Leonard Crosby
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.
Logan Collins
On March 1, 2025, Logan Collins and Lilah Henderson interviewed Captain Leonard Crosby at his home in Richmond Hill, Bryan County, Georgia, for the Dock Stories oral history project. Captain Leonard Crosby is a lifelong commercial fisherman and former dock manager who played a central role in establishing the Bryan County Fishermen’s Cooperative in the late 1970s. Raised in Georgia, Crosby spent thirteen years working for the railroad before transitioning to shrimping full-time. He was an early participant in offshore diversification efforts led by the University of Georgia Marine Extension Service. He became a leader among local fishers advocating for infrastructure investment in their region.
In the interview, Crosby recounts the formation, development, and eventual closure of the Bryan County Co-Op Dock. He details the cooperative's founding, with support from Dr. Ed Chin and Dave Arrington, as well as the challenges of land acquisition and the financial and legal hurdles involved in launching a locally owned facility. Crosby describes the dock’s facilities—including a 900-foot dock, heading house, ice machine, marine railway, and storeroom—as well as the variety of activities it supported, from shrimping and conching to soft-shell crab production. As dock manager for six years, he coordinated boat unloading, liaised with buyers, and oversaw maintenance and operations. Crosby also addresses the effects of global shrimp imports, increasing fuel prices, environmental regulations, and storm events on the cooperative’s viability. He shares anecdotes about his experiences offshore, humorous moments with fellow workers, and his efforts to stay afloat in the industry despite mounting challenges. The interview concludes with reflections on changes in Georgia’s commercial fishing landscape, including dock closures and the need for infrastructure to support future generations of fishermen.
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