Buddy Daisy & Earl Melancon
CWPPRA Personal Reflections: Environmental Portraits and Oral Histories of Louisiana’s Coastal Wetlands Stakeholders
The goal of CWPPRA’s Personal Reflections Project is to capture the lives and stories of Louisiana residents who have been stewards of the wetlands and storytellers who open the door to the world of habitat protection and preservation. Each person has a unique tale, but the Louisiana wetlands have been a part of all of their lives. We invite you to learn more about these coastal caretakers. We have tried to capture our Louisiana guardians in two ways; the first with an environmental portrait and the second with an oral history.
Taylor Suir
Mr. Walton "Buddy" Daisy was born in 1944 in Houma, Louisiana, where he has lived his entire life. He began working in the oyster industry at the age of sixteen, following the death of his father when he was twelve years old. Daisy started his career in the oyster industry by working for his brother to help support his mother. Over the years, he has witnessed significant changes in the industry, particularly in terms of regulations and the shift from a focus on winter oyster harvesting to a year-round operation. Daisy has four children, one of whom has passed away, seven grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Dr. Earl Melancon, born in 1951, is a native of Thibodeaux, Louisiana. He has spent his entire life in Thibodeaux, except for a period when he attended graduate school at Louisiana State University (LSU) and worked at the marine lab in Port Fourchon. Melancon began his career as an oyster biologist 38 years ago and has since developed a deep understanding of the oyster industry. He was introduced to the Daisy family early in his career and has maintained a close relationship with them, particularly with Buddy Daisy. Melancon is a proud father of three children and two grandchildren, and he is happily married.
Scope and Content Note
The interview conducted by Susan Testroet-Bergeron and Lane Lefort with Buddy Daisy and Dr. Earl Melancon on August 23, 2012, primarily focuses on their experiences and memories related to the Louisiana Coastal Wetlands and the oyster industry. Daisy and Melancon discuss the changes they have observed in the industry over the years, particularly in terms of regulations and the shift from a focus on winter oyster harvesting to a year-round operation. They also discuss the impact of foreign imports on the local oyster industry and the transition from a canning factory part of the industry to a trade for shucked oysters and half-shell trade. The interview also touches on the personal lives of Daisy and Melancon, including their family backgrounds and how they came to know each other. The interview concludes with Daisy and Melancon expressing their hopes that their messages about the changes in the oyster industry and the need for action will reach the right people.
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