I went to most of the houses in my neighborhood (blocks) I was told there was nothing we could do about it and I was wasting my time trying to fight the big industry. Really I did not want to "fight" with them but ask them for help and explained to us what they or we could do about this. I heard more lies. One plant would blame the other .We talked to officials from both Tenneco Oil Refinery (now Chalmette Refinery) and Kaiser Aluminum.
Later I was approached by a neighbor who I did not know at the time and he told me he knew I was against what was going on (pollutants) and told me that his doctor said he had cancer and gave him 3 months to live. I can still hear what he said "Ken I never smoked a day in my life, go to church, eat right and live a good life"He said he knew it was industry across our street that did this to him and asked me not to give up and continue fighting the ones that pollute our neighborhood. Walter died two months later.
Since then I asked the St Bernard parish, health officials, industry representatives and every one that I thought could help us. In 1982 I went to state officials in Baton Rouge, with a petition I had made and signed by over 90 neighbors explaining our troubles.
In 1991 he and others started "The St. Bernard Citizens for Environmental Quality", a neighborhood group fighting for clean air. Membership was small at the beginning but grew to over 200 members prior to Katrnia.

About 5 or 6 years ago I was at an environmental conference in New Orleans and at one of the sessions I heard this young lady addressing a large group. At another session I heard some one else addressing another large group. After the conference had ended I talked to this young lady and man about our environmental problems we had in St Bernard and both said that their groups (Anne Rolfes and Denny Larson) were busy fighting other environmental problems and just did not have the time to help us,. They told me to continue what I was doing and call them and one day when they had completed their present work they would call talk to me and see how they could help us .Weeks, months went by and I would call and asked for help and was told to continue calling them. Finally the day had come for us to talk (Anne Rolfes and Denny Larson). We became friends and have been working toward our common goals, a safe and clean environment for us our children to live in since then.

I have gone to Texas, Pen., California and Washington attending meetings and connected to other groups in an effect to have our parish clean and safe to live in. We addressed the stock holders of Exxon Mobil informing them of the condition Chalmette Refinery was in. I have been recognized by many groups from many states for my actions. I received the Catholic Charities Human Development Award in the New Orleans area one of the most I treasure. Have been interviewed on television many times. "Live on Your Side " Local TV interviews, twice on the "Now" TV show with David Brancaccio. Interviewed by students from several Colleges, Tulane University New Orleans, Ohio Students, UCLA students, Virginia students… My wife Genevieve and family have always supported me and gave me their time in all my beliefs and fights for our environment.