Gulf Oil drilled its first Southern Louisiana well on Melvin Bernard's grandfather's property, now below the Leeville Bridge. Melvin started school in Leeville, but the family moved up to Golden Meadow after a hurricane. His father and two uncles worked for Gulf before WWII. Melvin began working for Texaco during high school; then he started with Chevron in 1961 and remained there until his retirement in 1990. In 1969, he was transferred onshore in the company's transportation division. His responsibilities included procuring supplies, services, and boats for the offshore operations.