Scope and Contents Interviewer: Jacob CampbellAffiliation: University of ArizonaMrs. Fondren contacted me after seeing the project description in the Courier, saying that she wished to contribute to the study by sharing her story. We met at her house, where she served me pie and coffee. She continues to work as an accountant, and maintains relationships with many people in town by doing their taxes, and through the church. Her husband Jim is a Texaco retiree, but they did not socialize...

Scope and Contents

Interviewer: Victoria Phaneuf

Affiliation: University of Arizona

We arranged to meet at Reena Ford's house. It's currently a MEMA cottage just north of Beach Blvd. The original house was on the boulevard, but it was destroyed in Katrina. We snacked on pizza and some wine while we talked.

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Preetam Prakash and Kelly McLainAffiliation: University of ArizonaPreetam was referred to Mr. Otis Gates. We met at his home in Pass Christian, Mississippi. He entered the United States Army in 1952 as a cook. The Army sent him to school for both his GED and LPN degrees. He had met his wife in the Army early in his career and her family was from Pass Christian. After his retirement from the Army in 1972, they settled their family in Pass Christian. Mr....

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Victoria PhaneufAffiliation: University of ArizonaI was given Mr. Gazzier’s phone number the day before by an acquaintance. When I called, his daughter/secretary said he had time to meet with me, so I should come over. About 10 minutes later we met in his office at his shipyard in Bayou la Batre.Mr. Gazzier was born in 1947 and built his first boat when he was 13. Both his father and grandfather were in the boat building business. He ran his...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Jacob CampbellAffiliation: University of ArizonaJohn was referred by Gerald Atkins during the History II study but never contacted. We met at the Coco Marina in Cocodrie, which Mr. Glover owns and has built up since acquiring it in 1974. While he always envisioned the Marina to be a sport and recreation facility, he needed oil industry money to finance the business. Therefore, he serviced industry boats through the 1970s and 1980s, only recently focusing...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Jacob CampbellAffiliation: University of ArizonaMr. Golden was referred by David Smith; Mr. Golden was Smitty’s boss at Bay Drilling for many years. Smitty spoke about Mr. Golden in reverent terms, noting that he was a tough boss, that he had invented the Kelly Spinner, an important tool, and that I would be lucky if he would talk to me. Mr. Golden agreed to meet with me at his home, after some persistence on my part. He has had health problems and has...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Laura EkAffiliation: University of ArizonaReferred to the Goodells by Gary Hernandez, I met with them at their home in Lafayette one evening for an interview with them both. Both originally from New Orleans, they chose to move from New Orleans to Lafayette in 1996 for Kim’s job. They met each other working for Amoco oil in New Orleans and got married. Kim is currently retired (since 2005) from her 23 year position in securing offshore drilling leases for...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Laura EkAffiliation: University of ArizonaI met Mr. William Hagan at a SPWLA (Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts) meeting at the Petroleum Club a week before. He approached me and gave me his card, and we set up an interview at his office at Stratagraph.William Hagan was born in Lafayette, and lived here until moving to Baton Rouge at age nine. He went to high school there, graduating in 1993. He moved to Shreveport for college...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Diane Austin and Laura EkAffiliation: University of ArizonaLaura was referred to King Munson by Steven Anderson, a fellow geologist in the oil center who had collaborated on projects with Mr. King in the past.King Munson grew up in New Iberia, Louisiana where he still lives today. He has an independent geologist consulting business in the oil center where he currently works. He graduated high school in 1976. He left the state to attend college...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Laura EkAffiliation: University of ArizonaReferred to Frank Harrison by several previous interviewees as an important person to speak with on the history of Lafayette, I called Mr. Harrison and set up a meeting. We met at his office at Optimistic Oil.Mr. Frank Harrison was born in 1926 in Michigan. He served in World War II, and then in 1950, Mr. Harrison moved to New Orleans. He then went to Baton Rouge to attend LSU, where in 1951 he began...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Laura Ek, with Lillian MillerAffiliation: University of ArizonaI met Harold and Sarah Schoeffler through David Goodwyn. He referred me to them as long-time social and environmental activists with the Lafayette community. After being introduced to them, I set up an interview with them at their home a few days later. Lillian Miller was invited and accompanied me to the interview.Harold Schoeffler is from Lafayette, Louisiana. His grandfather,...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Jacob CampbellAffiliation: University of ArizonaMr. Millet is a family friend of the interviewer’s friend, David Davis, who grew up in Houma. After a dinner at the Millet’s house, Mr. Frank agreed to be interviewed about his career in the oil field service industry. Georgette, Frank’s wife, was also supportive of this project, and offered to help obtain statistics and historical documents from the study period, through her position with the City of Houma....

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Preetam PrakashAffiliation: University of ArizonaMr. Nolan had been referred to me by a few others whom I had interviewed in the area around Bayou La Batre as someone who had experience in both the seafood and offshore oil industries. I contacted Mr. Nolan and explained that the connection between shrimping and fishing and the offshore oil industry was something that I was hoping to gain more insight into. Mr. Nolan agreed to meet with me for an oral...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Preetam PrakashAffiliation: University of ArizonaBobby Harrison was one of the offshore workers who responded to the article that Preetam had placed in the Meridian Star on April 19th, 2010. Bobby contacted Preetam the following afternoon. He initially seemed uncertain about when a good time to get together for an interview might be, but called back in the evening and said that it would be fine for Preetam to come over to his place in Collinsville that...

Scope and Contents Interviewer: Victoria PhaneufAffiliation: University of ArizonaI had met Gabriel Rel sometime earlier, he is related to some friends of mine and owns a Mexican restaurant in town with their niece/cousin. We had met in person a few times and spoken on the phone to arrange the interview. We had originally made arrangements to do the interview with a friend of his who had worked in offshore oil since the 70s, but something came up that day and he couldn't make it. We met...