Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): J. Christy. Morgan City, LAAffiliation: University of Houston/History InternationalAlden Vining worked in the oil field for Kerr McGee, Phillips Oil and Shell Oil companies. He was born in 1936 and attended high school in Morgan City, Louisiana. Alden worked on boats, towing rigs and barges, and as a general hand during his high school years when he was off for the summers. He witnessed the conversion of LST's and shrimps boats to service the oil...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): Colleen O'Donnell; Christina Leza; Diane Austin. Morgan City, LA.Affiliation: University of ArizonaWe were referred to Laurie J. Vining by Fannie Hobbs who had been interviewed for the offshore history project. Fannie showed us a collection of local World War II veterans' biographies that she had been working on. Laurie was one of Fannie's friends and interviewees who participated in her project. She told us that after working in the Landing Craft...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Houma, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaAfter several attempts, I got in to see Mike Voisin of Motivatit Seafoods to chat with him about his role with the Louisiana Oyster Task Force and other matters. He then introduced me to his father, Ernie Voisin, and he talked about the oysters. While the interview ranged over a number of issues, Mr. Ernie was most animated in discussing the unique pressure-processing techniques they had invented....

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): J. Piekielek. Dulac, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI met the Magnus and Elvira Voisin at the Knights of Columbus senior bingo the week before completing this interview. Magnus said that he had worked for Dixie Drilling and several other companies in the oil fields, until he quit to work full time as a fisherman. He and his wife "Blackie" agreed to meet with me later at their house. Blackie's sister also lives with them, and she came in and out...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): J. Piekielek; S. Kennedy. Dulac, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaMary Voisin, the receptionist at the Dulac community center, mentioned the Harry Bourg Corporation to us when we first arrived in Dulac. She suggested that we get in touch with her sister-in-law, Lydia Voisin, because she might be able to tell us some of the history of the corporation. I called Lydia, and she said that the corporation probably had some old articles or other...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): J. Sell. Houma, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaJack Voss was recommended by John Monteiro, as a long-term oil service industry manager. Jack was contacted directly by John and agreed to be interviewed. We had some trouble finding a time to meet, but he eventually came over to the motel and we interviewed on site.Jack Voss has been in the oil industry since he started working for Texaco in 1946. In 1947, he shifted to Coastal Oil...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. New Orleans, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaCaptain Pete Vujnovich (pronounced "vianovich") operates Capt. Pete's Oysters on Rampart Street, bordering the French Quarter. Kerry St. Pé had mentioned that Capt. Pete was getting frail and needed to be interviewed. Capt. Pete's son Pete in on the BTNEP Management Conference although the name I dropped in setting up the interview was Wilbert Collins from Golden Meadow. Our conversation...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): J. Sell. Houma, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaWarren Waguespack was one of the people contacted by Diana Edmonson of the Council on Aging. Warren started working with Texaco on a gravity meter crew in 1954. Because of the low pay and rough working conditions, he went to work with Halliburton the next year. In 1958 he was laid off by Halliburton, but immediately got a job with Union Oil, "which was the best thing that ever happened." That year...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): Diane Austin; Christina Leza; Colleen O'Donnell. Larose, LA.Affiliation: University of ArizonaCharlie Wallace learned of the history study when he visited Carol Mathias at the Ellender Archives at Nicholls State University to give her a copy of the book he created about his experiences in WWII. She learned that he had worked in the oil and gas industry and asked if he would be interested in sharing his story. He agreed and was my first interviewee....

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Slidell, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaI was introduced to Al Warriner by Walt Daspit. Walt arranged for us to go to Al's shop and talk with him. We found him in his office in Slidell. Al was very receptive to the interview and talked almost nonstop for three hours. He had an active career and continues to work with his son. He lamented the fact that he was not allowed to renew his pilot's license this year because of his age (85)....

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): R. Higgins. Morgan City, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaGarver Watkins was born in 1933 in Patterson, Louisiana. He grew up in Berwick and attended high school in Morgan City. During the summers he worked in boat businesses that supported the oil industry, first with his father and then his uncle. He spent some time at the University of Southwestern and was drafted into the Army, serving two years in Korea. When his father's health declined,...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): D. Austin. Houma, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaAnnie Weaver was referred to me by Tom Becnel. He knew that her husband had worked in the oil and gas industry and recommended Annie as a good source of information on Houma and how it was impacted by the industry. Annie is 92 years old and moved to Houma with her husband and three children in 1939. They were planning to stay 2 years and then leave, but they were adopted by their French neighbors...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): J. P. Theriot. Clear Lake, TXAffiliation: University of Arizona/History InternationalCaptain Bob Webbon is a Houston Pilot. He was raised in Port Arthur and became interested in maritime activities through his father, who was chief engineer on vessels. Captain Webbon attended Texas A&M Merchant Marine Academy began working for EXXON Shipping in 1985. He spent twelve years transporting crude via ship on the West Coast from Alaska to Panama. He has...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): A. Gardner. New Iberia, LAAffiliation: University of ArizonaAdam Welcome was referred by Susan Lissard. I met with Adam at his home outside New Iberia. Adam is the first black oilfield worker I interviewed, and he provided a glimpse of the race relations implicit in the industrial labor force in the South. At the same time, his work for the Exxon Employee Federation helped illuminate some of the strategies the energy companies sought to avoid outright...

Scope and Contents Interviewer(s): T. Priest. Washington, D.CAffiliation: University of Houston/History InternationalRobin West received his B.A. from University of North Carolina and his J.D. from Temple University. He served in the Ford Administration on the White House staff (1974-76) and as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Economic Affairs (1976-77). During 1977-1980, he was a first vice president of Blyth, Eastman, Dillon & Co., Inc., an investment...