Timothy Schmit was born in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, in 1962. He earned a B.S. and M.S. in Meteorology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After graduating, he worked as a researcher for the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies. From 1996 to the present, Mr. Schmit has worked as a meteorologist for NOAA/NESDIS and is based in Madison, Wisconsin.  

Scope and Content Note

Dr. Jerome "Nick" Heffter served as a research meteorologist at OAR's Air Resources Lab. He was a pioneer in modeling the dispersion of nuclear radiation and other atmospheric pollutants during the Cold War.  Nick tracked the release of nuclear radiation from Chernobyl in 1986 and reported it to US leaders before Russia informed the world of what is considered the worst nuclear accident in world history.  Currently, Nick is retired from NOAA, but works as a contractor at the Air Resources Lab.

Scope and Content Note

Dr. W. Paul Menzel grew up in Maryland and attended the University of Maryland-College Park.  He attended The University of Wisconsin - Madison for his master's and PhD in Theoretical Solid State Physics.  Since 1967, Paul has worked as a scientist for the Space Science and Engineering Center in Madison.  He also started working as a adjunct professor in 1986 at UW, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in physics and satellite meteorology.  In 1999, Dr. Menzel became the Chief Scientist for the Center for Satellite Applications and Research in NOAA/NESDIS.

Since 1980, Tom Wrublewski has been a physical scientist with the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS).

Oral history interview with Matthew Matich.

Oral history interview with Tony Lauro. 

Oral history interview with Charles Queenan.

Oral history interview with Marifrances Trivelli. 

Oral history interview with Leonard Pitt. 

Oral history interview with Joe Radisich. 

Oral history interview with Jerilyn Mendoza. 

Oral history interview with Kaylynn Kim. 

Oral history interview with Jun Mori. 

Oral history interview with Bob Mohle. 

Oral history interview with Rudy Svorinich, Jr.

Oral history interview with Lloyd Menveg.

Oral history interview with Martha McKinzie.

Oral history interview with Carol Thomas Rugnetta.

Oral history interview with James Hahn. 

Oral history interview with Andrew Cesareo. 

Oral history interview with Patricia Leckner. 

Oral history interview with Geraldine Knatz.

Oral history interview with Tom Phillips.

Oral history interview with Jayme Wilson.

Oral history interview with Rawlin Nelson.

David Burrage was born January 7, 1953 in Hampton, Virginia. He attended Old Dominion University where he received a science degree then attended University of Rhode Island for his graduate studies in Marine Affairs. He works with the Sea Grant Extension Program in Mississippi and is an Extension Professor.

Interview with Walter Chataginer, Chief of Marine Patrol for the State of Mississippi Dept. of Marine Resources.  Interview contains information on enforcing federal TED laws, reactions toward conservation measures by the fishing industry, general information on the shrimping industry and narrator's recollections of working on shrimping vessels.

Interview with biologist Deborah Crouse of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Crouse was born in 1950 and has worked as a scientist on turtle issues since 1982. Interview contains information on coastal habitat, introduction of TEDs, development of gear technology, turtle reproduction and survival, ecology.

Interview with Gary Graham (born in 1946), a retired professor at Texas A & M and marine fisheries specialist with Texas Sea Grant. Graham also served as Gulf Regional Coordinator for the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation and worked as a shrimper. Graham discusses his involvement in the industry from the early 1980's onward doing educational outreach to industry professionals. Collected data on how TEDs perform while on offshore test voyages using early NMFS TEDs. Other Topics: industry perception of TEDs, cannonball, jellyfish shooters, Georgia Jumper Morrison, TED

Biographical Sketch

John Mitchell was born October 29, 1955, in Chicago Heights, Illinois.  He is a Unit Leader for the Harvesting Systems Unit, NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fishery Science Center, Mississippi Laboratories. Mitchell started out working as a fisheries technician at the Pascagoula laboratory in 1981, working as a fisheries observer on Japanese longliners that were fishing in the Gulf of Mexico for tuna. He would ride the boats for months. He would sometimes transfer from one boat to another at sea.

Interview with Sonny Morrison born in 1923 in McClellenville, South Carolina. Interview contains information on the introduction of Turtle Excluder Devices and Mr. Morrison's own experiences in the shrimp fisheries.

Interview with Sally Murphy born October 16, 1943 in Savannah, GA. Murphy is the retired Sea Turtle Coordinator of the SC Dept. of Natural Resources. She established their turtle conservation program and conducted research to determine impacts on sea turtles and management of recovery efforts. Her work also included monitoring declines in the species as well as education and outreach to the public. Interview Topics: Sinkey Boone, Georgia Jumper, Super Shooter, Bycatch reduction devices, Started as Co-Leader of Turtle Recovery Team in 1979

Interview with Charles "Chuck" Oravetz born December 1942 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He retired from National Marine Fisheries Service in 2001 as Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources.  His work involved developing and implementing TEDs with the Pascagoula, Mississippi lab.

Interview with Frank Parker born July 4, 1973 in Biloxi, Mississippi.  Parker is a lifelong shrimp fisherman.  Interview contains information on fishing practices, perceptions of TEDs during their early years of implementation and technical details regarding the shrimping industry.

Interview with Mike Harris, Chief of Nongame Conservation Section, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia DNR. Harris began work for Georgia DNR's Coastal Resources Division in 1986 and worked on introducing TEDs in the Georgia shrimping industry. In this interview, Harris speaks about the development of TEDs from Sinkey Boone's original Jellyball Shooter, federal regulations and attitudes in the fishing industry toward conservation measures.

Interview with Bob Jones, born in 1933, who at the time of the interview was the Executive Director of the Southeast Fisheries Association. Interview contains his recollections of the implementation of TEDs within the fishery, opinions on federal management, thoughts on the decline of the shrimp fishery, industry challenges and relations with environmental organizations.

Dr. Andrew J. Kemmerer was born on February 11, 1938, in Bryan, Texas. In his early youth, Kemmerer lived in College Station, Texas, eventually moving to Tucson, Arizona at six years old.  Kemmerer spent most of his childhood at his Tucson home and quickly developed an adoration for the outdoors. He spent his summers working with the Arizona Game & Fish Department, the Parks Service, and several other employers that allowed him to work outside. In 1960, Kemmerer graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management.

Richard was born in San Pedro in 1946; a third generation Japanese-American (sansei). In this interview, he recounts how his family came to be living in San Pedro from Japan, and the challenges they faced because of "yellow exclusion laws" and other discriminatory practices that prevented his grandparents from becoming U.S. citizens. His grandfather settled initially in a Japanese fishing community near Santa Monica, California where he ran a fish market. However, he was not legally allowed to hold a business license until 1954 when he was allowed to become a U.S. citizen.

Interview with Donald Baker, born on October 2, 1939 on Deer Island, Mississippi.  Baker is a shrimp fisherman who speaks about his use of TEDs, changes in the shrimping industry, equipment, fishing techniques and procedures, business aspects of operating a vessel. Other Topics: Hurricane Camille of 1947, growing up on coast, prices of fuel and supplies, profits, fish species, fisheries management

Interview with Sinkey Boone of Darien, Georgia, born in 1937.  Interview consists of Boone's recollections of building early TEDs, bycatch, and the design of TEDs from the late-1960s onwards. Other Topics: equipment, bycatch, fish species

Nick was born in Hvar, Croatia, in 1914, and his family moved to Oregon when he was young. He started salmon fishing at a young age in Astoria, and then went with his brothers to fish in Alaska when he was a bit older, and that is where he first became a cook for a fishing crew. He moved to San Pedro, California, at the invitation of a friend and became the cook for many years on a tuna boats owned and operated by Captain Frank Gargas, Sr.

August Felando was born in San Pedro, California, in 1929. His family roots reach back to Viz Island, Croatia, and Guernica in the Basque province of Spain. He fished on two-family owned tuna and sardine purse seine vessels during 1946-1950. In 1951, he became a co-owner of the F/V Challenger, a tuna baitboat, and as managing owner sold the vessel in 1958 for conversion to a tuna seiner. From 1960-1991, he managed the affairs of the American Tunaboat Association, including participation in hearings before the California State legislature, Congressional Committees, and federal agencies.

Captain Frank Gargas, Sr., and his two sons, Frank Jr. and Steve, reflect on their experience as a fishing family. Frank Sr. relays a time when the family was with him on the tuna boat and they encountered rough weather from Hurricane Camille (1969). Steve talks about his mother and what she faced as a wife of a fisherman, having her husband at sea much of the time. Frank Jr. reflects on what drew him to become a fisherman.

Captain Frank Gargas, Sr., and his two sons, Frank Jr. and Steve, reflect on their experience as a fishing family. Frank Sr. relays a time when the family was with him on the tuna boat and they encountered rough weather from Hurricane Camille (1969). Steve talks about his mother and what she faced as a wife of a fisherman, having her husband at sea much of the time. Frank Jr. reflects on what drew him to become a fisherman.

Captain Frank Gargas, Sr., and his two sons, Frank Jr. and Steve, reflect on their experience as a fishing family. Frank Sr. relays a time when the family was with him on the tuna boat and they encountered rough weather from Hurricane Camille (1969). Steve talks about his mother and what she faced as a wife of a fisherman, having her husband at sea much of the time. Frank Jr. reflects on what drew him to become a fisherman.

Mary Misetich was born in 1912 in Washington. Her family later moved to San Pedro, where she lived for 90 years. In 1932, she married Dominick Misetich, a tuna fisherman. Both of their families came from the island of Brac, Yugoslavia.

Mr. Stephen Gill was born in Lake Placid, New York in 1948.  He earned his BS and MS in Oceanography from New York University School of Engineering and Science.  Gill came to work for NOAA in 1975 as an Oceanographer for the National Ocean Service.  From 1997 to his retirement in 2016, Mr. Gill served as Chief Scientist for NOAA/NOS Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services.  

Scope and Content Note

Mr. Robert Hansen was born in on Earth Day, April 22, 1949, in Bayshore, New York.  He was the first in his family to attend college, and earned his Bachelor’s and then a Master's Degree in Geography from the University at Albany.  Mr. Hansen came to work for NOAA as a cartographer in Aeronautical Charting.  He then worked as a technical information specialist for the National Ocean Service, chief of the NOAA Map Library, constituent affairs specialist, NOAA Historian, and retired as the national outreach coordinator for Education.   

Oral history interview with Ron Rogers.

Oral history interview with Haruye Sakamoto.

Oral history interview with Lewis Loveridge. 

Oral history interview with Anthony Nizetich.

Oral history interview with Jim Trani, Sr.

Oral history interview with Gretchen Tostrup. 

John Ogren was born in 1966 in Blue Island, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He was fascinated by the weather from an early age. He grew up listening to his grandfather's stories about the deadly 1967 oak lawn tornado outbreak. In high school, John became really interested in earth science and was "hooked" after a six-week weather unit in science class. Mr. Ogren attended Western Illinois University, where he graduated in 1988 with a degree in geography and a minor in broadcasting and communications.

Dr. Ed Rappaport was born in 1957 in Southern California. He earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington.  Ed then received his Ph.D. with an emphasis in Atmospheric Science from Texas Tech University.  Dr. Rappaport began at NHC as a post-doctoral fellow for the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Oral history interview with Bill Stein.

Eugene Herubin interviews Reuben Hoelzel about his history with sturgeon spearing. Having been born in 1916, Hoelzel remembers when sturgeon spearing was an economic necessity and meals with sturgeon were like feasts. He discusses passing on the tradition to his children, how to clean and cook sturgeon, and decoy painting.

Dick Koerner interviews Wayne Hoelzel about his experiences sturgeon spearing. He tells tales of winter storms during spearing season and his favorite memories spearing.

Bob and Darlene Homan are interviewed by Dick Koerner about Darlene's record sturgeon and other spearing stories.

Richard Braasch interviews Clarence Hopp about near misses while sturgeon spearing, tactics for attracting sturgeon with decoys, and cooking sturgeon when he is lucky enough to spear one.

Willard Jenkins is interviewed by Bill Casper about his experiences fishing sturgeon. They discuss Willard'ss first time fishing in the late 1940s, some of the more memorable people he's known, and methods of rescuing people from mishaps on the ice.

Carl Jersild, interviewed by Dick Koerner, tells of his first and only sturgeon he speared in 19 years. He also praises the DNR for the work in managing the sturgeon population. In addition, Carl also relates a story about being on shifting ice, and another about a friend who videotaped his day sturgeon fishing only to find out, while watching the videotape, that he missed a golden opportunity. 

 Dick Koerner interviews John Jurgenson about changes in ice fishing equipment changes since the old days of spearing and the group of people he typically spear with.

John Jurgenson discusses creation of sturgeon spears. Interviewer identity for August 2, 2007 interview is unknown.

Bill McAloon interviews Harry Kachur about his experiences as a sturgeon fisher. Kachur considers himself largely unlucky, and most stories are mishaps he has had on the ice. He also mentions that he and his son Mike make decoys and tells a story about a poacher. Harry discusses his favorite cooking method of sturgeon and importance of the Sturgeon Advisory Committee.

Ronald M. Bruch interviews Dick Koerner, avid sturgeon spearer since 1955. Dick relates numerous stories of memorable fishing incidents, as well as discussing his construction of his shanties and creation of spears and decoys.

Dick Koerner interviews Elmer Kuchenbecker about his sturgeon spearing stories, including the largest fish he ever speared.

This is an oral history interview with Captain Paul Nelson, who talks about the history of fishing on the East Coast of Florida.

Mike Primising along with Dan Folz, retired DNR fish manager in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, tell stories of the early days of sturgeon scouting and tagging along the Wolf River. The men mention spawning sites and the advent of a technique known as riprapping, which greatly benefited the sturgeon population. Interviewed by Bob Marin, the two men also discuss other people who have worked at the DNR.

Dr. Jeanette Davis is a Marine Microbiologist who currently serves at NOAA Fisheries in the Office of Policy  where she conducts research and provides support on programs and policies regarding resources in the ocean. Dr. Davis was first exposed to the marine environment as a student at Hampton University during an internship where she lived on a 53-foot sailboat for a month, exploring the Chesapeake Bay. She earned a B.S. in Marine and Environmental Science from Hampton University and a PhD. in Marine Microbiology from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Mrs. Linda Lawhorn-Brown was born in Winnsboro, South Carolina in 1958.  She moved to Washington, D.C. while she was in high school, and after graduation, attended the University of Maryland- College Park, where she majored in special education.  In 1987, Linda came to work for NOAA.  Her first position was with Bill Stanley, who served eventually as NOAA's historian.  Since 1990, Linda has worked in the Office of the Under Secretary, working closely with various administrators, dignitaries, and NOAA staff.  

Scope and Content Note

Mr. Steven Wilson was born at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines in 1959.  He studied Food Science and Technology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.  Wilson worked as a USDA poultry and then NOAA fishery products inspector.  In 1988, he became Deputy Branch Chief for the National Marine Fisheries Service.  He also worked as Deputy Director of Field Operations, Chief Quality Officer, and Assistant Director of Quality and Technology.

Oral  history interview with Tom Warren.

Oral history interview with Brian Harrison.

Oral history interview with John Maramoto. 

Oral history interview with Laura Warren.

Oral history interview with Dennis McCarbery.   

Oral history interview with Rod Reddick. 

Oral history interview with Angie Papadakis.

Oral history interview with Adam Birkenbach.

Dr. James McFadden was born in Winchester, Virginia, in 1934.  He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and graduated with a degree in geology.  In 1960, James was offered a research assistantship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's meteorology program.  He spent five years in Madison and earned his PhD in meteorology.  In 1965, McFadden came to work for the Environmental Science Services Administration's Sea-Air Laboratory, part of the Office of Meteorological Research in Washington, D.C. as a research scientist.

Oral history interview with Tony Salcido.

Oral history interview with Charles Hamasaki.

Oral history interview with John Royal.

Oral history interview with Carlos Rico.

Oral history interview with Min Tonai.