Biographies: Burl Shirley, 1970, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: April 30, 1970 Winn Parish Enterprise-News American Burl Shirley: "The Peacemaker" by Barry W. Zander He's a man who has cost the oil companies millions of dollars, yet the companies honor him for saving additional millions. he got his job as a political favor, but his devotion to duty and high standards helped him retain the job for 20 years through various administrations. He seems to be about 50 years old, while claiming to be 67. He lives modestly in a mobile home as he promotes oil wells. Burl Shirley: a peacemaker bringing conflicting interests together. Like most people, Shirley is opinionated and willing to tell the world about his opinions. But with his easy going manner, he is willing to listen, too. WILDLIFE AGENT In 1948, Shirley's neighbor on Horseshoe Road, Earl K. Long, appointed him as an agent for the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. Unlike other agents in the department, his main duties were dealing with people, not animals and plants. Working with seismograph crews, it was Shirley's job to have oil companies repay landowners for damage done by oil-seeking explosions set off. When the explosions are set off underground, land and animal owners can find many consequences, according to the white haired former agent. When eggs break, cows quit giving milk, fish are killed, or wells crack, the explosion, although 70 feet to 300 feet underground, is blamed. That's where Shirley's work began. He was the man who stepped into the middle of the arguments between the company and the victim to find a suitable settlement. This is how he spent millions of dollars for the company. but because he gained experience in knowing characteristics in explosion damage, he was valuable to the companies in saving millions that might have been spent in courts or just paying of nuisances. Since he worked with the seismograph crews as they toured Louisiana and neighboring states in search of possible sites for dirlling, he gave them half his loyalty; the other half going to the injured party. He said he would have the company pay off if a cow wouldn't give milk after the explosion was set off, and they were glad to oblige to avoid court action. At times, the companies agreed to pay off, even when they were not responsible. Shirley cited the example of the septic tank that was cracked, allegedly by an explosion. He said when he examined the tank, they found moss growing over the spot that was damaged, indicating the recent explosion had not cause the damage. But the company paid off. ANYWAY TO TRAVEL Shirley's work carried over all types of terrain. He worked in marshes, over water and in pastures. In his 20 years, he said he traveled in or on anything that moved, from horses to helicopter. The only thing he remembers missing was riding an oxen. The former agent spent his early years as a farmer and beekeeper. He went to work for Wildlife and Fisheries Commission with little knowledge of what he was supposed to be doing, but he picked up experience as he went along. The department once employed 108 men doing the same work, Shirley said the number is now down to about 40. State seismograph agents join the crews as they begin to search for geological formations that indicate oil. The crews cut across miles of land, sometimes across several parishes and, at thime, across the state. Everywhere they go, they first get permission to test and then try to make sure nothing will be harmed by the explosion. Crews are usually made up of an operator, surveyor, experienced workers, and laborers hired around the area of the test. NOW RETIRED Shirley lives alone in his trailerm, however he spends most of his time in town talking to friends. He has retired from his active career, but not from life. He has an active interest in what's going on around him and still stays in touch with the oil business. Shirley said he has promoted 12 wells thus far. His next oil venture will be to drill another soon near his property at the end of Horseshoe Road.