Wally Harold Gollott was born in 1964 to Edgar M., “E.M.” and Elizabeth “Betty” Gollott. Their combined family included nine children, most of whom are involved in the seafood industry in some fashion. The second youngest of this group, Wally grew up in the factories learning to help with odd jobs. While originally an unpaid helper, at 12 years old Wally earned his first paycheck for his work at Gulf Pride Enterprises, the company founded by his father, E.M., in 1952. This pay was for shoveling oyster shells onto a conveyor belt and cleaning the factory thoroughly at the end of day of processing seafood. By the age of 14, Wally was able to procure his learner’s permit and began driving a truck with product from the factory to Biloxi Cold Storage, while also responsible for counting the product to ensure all the shipment had been moved appropriately. At 15 years of age, Wally left school to work full-time in the family business, getting his commercial driving license and running routes from Pass Christian, MS to Appalachicola, FL, and later farther in Texas and Louisiana. On these routes, he would haul oysters one way and carry shrimp for processing on the return trip. E.M. and Wally then procured a contract to peel shrimp for a California businessman, Kent Seman, and bought their first automatic shrimp peeling machine and grader; thus, beginning Wally’s training as a production supervisor and set him on the track to become upper management of the company by the age of 24.
From 1990-1994, Wally was co-owner/stockholder in the company and, upon the passing of his father in 1994, he became Vice President as well as co-owner with his sister Janet Seymour. Under the sibling leadership, Gulf Pride Enterprises secured many retailer contracts and saw great expansion which included new buildings, machines, and more workers.
In 2012, Janet passed away and Gulf Pride Enterprises was under the sole ownership of Wally who not only successfully ran the company, but also purchases and operated Bayou Shrimp Company, an unloading dock and fuel/icehouse in Bayou Le Batre, AL. He also purchased two shrimp boats- The EDGAR & BETTY and MISS LESLIE.
Strong in his faith and benevolence, Wally is active in his church, serving coffee before Mass and volunteering at the Fall Festival and other events. He donates shrimp to other churches in the area for their events, to the Sisters of Mercy to help feed the homeless of Mobile, AL and to the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum for fundraisers to help preserve the history and heritage of the Gulf Coast’s seafood industry to which his family has remained loyal. After Hurricane Katrina, Wally donated ice to the citizens of Biloxi and later to victims of Hurricane Michael in Mexico Beach, FL. Still today, he continues to donate to many missions both locally and from other areas.
Frequently willing to give second chances at a better life, he offers employment to those willing to work and provides transportation and housing in apartments he converted just for that purpose. A loyal and generous citizen, Wally Gollott is a pillar of many communities and well deserving of his induction into the Maritime & Seafood Industry’s Heritage Hall of Fame.