Born to a barber and a beautician in 1942, Corky Richards did not grow up in the seafood industry, but he got in it as soon as he could. Corky's family moved to Apalachicola when he was a teenager, and he immediately got to work on the bay. Using his carpentry skills, he began to make his own oyster tongs. One year in the off-season, a local marine supply company asked him to make tongs for the store. Soon, Corky was making and selling tongs to oystermen throughout Franklin County. Business was so good that Corky opened a woodworking shop. Originally, he worked in a building on Water Street in downtown Apalachicola. There, Corky fashioned pine and steel into custom pieces. Today, Corky and his son, Rodney, work together in a workshop on the edge of town. Now, though, they spend more time making cabinets than tongs. But Rodney still makes and repairs tongs for some of his father's longtime customers. They are the only ones in town still making them by hand. And they may not be doing it much longer. Corky says that when he retires, Rodney will probably retire too. And the days of handcrafted oyster tongs will retire with them. UPDATE: Albert "Corky" Richards passed away in July of 2008.

Scope and Content Note
In the interview conducted on January 9, 2006, Corky Richards discusses his life and work as an oyster tong maker. He talks about his upbringing, his return to Apalachicola, and his involvement in various activities like oystering, crabbing, and fishing. Corky explains the process of making oyster tongs and mentions the increasing prices of tongs over the years. He discusses the length and teeth variations of the tongs and the involvement of his son, Rodney, in his work. Corky also talks about the history and decline of the oyster industry in Apalachicola, expresses concerns about the future, and reflects on the changes he has witnessed. He mentions his woodworking endeavors, including building cabinets and doors, and discusses the impact of hurricanes and pollution on the bay. The interview also touches on the use of different tong heads and the transition from solely making tongs to other woodworking projects. Corky reflects on his career, the decline in the number of oystermen, and his hopes to continue adapting to the changing circumstances. Lastly, there is a discussion about miniature oyster tongs, their creation as novelty items, and their display in Corky's houseboat. Rodney, Corky's apprentice, doesn't have any additional comments to add.