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| Title | Dressel, Ronald |
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| Date | December 18, 2006 |
| Description | This is an oral history interview with Ronald Dressel conducted as part of the Houston History Project. Dressel was raised on a sugar cane farm in Loreauville, LA. Started in the oil field in 1964 working for J&L Engineering, Big Mac Welding, and Avondale Ship yard. He opened his own welding business and contracted to National Supply and Texaco. In 1979, he opened Regional Fabricators at the Port of Iberia with three other welders. He runs the refurb and new construction of shallow water drilling rigs. Company's history/significance: Began a company with a line of bank credit, low overhead, and rented a shop with a crane on Highway 90 in New Iberia during the height of the land rig/shallow water rig boom (1979). Got their name from Acadiana Regional Airport, which was thought to become a major fabrication center. After a property deal at the airport fell through, the partners moved to the Port of Iberia on the water front. Began building barges and land rigs. In 1981 and early 1982 had 150 employees. Regional built 8 rigs in 1981 at over $2 million a piece. Dressel went to Shreveport and East Texas with a crew to install completed land rigs for Butler and Johnson, while the other partners began building new rigs. Overflow of business carried them through the early "bust" into 1983. The downturn forced Regional to lay off entire work force except for a secretary and 3 welders. They survived on small boat repair work, building barbeque pits, and yard maintenance. In 1981, Regional couldn't build top-dollar rigs fast enough. A year later, a $200 job got three bids. Worse part of the bust was laying off loyal employees: "I won't go through that again--I'll close the doors next time." Regional was 30 days from shutting down. But low overhead and small jobs in diversified areas allowed them to survive. Two of the partners went back to contract welding. They changed their name from Regional Rig Fabricators to just Regional Fabricators to attract boat work. Today, Regional is one of the oldest fabricators at the Port of Iberia. |
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| Language | English |
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| Original Collection | Oral Histories - Houston History Project |
| Digital Collection | Oral Histories from the Houston History Project |
| Digital Collection URL | http://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/houhistory |
| Repository | Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries |
| Repository URL | http://info.lib.uh.edu/about/campus-libraries-collections/special-collections |
| Use and Reproduction | Educational use only, no other permissions given. Copyright to this resource is held by the content creator, author, artist or other entity, and is provided here for educational purposes only. It may not be reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission of the copyright owner. For more information please see the UH Digital Library Fair Use policy on the "About" page of this website. |
| File Name | index.cpd |
| Title | Dressel audio, 1 of 2 |
| Format (IMT) |
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| Original Item Location | ID 2006-005, Audiotape Box 35, HHA00599 part 1 of 2; ID 2006-005, CD/DVD Box 6, HHA 00599 |
| File Name | hhaoh_201207_220a.mp3 |