Allen Amason
Dock Stories
The Dock Stories project incorporates oral history research with other research methods in order to address simultaneous issues being experienced by fishing communities in Georgia. The project goals are to improve infrastructure and industry sustainability by identifying improvement opportunities within the constraints of land use, environmental impacts, weather patterns, aging infrastructure, and evolving vessel needs, while also documenting the cultural history of commercial fishing docks in Georgia. An integral part of the project is training student researchers in the Georgia Southern Anthropology program. Under the guidance of Dr. Sweeney Tookes (Georgia Southern University) and Bryan Fluech (University of Georgia Marine Extension & Georgia Sea Grant), students are receiving comprehensive training in conducting interviews, oral histories, and appropriate interview protocols. They then spend several days at a time on the Georgia coast, learning firsthand about the marshes, estuaries, vessels, and communities before commencing lengthy oral history interviews with local experts on the industry. This project began in 2024 and will continue through 2026, coordinated by Graduate Student Project Manager, Kristin Meeuwen.
Blake Pavri
On March 4, 2025, Kristin Meewen and Blake Pavri interviewed Allen Amason in Statesboro, Georgia, for the Dock Stories oral history project. Allen Amason, former Dean of Georgia Southern University and a scholar in strategic management, reflects on his early years growing up and working at his family's shrimp, crab, and ice processing facility in coastal Georgia. Founded by his grandfather in the 1940s and later expanded by his father in the 1970s, the business reached its peak in the 1980s and employed over 100 workers. Amason discusses his roles over time—from laborer to manager—and shares memories of daily operations, dock culture, and working alongside family. He describes the facility's unique scale and functions compared to other docks in the region, the seasonal rhythm of the industry, and the physical demands of the work. He comments on changes in environmental regulations, safety standards, and infrastructure needs over time, and reflects on the broader decline of the shrimping industry. Amason also shares personal anecdotes and expresses nostalgia for the community and way of life centered around the dock.
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