Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): S. Wiltz. Lafayette, LAAffiliation: University of Louisiana at LafayetteBen Schrick was born in 1941 in Iowa. He earned his Airframe and Power Plant Certificate from Amarelle Aeronautic Institute in Florida. He was hired by PHI in 1964. In 1965 he received his commercial pilot license, and since then worked as a helicopter mechanic and pilot, working abroad and in Louisiana. He also discusses the importance of helicopters' in the oil industry and his...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): R. Carriker. Lafayette, LAAffiliation: University of Louisiana at LafayetteJohn Shaw is from Stanton, Illinois. He graduated from University of Illinois in 1949 and had a series of jobs in different parts of the country before moving to Louisiana in early 70s. He worked with a variety of companies, including Shell Oil, Exxon-Mobil, and Superior Oil. He also discusses Lafayette, changes in the oil industry, and the Lafayette oil industry in the...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): A. Gardner. New Iberia, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaJerry Shea's company, Bayou Pipe Coating, is one of the biggest employers in the region, and the Sheas have been around since the 30's. Jerry lives on the family property in a beautiful, large house on the bayou. His wife, Harriet, arrived halfway through the interview but did not participate. Jerry is retired now, but he still plays a semi-active role in the business. Our conversation jumped...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. Stewart. Houston, TXAffiliation: University of Houston/History InternationalAfter serving in World War II as a B17 pilot, Mr. O.J. Shirley attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated in 1948. He joined Shell that same year. After training he worked in various capacities from Texas to Wyoming. Eventually, he became a district engineer in the Houston division. He worked in New Orleans as an area coordinator and production superintendent. ...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Patterson, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaWilliam Gilbert (W.G.) Shivers became involved in the history study after he learned about it from his younger brother, Robert Shivers (see AG047p, AG048). Robert was interviewed for the study and told his brother about it. W.G. called the university and tracked down our research team. He lives in Hull, Texas, but he and his son drove to Patterson for the interview. The interview is rich with...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): S. Wiltz. Lafayette, LAAffiliation: University of Louisiana at LafayetteBobby Simon was born in Abbeyville, LA, and moved to Lafayette in 1959 to attend University of Southwestern Louisiana. Began work as a medical technician Charity Hospital and by 1976 he and a couple colleagues opened their own occupational medicine business. Then he developed an interest in occupational drug testing and worked a lot with testing in the oil industry. He discusses...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. DiTucci and S. Wiltz. Lafayette, LAAffiliation: University of Louisiana at LafayetteLarry Smith was born in 1932 in Crowley, but was raised in New Iberia. His father was a drilling production superintendent for Texaco. He graduated high school in 1951 and went to Southwestern Louisiana Institute (SLI) where he was pre-medicine; he worked in the oilfields as a flunkey on his summer breaks. He decided he wanted to fly and so applied and was accepted...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. New Orleans, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaJoe Sanford referred me to Roy Smith. Roy's wife, Natalie, was out at the mailbox when I pulled up to the house, and she told me to go on in through the kitchen door. Roy was sitting at the kitchen table, so we decided to do the interview there. Before we started, Natalie took me into the hallway to the bedrooms and showed me the photos she has hanging there. She has copied and laminated...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): S. Wiltz. Lafayette, LAAffiliation: University of Louisiana at LafayetteClaude Sonnier was born in 1918 in Scott, Louisiana, into a farming family. He attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute (SLI) from 1937-40, earning a degree in electrical engineering. After graduating, he got a surveying job with S and W Construction, but was soon drafted into the Army during World War Two, where he stayed for five years. Upon leaving the military in December...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Cut Off, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI was referred to George St. Pierre by Katherine Richardelle. George and his wife, Helen, were present throughout the interview. George was very forthright about his lack of education and how it prevented him from taking promotions and moving up within the company. Despite his lack of formal education, George was a keen observer, both of what was happening around him and of the social dynamics in...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): A. Gardner. St. Martinville, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaJoe Standridge was referred by Jimmy Hebert. Joe grew up in the oilfields in Arkansas. His family spent time in the Smackover field in Arkansas. His father helped invent some of the early equipment they used there, including a mud conveyor belt.Joe began working for Shell in the late 1940's and spent his entire career with the company. Once in Louisiana, he started working at...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Morgan City, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI was referred to Barbara Stansbury by her neighbor, Jerry Cunningham. Barbara's first husband died after they were married only five years. Both he and her second husband worked for the oil and gas industry, and Barbara spent her life managing a large household within the constraints of her husbands' work schedules and needs.Barbara Ross Stansbury was born in Berwick and moved to...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): S. Wiltz. Lafayette, LAAffiliation: University of Louisiana at LafayetteRichard Steinhorst was born in Oklahoma and graduated with a degree in Petroleum Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1937. He worked for Texas Company in Oklahoma, Illinois, and Kansas. Then he switched to British-American Oil Producing Company, working in Colorado for 2 years before ending up in Lafayette in 1957. Eventually he became an independent contractor in 1962....

Scope and Contents

Interviewer(s): D. DiTucci and S. Wiltz. Lafayette, LA

Affiliation: University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Don Stemmans was born in 1936 near Carencro. He spent 16 years in the oilfields for Superior Oil Company, then quit to shoe horses and work at the racetrack. The oil industry treated him well, they paid well, and had excellent benefits. He discusses various experiences from his days in the oilfields and on the rigs.

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. Priest. Houston, TX: Jamie Christy Index.Affiliation: University of Houston/History InternationalLeighton Steward was a geologist for Shell Oil in the Gulf of Mexico for many years. He grew up in Fairfield, Texas. He attended SMU and received a bachelor's and master's degree (1960) in geology. Mr. Steward was in the Air Force for three years and was then hired by Shell in November of 1962. He worked in the Houston division for a couple of years...