulf of Mexico and...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): E. Bernier. Cut Off, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaMr. Jay Cochennic's name was given to me by Mrs. Viviane DeFelice of Larose. When I interviewed the DeFelices in January, I asked about finding someone who worked for Schlumberger, as we had not found anyone who had worked for them yet. Mrs. DeFelice told me she thought Mr. Cochennic had worked for Schlumberger. When I reached Mr. Cochennic in March, he was happy to be interviewed; in fact he...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Morgan City, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaBob Cockerham was referred to me by Jerry Cunningham during our study on the impacts of the offshore oil and gas industry on individuals and families in southern Louisiana. I had asked Jerry for help getting more information on drilling and on the history and evolution of the offshore oil and gas industry, and Jerry introduced me to Bob. Bob was 80 years old at the time of the interview and...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Berwick, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI interviewed Bob Cockerham for our study on the impacts of the offshore oil and gas industry on individuals and families in southern Louisiana. He was 80 years old at the time of the interview (see DA000). We met in his office at the VFW and talked for a couple of hours. Bob passed away in November 2002. After his death, I contacted his wife, Joyce, for permission to include his interview in the...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): R. Carriker. Lafayette, LAAffiliation: University of Louisiana at LafayetteOne of three boys, Ed Collins was born in 1924 in Laurel, Mississippi. His father owned a plumbing business. While in high school he roughnecked a bit on a drilling rig and worked as a rod man on a survey crew. After graduating high school and serving during World War Two, he spent a semester at Mississippi State before studying petroleum engineering at Louisiana State...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Golden Meadow, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaWilbert Collins, born in 1937, is one of only a handful of oystermen left in lower Lafourche Parish. His grandfather started the business in the 1930's, and Wilbert's son Tracy is carrying it on - the fourth generation. After 50 years of working oysters, Wilbert himself isn't going out on the boats much anymore. He is active in the Louisiana Dealers and Growers Association, fighting with...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. Priest. Houston, TXAffiliation: University of Houston/History InternationalBruce Collipp graduated from MIT in 1953 with a masters degree. He started at Shell in 1954. He worked with Shell's Technical Service Division to develop offshore technology. He is credited as the father of the semi-submersible after the construction and placement of the Bluewater One. His efforts earned him the Holley Medal from the American Society of Mechanical...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): R. Carriker. Lafayette, LAAffiliation: University of Louisiana at LafayetteMr. Comeaux was born in the early 1920s in Austin, Louisiana. His father was a farmer. He graduated high school when he was 16 years old and attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL) while also working for the Civilian Conservation Corps (for two years) and for the college. He enlisted in the Air Force and spent most of 1942-45 in Europe. After going to a few trade...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): S. Wiltz. Lafayette, LAAffiliation: University of Louisiana at LafayetteLeon Comeaux was born in Carencro, Louisiana in 1936. His father was a dairyman for a while and later became a salesman selling dairy-related products. He went to Southwestern Louisiana Institute from 1954 and received a degree in geology in 1958. Jobs were hard to find, so he ended up roughnecking and roustabouting for Superior Oil Company. After being knocked out on a rig, he...