2011 louisiana sports hall of fame program

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Official ProgramWelcome from Gov. Bobby Jindal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Welcome from Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Welcome from Natchitoches Mayor Wayne McCullen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Welcome from NSU President Dr. Randy Webb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Welcome from LSWA President Lori Lyons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Welcome from La. Sports Hall of Fame Foundation President & CEO Lisa Babin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Tracing the History of the Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Hall of Fame Selection Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92011 Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism - Ron Brocato & Larry Hymel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Recipients of the Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112011 Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award - Elmo Adolph & Billy Montgomery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Hall of Fame Artist Chris Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Remembering Clif and Carolyn Thorn, Hall of Fame Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Members of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

2011 Hall of Fame Inductee ProfilesMorten Andersen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Kyla Hall Holas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24T.P. “Skipper” Heard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Vaughan Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Buford Jordan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36Don Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54Todd Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60Donald “Slick” Watts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64Profiles of Previously Elected Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Louisiana Sports Writers AssociationParent Organization of the Hall of Fame

President Lori LyonsNew Orleans Times-Picayune

Executive Vice President Jim KleinpeterNew Orleans Times-Picayune

Vice President/Sports Information Michael BonnetteLSU Sports Information

Treasurer Kent LoweLSU Sports Information

Secretary Brent St. GermainThe Houma Daily Courier

Hall of Fame Chairman Doug IrelandNorthwestern State Sports Information

HOF Foundation President & CEO Lisa Babin

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame500 Front Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457

Telephone - (318) 238-4255 Email - [email protected]

www.lasportshall.com

12011 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration

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2011 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration2



Dear Inductees and Guests:

On behalf of the Northwestern State University family, welcome to Northwestern and the City of Natchitoches. The induc-tion ceremonies for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame are one of the highlights of the year in our community. All of usare pleased that you took time to be part of this wonderful event. I have watched with great anticipation as constructionhas progressed on the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum in downtown Natchitoches and look forward to its com-pletion.

I offer my congratulations to each of the inductees along with their friends and families. These individuals make us allproud to be from Louisiana. We are especially proud that the Hall of Fame is welcoming Don Shows, who was an out-standing offensive line coach at Northwestern and helped the Demons win the 1988 Southland Conference champi-onship.

This year's class of inductees is another outstanding group that highlights the diversity of our state and shows what itspeople can accomplish through hard work and dedication to excellence.

Northwestern State is honored to be a part of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Throughout its history, Northwesternhas produced outstanding graduates that have gone on to successful careers in a variety of fields including education,nursing, business, law, medicine and the arts. Today, more than 9,000 students from throughout the United States andthe world study at Northwestern.

Thank you for your support of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. I look forward to welcoming you back to Northwesternand Natchitoches many times in the future.



June 25, 2011

Inductees and friends,

As president of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, it is my great honor to welcome all ofyou to the beautiful town of Natchitoches for the annual Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Inductionceremony.

Natchitoches has held a special place in my heart since my first Hall of Fame ceremony morethan 25 years ago. And I'm sure it has - or will - win over each of you with its charm, its history andits lights. And soon it will be the home of the state-of-the-art Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame andMuseum.

Actually, it has always been the home of the Hall of Fame. But soon it will be the home of anactual hall - a real brick and mortar home for the greatest sports legends Louisiana has produced,where we mortals can go to revisit their exploits for all time.

Such a building has been the dream of Louisiana's sports writers for more than 50 years, itspromise sometimes seeming but a fog on a Halloween night. But if you'll take a drive over to FrontStreet during your visit here, you will see that it is about to become a dream-come-true.

For that, we thank Governor Bobby Jindal, for his support and his vision of what the museum willmean to the rest of the state, and Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne for joining the team.

We thank the state legislators, past and present, in particular Sen. Gerald Long, Rep. RickNowlin and former Rep. Taylor Townsend, who have kept our drive alive, with a special nod to BillyMontgomery, a recipient of the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award tonight. He is oneof our champions.

We thank Natchitoches Mayor Wayne McCullen for being a friend to the LSWA and the Hall ofFame over the years. Northwestern State University president Dr. Randy Webb and vice presidentJerry Pierce for their tireless efforts to keep the Hall of Fame here where it belongs, and build it aproper home.

We thank Robert Wheat, the Interim Director of the Louisiana State Museum System, who isquarterbacking our final drive with a vision that none of us foresaw, along with project managerCharles Chamberlain and the rest of the museum system staff.

And we thank our team captain, Lisa Babin, the President and CEO of the Hall of FameFoundation, for turning the project from the dream of a couple of guys into the about-to-become-true dream of generations.

For some, tonight's celebration is a dream come true - the fulfillment of a lifetime of achieve-ments in sports. For others, tonight is an unexpected surprise - the acknowledgement of a talentand the will to succeed. Or, maybe it's a little of both.

The Louisiana Sports Writers Association congratulates all of this year'sinductees, their families and friends, and our own Distinguished Service Awardrecipients, Ron Brocato and Larry Hymel. We celebrate with you all.

Lori LyonsPresident, Louisiana Sports Writers Association



Dear Inductees and Guests,

Welcome to the most exciting time of the year for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame - the induction of a new group of out-standing athletes, coaches, sportswriters and sports leaders! Congratulations to each of our remarkable honorees.

This is my first induction on the staff of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation and with each act of preparation forthe induction; I became further in awe of the rich sports heritage our state possesses and the tireless efforts and boundlesssports knowledge exhibited by Doug Ireland, Chairman of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. The induction provides anideal platform for every community, every sports loving citizen to come together to honor those that have made Louisiana'ssports successes a source of pride. As you hear the stories of our honorees, those successes will become more vivid inyour hearts and minds and I just know that you will want to “Get in the Game.”

How can you “Get in the Game”? There are so many ways to do so and I would welcome visiting with you about each andevery one! You can also visit with any of the inaugural Foundation Board of Directors about your interest in supporting theLouisiana Sports Hall of Fame. This dedicated group of individuals from throughout the state and beyond have pledged towork with the Foundation staff to transition from an organization that for the past thirty-five years has supported a singleevent in a single location to one that will host events throughout the state and year. Our goals also include providing edu-cational opportunities around the state and raising funds in support of the initial museum exhibits as well as future exhibits.

Enjoy your evening and don't forget to call me, email me, mail me but let me hear about your desire to “Get in the Game!”Together we can take Louisiana sports to even greater heights.

Sincerely,

Lisa S. BabinPresident & CEOLouisiana Sports Hall of Fame [email protected]

Inaugural Board of Directors for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation

Waynette Ballengee Kent LoweBill Curl Lori LyonsRonald Corkern Dan McDonaldSharon Gahagan Malcolm MyerBarbara Gresham Hammerman Greg O'QuinBruce Hanks Harold PorterDoug Ireland Tag RomeJim Kleinpeter Vic Stelly

Honorary Member - Archie Manning



A half-century after inducting its first classof sports legends, the Louisiana Sports Hallof Fame is realizing its fondest dreams andgreatest aspirations.

The Louisiana State Museum system isspearheading construction on a 27,500-square foot museum building on Front Streetin the National Historic District ofNatchitoches.

Trahan Architects of Baton Rougedesigned the museum building. Thinc Designof New York City is developing exhibits.Construction began in 2008-09 with site dem-olition and preparation, continued with utilityrelocation and drainage work along with thepilings and foundation work, and has been atfull bore since last August with construction ofthe actual building. The construction shouldbe completed in by next spring with the plansfor a grand opening sometime around thestart of football season in 2012.

The Hall of Fame itself will occupy the firstfloor of the new museum, with the secondfloor showcasing Louisiana's SportsParadise, a blend of sports history and cul-ture, along with half of the second floor hous-ing the Northwest Louisiana History Museum,now the state-run Old Courthouse Museum inNatchitoches.

Members of the Louisiana Sports WritersAssociation began planning a Hall of Fame tohonor the state's outstanding athletes andcoaches as far back as 1951, but the firstelection to the hall was not held until 1958.

The three charter members of the organi-zation -- Gaynell Tinsley, Tony Canzoneri andMel Ott -- were inducted during the Ark-La-Tex Sports Award Banquet in Shreveport in1959.

Three honorees were selected annuallyfor several years and were inducted duringthe Shreveport banquet. Later inductionswere held in different areas of the state,including Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Several members of the Hall of Fame wereinducted at LSU football games and televisedbasketball games, and others were taken intothe shrine during the VFW Sports AwardsBanquets in New Orleans.

Although LSWA members presentedplaques to 41 Hall of Fame honorees andconducted induction ceremonies for theshrine members each year, there was neveran actual Hall of Fame in the state until thefacility was established at Northwestern Statein Natchitoches in 1972 by co-chairmen JerryPierce and Jim McLain, with the support ofNSU President Dr. Arnold Kilpatrick.

Portraits of a few of the members wereplaced in Shreveport for a brief period, but

the establishment of the Hall of Fame atPrather Coliseum was the first formal inaugu-ration of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Following the 2011 inductions, 243 mem-bers will have entered the shrine since theHall of Fame was opened in Natchitoches.

The LSWA's dream of developing a truemuseum that showcases not only the art andartifacts, but provides a captivating experi-ence for visitors and repository for statesports history, is becoming reality.

From 2000-2002, the Hall of Fame induc-tion activities shifted to Shreveport-BossierCity, due in large part to the support of may-ors Keith Hightower and George Dement,administrative officers Ken Antee and nowBossier City Mayor Lorenz Walker, local busi-nessman Jimmy Patterson and theHorseshoe Casino & Hotel. Hall of Famemember Joe Profit and Mitton ManagementCo. played important roles in the success ofthe three-year stint in Shreveport-Bossier.

The expansion of Hall of Fame inductionactivities drew attention from then-Gov. MikeFoster, then-Lt. Gov. and future Gov.Kathleen Blanco, then-Lt. Gov. MitchLandrieu, and other state officials. Theirinterest, along with leadership byNatchitoches Mayor Wayne McCullen, andformer local legislators state Rep. TaylorTownsend and state Sen. Mike Smith, alongwith Rep. Billy Montgomery, combined withthe continuing support provided byNorthwestern State University, led to quan-tum leaps forward for the Hall.

The Hall of Fame was accepted into thestate museum system in the 2003 state leg-islative session, setting the stage for the state

and city of Natchitoches to collaborate withthe LSWA to develop the new museum

In preparation for the beginning of the proj-ect, all of the artwork and memorabilia whichwas on display at Northwestern's PratherColiseum was turned over to the state muse-um system after the 2005 induction celebra-tion.

Today's local and state government lead-ers have played crucial roles in advancing theproject. Mayor McCullen and city officials,local legislators Sen. Gerald Long and Rep.Rick Nowlin have partnered with Gov. BobbyJindal, recently departed Lt. Gov. Landrieu,and Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne along with legisla-tors around the state to assure a sparklingfuture for the museum.

The Louisiana State Museum system,under the direction of Robert Wheat, is pro-viding dynamic vision and careful steward-ship as the Hall of Fame's dreams becomereality.

The current Hall of Fame collectionincludes color portraits of the 285 membersand a continually growing collection of itemssuch as baseballs, footballs, bats, gloves, jer-seys, golf clubs, helmets, shoes and othermemorabilia contributed to the shrine by Hallof Fame members and their families. It alsoincludes the Grits and Mary GreshamCollection showcasing hunting, fishing andthe outdoors. Items representative of majorevents in state sports history, such as the2007 LSU football national championship andthe New Orleans Saints Super Bowl XIV title,have also been donated to the Hall.

Construction on the 27,500 square foot museum began in 2008-09 and is expected to be completed nextspring with the grand opening in the fall of 2012.

Tracing the History of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame


The 30-member Hall of FameSelection Committee of the LouisianaSports Writers Association annuallyconducts a two-month review processbefore electing no more than eight newmembers of the Hall of Fame.

A standing ballot, typically includingmore than 100 candidates, is supple-mented each year by new nominees.

Nominations can be made by thepublic as well as by members of theLSWA.

Athletes, coaches and other sportsfigures are selected according to cate-gories and criteria established long agoby the LSWA.

To be eligible for consideration, ath-letes must have competed for at leasttwo years at the varsity level in highschool or college in Louisiana.Athletes who gain fame in Louisiana atthe college or professional level arealso eligible candidates.

Coaches and nominees in othercategories such as sports administra-tion are eligible for membership if theyare Louisiana natives who gain fameoutside the state, or if they are out ofstate but gain fame while working inLouisiana.

Other basic criteria require sportsfigures to be retired or inactive in theirdiscipline for at least three years before

they can be considered.Athletes in lifetime sports, such as

golf, become eligible when they reachthe age of 50, even if they remainactive.

With rules refined in 2003, coachesand administrators become eligibleonce they turn 60, even if they remainactive.

Rules prevent a majority of theselections coming from any one sportscategory.

The discussion of Hall of Famecandidates never stops among LSWAmembers, especially among the selec-tion committee members. It’s a com-mon topic in press rooms and on roadtrips for the state’s sports media, withthe formal process now beginning witha committee meeting at the annualLSWA convention held in conjunctionwith Hall of Fame inductions each June.

The selection process moves for-ward with confirmation of credentials fornew nominees. Then the selectioncommittee’s screening panel reviewsthe entire list of candidates, new andreturning, and using electronic mail andteleconferences, pares them down to30 semifinalists.

The full selection committeereviews all candidates, and if there areany nominees who have not made the

semifinalists lists, they may becomefinalists if seven committee membersrequest their addition to the final ballot.

The finalists are set and the entirecommittee will gather on the last week-end of August for a spirited discussionand election process. The elections forthe Distinguished Service Award inSports Journalism and the Dave DixonSports Leadership Award are conduct-ed electronically after discussion at theselection committee meeting.

Announcement of the inductionclass is made during the holiday sea-son at a formal announcement party inNew Orleans.

If you have a candidate to nomi-nate, it’s easy to do.

Biographical material on nomineesshould be mailed to Doug Ireland,Chairman, Louisiana Sports Hall ofFame, 500 Front St., Natchitoches, LA71457, or sent [email protected] via email.The deadline to nominate new candi-dates each year is July 15. Supportingmaterials, especially for nominees notin high-profile sports categories, is help-ful.

Hall of Fame members gather on stage as the 2005 induction banquet ceremonies, the last to be held in Prather Coliseum, comes to a close.

Selection Process Demanding for Election to the Hall of Fame




Two iconic figures on the Louisiana sportsmedia scene who remain active today, acclaimed NewOrleans sports writer/historian Ron Brocato and trail-blazing Southeastern Louisiana University sportsinformation director Larry Hymel, are the winners ofthe 2011 Distinguished Service Award in SportsJournalism from the Louisiana Sports WritersAssociation.

Brocato has been producing award-winningcontent since the late 1960s in his hometown, whileHymel was SLU’s first SID, serving in that capacity for28 years and remaining active with the university’salumni association coordinating relations and activi-

ties engaging former Lions and Lady Lions. Both have served on the LouisianaSports Hall of Fame selection committee since its inception in 1982.

The Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism is the most prestigioushonor offered to sports media in the state. Recipients are chosen by the 30-mem-ber Hall of Fame selection committee based on their professional accomplish-ments in local, state, regional and even national arenas, with leadership in theLSWA a contributing factor and three decades of work in the profession as arequirement.

Distinguished Service Award winners join the “writers and broadcasters wing”of the Hall of Fame and will be recognized in the Hall along with the 285 athletes,coaches and administrators chosen for enshrinement since 1959. Only 48 promi-nent figures in the state’s sports media have been honored with the DistinguishedService Award since its inception in 1982.

“Few have told the story of Louisiana sports as well as Ron Brocato and LarryHymel,” said Lori Lyons, president of the LSWA. “This recognition salutes theircontinuing contributions and decades of impact throughout Louisiana. Theyalready are legends among their peers in the LSWA, and this honor ensures theirrightful place among the greatest names in our state’s sports history.”

Brocato, a New Orleans native, is regarded as the preeminent historian onhigh school sports in the New Orleans area and is one of the foremost experts onprep sports in Louisiana. His sports coverage has encompassed much beyondpreps during his six decades in the field, all but one year in Louisiana and almostthe entire time in New Orleans.

After military service concluded in 1965, Brocato completed his formal educa-tion at Long Beach State (Calif.) University and began work as a reporter for theAnaheim (Calif.) Bulletin.

After one year learning the ropes in a daily newspaper, which included cover-ing four high schools, the Los Angeles Rams, Lakers and California Angels, UCLAand USC sports and news photography, layout and editing, Brocato returned toNew Orleans where he went to work for the New Orleans States-Item and laterthe the Times-Picayune, until 1987. He currently serves as sports editor for theClarion Herald, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

During his career, Brocato has won several awards for headline and featurewriting, columns and photography. Among the top honors were being namedLouisiana’s Sports Writer of the Year by the National Sports Writers andSportscasters Association in 1974 and Prep Writer of the Year by the LouisianaSports Writers Association in 1997.

At the States-Item in 1971 Brocato began the annual college recruiting pre-views and coverage still used by the Times-Picayune today. He also designed theprototype of the T-P zone sports pages when the newspaper created areabureaus in 1980.

He authored a definitive history book dedicated to perpetuating the evolutionof high school football, “The Golden Game: When Prep Football Was King in NewOrleans,” published in 2002.

Brocato received the Apollo trophy, awarded to the outstanding journalist of2004 by the American Italian Renaissance Foundation, and the 2006 LouisianaHigh School Athletic Association’s Prep Journalism Award. He was inducted intothe De La Salle Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 for his contribution to high school

athletics in New Orleans.He has been placed in charge of assembling and

disseminating the LSWA’s weekly statewide footballleaders and boys basketball poll.

He was also named to the Warren Easton CharterHigh School Steering Committee and Board, the onlymember of the 11-person board who is not an alum-nus of the city’s oldest public high school. The schoolsuccessfully re-opened in August, 2006.

Brocato is past president of the Louisiana SportsWriters Association and serves on the Allstate SugarBowl, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, WarrenEaston High School Hall of Fame and De La Salle Hallof Fame selection committees.

Brocato has hosted a Friday evening high school football show on WGSORadio and has served the Louisiana High School Athletic Association as mediacoordinator for the state football championship games in the Superdome for thepast 16 years. He has also served as a volunteer at the annual New Orleans Jazzand Heritage Festival and speaks to high school booster clubs and civic organi-zations, while continuing to research and assemble football records for highschools to maintain their histories.

Brocato is currently advising WLAE-TV for its upcoming television series onthe history of the Catholic League Football, for which he researched and wrotethe script and was asked to participate in other specials produced by LAEProductions.

The first full time sports information director for Southeastern, Hymel served inthat capacity for 28 years, the first 14 years working without full-time assistants.He was honored by the College Sports Information Directors with a LifetimeMembership upon retirement and cited by the organization for 25-year service tothe association.

Hymel was named to Southeastern’s Athletic Hall of Fame for DistinguishedService in the 1994-95 year. The LSWA bestowed its coveted Mac Russo Awardto him in 1994, recognizing his valuable and varied contributions to the organiza-tion.

He received All-American awards from the National Association ofIntercollegiate athletics five times for his football game programs, including in1974 when it was ranked second best in the nation.

Hymel won two CoSIDA district awards, one in 1990 for Excellence in Writingand in 1988 for the men’s basketball brochure, co-edited by assistants BarryNiemeyer and Mickey Triche, as the best in the district. He won LSWA Awardsfor best football program in 1984 (third) and for feature writing (second) in 1985.

After leaving the SID office, Hymel was director of Southeastern’s UniversityCenter basketball and events center for 11 years, managing the facility while itbecame the home for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s annualstate girls basketball championship tournament known originally as the “Sweet16.” The tourney set attendance records and the arena and its staff earned ravereviews for their management skills as fans filed in from around the state yearafter year.

Upon his retirement from full-time duties at SLU in 2005, he began work as theAlumni Athletic Coordinator for the Southeastern Alumni Association. He coordi-nates the university’s Hall of Fame Day activities.

Hymel managed the LSWA High School and College newspaper writing con-tests for several years beginning in the 1970s.

As sports editor of the Hammond Daily Star in 1966, he won LSWA awards forwriting (first, second and third places in different categories), while also gainingrecognition for excellence from the Associated Press. Hymel earned an AP La-Miss honorable mention for photography in 1966 and AP La-Miss honorable men-tion for sports writing in 1966.

Ron Brocato

2011 Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism

Larry Hymel

R o n B r o c a t o & L a r r y H y m e l



The most prestigious honor offered to sports media personnel in Louisiana by their peers is the Distinguished ServiceAward in Sports Journalism. The Louisiana Sports Writers Association presents the award each year during the LouisianaSports Hall of Fame ceremonies. Recipients are chosen by the 30-member Hall of Fame selection committee each year afterthe annual winter meeting. Nominees are drawn from the ranks of LSWA based on their professional accomplishments andimpact in local, state, regional and even national arenas. Candidates must be 60 years old, or have three decades of jour-nalism credentials, reflecting a lifetime of service in the profession. Names of the Distinguished Service Award winners havebeen displayed in the Hall of Fame. When the museum opens in 2012, there will be a “writers and broadcasters display” inthe Hall of Fame much as there is in the Baseball Hall Of Fame at Cooperstown.

Members of the Louisiana Sports Hall of FameDistinguished Service Award

Bob Anderson . . . . . . . . . . .Northeast Louisiana/ULM Sports Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1994Bernell Ballard . . . . . . . . . .Baton Rouge Advocate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1994Louis Bonnette . . . . . . . . . .McNeese State Sports Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2002Roger Brandt . . . . . . . . . . .Opelousas Daily World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1997Ron Brocato . . . . . . . . . . .New Orleans Item, Times-Picayune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011Jerry Byrd . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bossier Press-Tribune, Shreveport Journal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1996Bill Carter . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alexandria Daily Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1988Ted Castillo . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baton Rouge Advocate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1987Mike Cook . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baton Rouge Advocate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1992Bill Curl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tulane, The Louisiana Superdome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2003O.K. “Buddy” Davis . . . . . .Ruston Daily Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009Fred Digby . . . . . . . . . . . . .New Orleans Item, Sugar Bowl Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1991Buddy Diliberto . . . . . . . . . .WWL-Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2005Pete Dosher . . . . . . . . . . . .Louisiana Tech, Grambling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2007John Ferguson . . . . . . . . . .LSU and New Orleans Saints radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1984Bill Finney . . . . . . . . . . . . . .New Orleans Times-Picayune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1989Jack Fiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Shreveport Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1983Norm Fletcher . . . . . . . . . .Broadcaster, Northwestern State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010Hap Glaudi . . . . . . . . . . . . .WWL-Radio/TV, New Orleans Item . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1990Bob Griffin . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shreveport Sportscaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009Dan Hardesty . . . . . . . . . . .Baton Rouge State Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1985Bob Henderson . . . . . . . . .Univ. of Southwestern Louisiana/ULL Sports Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1999Larry Hymel . . . . . . . . . . .Southeastern Louisiana Sports Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011Bud Johnson . . . . . . . . . . .Southeastern Louisiana, LSU, Tulane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2001Connie Kaplan . . . . . . . . . .The Kaplan Herald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1992Bill Keefe . . . . . . . . . . . . . .New Orleans Times-Picayune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1982Sam King . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baton Rouge Advocate/State-Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2000M.L. Lagarde . . . . . . . . . . .Tulane University Sports Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1993Hal Ledet . . . . . . . . . . . . . .L’Observerteur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1998Ted Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . . . .New Orleans Times-Picayune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010Paul Manasseh . . . . . . . . .LSU Sports Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1986Paul Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . .Monroe News-Star . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1982Ed McHale . . . . . . . . . . . . .Associated Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008Bill McIntyre . . . . . . . . . . . .The Shreveport Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1991Jim McLain . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Shreveport Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1995Bud Montet . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baton Rouge Morning Advocate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1982Marty Mulé . . . . . . . . . . . . .New Orleans Times-Picayune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2006Al Nassif . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alexandria Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1999Collie Nicholson . . . . . . . . .Grambling State Sports Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1990Jerry Pierce . . . . . . . . . . . .Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, Northwestern State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2000Joe Planas . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Catholic Commentator, Baton Rouge Advocate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1996Keith Prince . . . . . . . . . . . .Louisiana Tech Sports Information, Monroe News-Star . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2004Jerry Robichaux . . . . . . . . .The Shreveport Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2000Bob Roesler . . . . . . . . . . . .New Orleans Times-Picayune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1989Arthur Schott . . . . . . . . . . .New Orleans Times-Picayune, States-Item . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2007Truman Stacy . . . . . . . . . . .Lake Charles American Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1982R.L. Stockard . . . . . . . . . . .Southern, SWAC, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008 George Sweeney . . . . . . . .New Orleans Times-Picayune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2002Austin Wilson . . . . . . . . . . .Associated Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1993Jim Wynn . . . . . . . . . . . . . .McNeese State, Abbeville Mericonal, Alexandria Town Talk, LSWA President . . . .2006

Year-by-year inductee class

1982: Bille Keefe, New Orleans Times-PicayunePaul Martin, Monroe News-StarBud Montet, Baton Rouge Morning AdvocateTruman Stacy, Lake Charles American Press

1983: Jack Fiser, The Shreveport Times1984: John Ferguson, LSU and Saints radio1985: Dan Hardesty, Baton Rouge State Times1986: Paul Manasseh, LSU Sports Information1987: Ted Castillo, Baton Rouge Advocate1988: Bill Carter, Alexandria Town Talk1989: Peter Finney, New Orleans Times-Picayune

Bob Roesler, New Orleans Times-Picayune1990: Collie Nicholson, Grambling Sports Information

Hap Glaudi, WWL-Radio/TV, N.O. Item1991: Fred Digby, N.O. Item, Sugar Bowl Classic

Bill McIntyre, The Shreveport Times1992: Connie Kaplan, The Kaplan Herald

Mike Cook, Baton Rouge Advocate1993: M.L. Lagarde, Tulane Sports Information

Austin Wilson, Associated Press1994: Bob Anderson, NLU/ULM Sports Information

Bernell Ballard, Baton Rouge Advocate1995: Jim McLain, The Shreveport Times1996: Jerry Byrd, Bossier Press-Tribune,

Shreveport JournalJoe Planas, The Catholic Commentator,Baton Rouge Advocate

1997: Roger Brandt, Opelousas Daily World1998: Hal Ledet, L’Observerteur1999: Bob Henderson, USL/ULL Sports Information

Al Nassif, Alexandria Town Talk2000: Sam King, Baton Rouge Advocate, State-Times

Jerry Pierce, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame,Northwestern State

2001: Bud Johnson, SLU/LSU/Tulane2002: Louis Bonnette, McNeese St. Sports Information2003: Bill Curl, Tulane, The Louisiana Superdome2004: Keith Prince, Louisiana Tech Sports Information,

Monroe News-Star2005: Buddy Diliberto, WWL-Radio2006: Jim Wynn, McNeese State, Abbeville Meridional,

Alexandria Town Talk, LSWA President2007: Pete Dosher, Louisiana Tech, Grambling

Arthur Schott, New Orleans Times-Picayune,States-Item

2008: Ed McHale, Associated PressR.L. Stockard, Southern, SWAC, New Orleans

2009: O.K. “Buddy” Davis, Ruston Daily LeaderBob Griffin, Shreveport Sportscaster

2010: Norm Fletcher, Broadcaster, Northwestern StateTed Lewis, New Orleans Times-Picayune

2011: Ron Brocato, States-Item, Times-PicayuneLarry Hymel, Southeastern La. Sports Information


12 2011 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration

New Orleans native Elmo Adolph, a world-renowned boxing official, and Billy Montgomery,who as a highly-regarded state legislator cham-pioned sports causes including construction ofthe Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame museum, arethe 2011 recipients of the Dave Dixon LouisianaSports Leadership Award.

Adolph is the only man to officiate both aprofessional world championship bout and anOlympic gold medal boxing match, andMontgomery, a Natchitoches Parish native, wasa two-time state championship prep basketballcoach at Haughton.

The Dave Dixon Award is presented annually by the LSWA’s 30-mem-ber Hall of Fame selection committee to an individual who has played adecisive role as a sports leader or administrator benefiting Louisianaand/or bringing credit to Louisiana on the national and international level.

It is named in honor of Hall of Famer Dave Dixon, the driving forcebehind bringing the NFL to Louisiana with the creation of the NewOrleans Saints franchise. Dixon, who passed away last fall, is also con-sidered the “father” of the Louisiana Superdome, developing the conceptfor the innovative domed structure and pushing state officials for its con-struction in the late 1960s.

Adolph built an amazing career as a referee from 1964-2005. TheNew Orleans native officiated an estimated 23,000 amateur bouts, includ-ing in the 1988 Olympic Games. He became a professional referee in1992, working another 1,000 bouts, 32 of those being world champi-onship fights.

In amateur boxing, he refereed AAU, military service and regional andnational championships around the nation, and joined the ranks of inter-national officials in 1975, overseeing more than 1,600 international boutswhile traveling abroad on 26 occasions to many countries, the likes ofCuba, Germany, Russia, Korea and many more.

Among the fighters he officiated were many of the great names of hisera: Mike Tyson, Roy Jones, Jr., Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, LarryHolmes, Tommy Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, Lennox Lewis, and HectorCamacho.

Adolph also officiated Louisiana High School Athletic Association foot-ball games for nearly 30 years, including state title games in theSuperdome Classic, and was the game clock operator for the NBA’s NewOrleans Jazz in the 1970s when the team played in the Superdome. Heis still involved in prep officiating by teaching and training officials in theRiver Parishes Football Association.

He is already enshrined in the Greater New Orleans/Sugar Bowl Hallof Fame, Louisiana American Italian Sports Hall of Fame, Warren EastonHall of Fame, Southern AAU Officials Hall of Fame and the USA SouthernBoxing Hall of Fame.

Jose Sulaiman, president of the World Boxing Council, is amongthose touting Adolph’s candidacy for the Boxing Hall of Fame. RustyRubin, managing editor of ringsports.com with more than 50 years of cov-ering the sport, calls Adolph “a future Boxing Hall of Fame referee.”

Montgomery was regarded as an exceptional tactician and teacherduring his 10-year basketball coaching term and has been a mentor tomany coaches and educators since then. He is also known statewide forserving 20 years in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1988-2008.

Montgomery was the leading legislative advocate for the LouisianaHigh School Athletic Association, was a proponent for the horse racing

industry and was a pivotal figure in obtainingfunding for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Famemuseum in Natchitoches. He remains in publicservice working for the Bossier Parish PoliceJury.

As basketball coach at Haughton HighSchool from 1960-69 and at Lafayette HighSchool in 1969-70, Montgomery posted a 305-68 (81.8 percent) record, reaching the state play-offs all 10 seasons, winning two state titles, fin-ishing second another time, reaching the “Top20” state tournament in five seasons and compil-ing a 102-9 mark in district competition.

One of the elite coaches in the game’s history has the highest regardfor Montgomery’s coaching abilities. Louisiana Sports Hall of Famemember Leon Barmore, enshrined in the Naismith Memorial BasketballHall of Fame for his incredible career as the mastermind of the LouisianaTech women’s program, was previously a highly successful boys coachat his alma mater, Ruston High School, a north Louisiana rival ofHaughton’s.

“In nearly 40 years of coaching basketball, the two coaches I facedwho had their teams prepared the best were (Tennessee Lady Volunteerscoach) Pat Head Summitt, and Billy Montgomery,” said Barmore.

“One of the most valuable lessons that I ever learned was watchinghis practice and seeing the importance that he placed on valuing everypossession. Taking care of the basketball was of the utmost importance.He was one of the best, bar none, at coaching the game,” said Barmore,“and it helped me tremendously to see how he imparted that knowledgeto his players.

Montgomery was chosen as “Mr. Louisiana Basketball” in 2009 by theLouisiana Association of Basketball Coaches.

He already has been enshrined in the Louisiana High School SportsHall of Fame in 1991 and has been honored by the Louisiana SportsWriters Association both as state basketball coach of the year (1967 and1968) and for his pivotal role in advancing the Hall of Fame constructionproject.

Haughton High School named its basketball court in his honor.Montgomery spent 18 years after coaching as a school administrator(assistant principal and then principal) at Haughton before running forpublic office. He based his political campaigns on his coaching identityand is humbled that friendsand colleagues from all walksof life still refer to him as“Coach Montgomery.”

He was raised in ruralNatchitoches Parish andplayed at now-defunctProvencal High School, andthen was on the freshmanteam at nearby NorthwesternState, his college alma mater.

The Dixon Award winnerswill be recognized in a displayin the Louisiana Sports Hall ofFame museum.

2011 Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award Winners

Past Dave Dixon Sports Leadership Award Winners

2005 Randy GregsonU.S. Tennis Association

2006 Emmanuel “Boozy” Bourgeois, Jr.Louisiana Special Olympics

2007 Don LandryNicholls State, SLCDoug ThorntonLouisiana Superdome

2008 Dr. James AndrewsSports Medicine

2009 George DementYouth Sports ActivistBenny TurcanMr. Softball

2010 Gerald BoudreauxNCAA Basketball OfficialSEC Coordinator of Officials

Elmo Adolph

E l m o A d o l p h & B i l l y M o n t g o m e r y

Billy Montgomery


2011 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration 13


14 2011 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration

Coming in July and Auguston Cox Sports Television

The 2011 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Showcasehosted by Lyn Rollins

Enjoy an hour-long recap of the 2011 Induction Celebrationwith profiles of each of the 2011 honorees!

DVD copies $15 each will be available • contact the Hall of Fame to place an order

From Fastballs to Paint Brushes - Our Hall of Fame ArtistFormer Northwestern State baseball player Chris Brown has com-

pleted his second set of eight striking portraits of the 2010 InductionClass in his capacity as the artist for the Louisiana Sports Hall ofFame.

Brown, a native of McCook, Nebraska, assumed the role as theorganization's artist for the 2009 Induction Class after long-time artist,Carolyn Thorn, passed away in July 2008 after an illness.

“The loss of Carolyn Thorn tremendously saddened everyoneassociated with the Hall of Fame,” said Hall of Fame executive direc-tor Doug Ireland. “Her passing closed a remarkable chapter. She and(late husband) Clif produced an amazing body of work that for manypeople was the defining visual image of the Hall and was certainly akey part of our identity. It was quite daunting for us to consider how

to move forward and identify our new artist."The work Chris did last year was dynamic. He has honored the

legacy of the Thorns and added his own distinctive style. Like them, hepours his heart and soul into these portraits and it shows in the finishedproduct."

Clif Thorn became the Hall of Fame artist when the shrine, createdin 1958, found a permanent home in Natchitoches at NorthwesternState in 1972. He drew 144 of the magnificent color portraits of Hall ofFame inductees until 1995, when Parkinson's disease forced him toretire and to teach his wife, Carolyn, an acclaimed watercolor artist, thetechniques of portrait work in pastels. Mrs. Thorn matched her hus-band's style from 1995-2008.

After graduating from NSU with a degree in art education, Brownhas been active in the art world. He currently teaches art and is abaseball coach at Sharyland High School in Mission, Texas.

“We love the fact that he's been a high school, college and profes-sional athlete. As the Hall of Fame museum opens relatively soon, thisis a very fascinating time for us and that is reflected in his portraits.We're excited about what we hope will be a very long association withChris Brown as the official artist of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.”

As a player at NSU, Brown was a member of the back-to-backSouthland Conference championship teams in 1997 and 1998.

In his two-year career as a member of the Demon pitching staff,Brown compiled a 13-9 record in 35 games with a 3.94 ERA. In 1997,he set a school single-season record with 110 strikeouts - a record thatstill stands today.

Following his senior season, Brown was drafted in the 33rd roundby the Chicago Cubs.

Before NSU, Brown attended Cowley County (Kan.) CommunityCollege where he compiled a 17-5 record over two seasons andearned All-Conference honors as well as the league's Most ValuablePlayer. He earned All-Region and first team Junior College All-American honors his sophomore season. He was also an All-American Scholar as a freshman.

Brown got started as an artist after a strong push from high schoolart teacher Jim Steinke, but it was the inspiration from close friendFred Gianforte of Natchitoches that has made him what he is today.

“Artistically, I consider my mentor to be Fred Gianforte ofNatchitoches,” said Brown. “Fred has been a strong influence in myChristian path as well as an artist I have learned many techniquesfrom. We continue to bounce ideas off one another and enjoy shar-ing each other's work. I owe many thanks to Fred.”

Brown and his wife, Paula, reside in Mission, Texas.Former minor league baseball player Chris Brown is the Hall of Fame’s artist.


15

Just as all the Hall of Fame membershave memorable stories, so does the art-work - rooted in the lives of the longtimeofficial artists for the Hall, James C. andCarolyn Thorn of Natchitoches.

With the passing of Mrs. Thorn in July2008, a defining era in the history of Hallcame to a close. Since 1972, the husbandand wife team produced an iconic series ofportraits of each year's inductees.

The late James Clifton Thorn, retiredassociate professor of art at NorthwesternState University, was responsible for 144of the magnificent, hand-drawn color por-traits of Hall of Fame members which from1972-2005 appeared in the Hall of Fameshowcases in Prather Coliseum.

In 1995, four years after he was diag-nosed with Parkinson's disease, Clifgrudgingly realized he was no longer ableto produce the Hall of Fame portraits.When the disease left him unable to con-tinue his artwork, Thorn taught his wifeCarolyn, an acclaimed watercolor artist,the techniques of portrait work in pastels.She assumed the role as the Hall of Fameartist, matching her husband's style downto the distinctive “Thorn” signature on eachportrait.

Carolyn was also an award-winningartist and a professor of art. She hadnever done portrait work, doing mostlywatercolors with a paint brush, prior tostepping in for her husband and workingwith pastels for the first time on the Hall ofFame portraits. With Clif's instruction andCarolyn's talent, the portraits continued inthe striking style that Thorn originatedmore than a quarter-century earlier.

Said Thorn in an Alexandria DailyTown Talk feature on the teamworkbetween him and his wife on the Hall ofFame project: “I'd do them for $10 apieceif I could. I loved it that much.”

To establish the first Hall of Fame dis-play when the facility was established inNatchitoches in 1972, Clif drew 35 por-traits in a three-month period to providethe shrine with portraits of all athletes andcoaches that had been inducted since1959.

Clif passed away in early April 2003 atthe age of 73.

Mrs. Thorn, a member of the art facul-ty at Northwestern for 23 years, earnedher master's degree at NSU and her Ed.Dfrom the University of North Texas. Shehad been painting since retirement in 1986and won numerous awards with paintingsin many collections. She was a member ofthe Hoover Watercolor Society ofNatchitoches.

A graduate of Baylor University, Mr.Thorn earned his master's degree in paint-ing from Texas Christian University. Healso studied at the State University of Iowaand Louisiana State University and taughtart for 25 years at Baylor, the University ofTexas-Arlington and Northwestern.

Widely acclaimed for his portrait work,Thorn supported his graduate studies bypainting children's portraits and was com-missioned to produce portraits of promi-nent individuals across Louisiana andTexas.

He won numerous awards in art com-petition, and his works appear in privatecollections in several states. His artworkwas displayed in more than 30 exhibitions.

Remembering the Thorns - Always Our Hall of Fame Artists

James C. Thorn

J a m e s C . & C a r o l y n T h o r n

Carolyn Thorn

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Samples of Carolyn Thorn’s portraits




Danny Abramowicz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pro Football, New Orleans Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1992 Joe Adcock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Coushatta, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1975 Joe Aillet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Coach, Louisiana Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1973 Charles Alexander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1993 Billy Allgood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Coach, Louisiana College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1999 John Altobello . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Basketball Coach, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1994Morten Andersen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pro Football, New Orleans Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011 Alex "Greek" Athas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Track & Field, Tulane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1992Carrice Russell Baker . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball Coach, Jena, Winnsboro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009 Bill Banker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Tulane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1978 Gary Barbaro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, New Orleans/Nicholls State/NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2000 Leon Barmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Women's Basketball Coach, Louisiana Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2004 Albert Belle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2005 Skip Bertman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baseball Coach, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2002 Bernie Bierman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Coach, Tulane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1967 Buddy Blair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Track, Baseball, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1981 Mel Blount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Southern University, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1989 Vida Blue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Mansfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1990 Tommy Bolt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Professional Golf, Shreveport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1974 Zeke Bonura . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1989 Sid Bowman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track and Field, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1976 Warren Braden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Southern University, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1998 Terry Bradshaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Louisiana Tech, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1988 Frank Brian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, LSU, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1986 Lou Brock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Southern University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1983Michael Brooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Ruston, LSU, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009Marty Broussard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sports Medicine, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009 Billy Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track and Field, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1969 Charlie Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Football Coach, Neville-Monroe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2001 Dale Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball Coach, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1999 Gernon Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Coach, Jesuit-New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1990 James E. "Big Fuzzy" Brown . . . . . . . . .High School Football Coach, Istrouma-Baton Rouge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1992 Joe Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Professional Boxing, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1976 Willard Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Negro League Baseball, Shreveport . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2007Willie Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Grambling, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1985 Pat Browne Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .U.S. Golf Champion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1998 Queen Brumfield (Nard) . . . . . . . . . . . . .Women's Basketball, Southeastern Louisiana University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2002 Buck Buchanan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Grambling, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1986 Chris Cagle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Merryville, USL, Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1960 Billy Cannon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU, AFL, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1976 Tony Canzoneri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Professional Boxing, Slidell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1959 Harold Carmichael . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Southern University, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1989Mark Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Nicholls, Church Point, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010 Tommy Casanova . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1985 Jim Cason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2003 Don Chaney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, McKinley-Baton Rouge, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1991 Jimmy "Chick" Childress . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Football Coach, Ruston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2001 Will Clark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2004 Hollis Conway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track and Field, Shreveport, Louisiana-Lafayette, USA Olympic Team . . . . . .2004 Jim Corbett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Athletic Director, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1985 Clifford Ann Creed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Professional Golf, Alexandria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1985 John David Crow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Springhill, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1976J.T. Curtis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Football Coach, River Ridge, John Curtis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010 Jerry Dalrymple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Tulane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1964 Alvin Dark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Lake Charles, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1976 Willie Davenport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track and Field, Southern University, USA Olympic Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1988 Tommy Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1988 Willie Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Grambling, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1977 Fred Dean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Louisiana Tech, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1995 Joe Dean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Athletic Director, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2001 Eddie Delahoussaye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Horse Racing Jockey, New Iberia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2002 Joe Delaney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Northwestern State University, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1996 Bill Dickey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Bastrop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1981 Mel Didier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baseball, Baton Rouge, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2003 Paul Dietzel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Coach, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1988 Dave Dixon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Entrepeneur, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1999 Dr. Jack Doland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Coach, McNeese State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2002 Atley Donald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Choudrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1982 A.J. Duhe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2001 Joe Dumars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Natchitoches/McNeese State/NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2003 Ralph Dupas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Professional Boxing, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1994 Mark Duper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Northwestern State, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2005 Billy Joe Dupree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, West Monroe/NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2003 Tom Dutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1969 Eddie Dyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Morgan City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1966 Ken Ellis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Southern, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2000Ronnie Estay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2006 Marshall Faulk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, New Orleans, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009Lenny Fant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball Coach, Northeast Louisiana University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1988 Doc Fenton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1968 Joe Ferguson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Shreveport, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1994 Jim Finks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Administrator, New Orleans Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2000Chuck Finley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baseball, ULM, Monroe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2006 Peggy Flournoy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Tulane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1968 Steve Foley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Tulane, Jesuit-New Orleans, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2002 Alton "Red" Franklin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Football Coach, Haynesville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2004 John Franks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Horse Racing Thoroughbred Owner, Shreveport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1995 Stan Galloway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Coach, Southeastern Louisiana University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1989 Lin Gamble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Women's Basketball, Grand Cane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2001 Ralph Garr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Grambling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1985 L. J. "Hoss" Garrett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Football Coach, Ruston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1997 Leslie Gaudet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Basketball Coach, Pine Prairie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1997 Paul Geisler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Centenary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1967 Larry Gilbert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baseball, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1964 Matt Gordy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track and Field, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1985 Tad Gormley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Coach, Tulane, LSU, Loyola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1968 Hoyle Granger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Mississippi State, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2005 Mike Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Louisiana Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1996 Grits Gresham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Outdoorsman, Natchitoches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1989 Bob Groseclose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track & Field Coach, Northeast Louisiana University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1992

Members of the Louisiana Sports Hall of FameYear-by-year inductee class

1959: Tom Canzoneri, Gaynell Tinsley1960: Chris Cagle, Pete Herman, Ted Lyons1961: Jack Torrance, Steve Van Buren1962: Slats Hardin, Sparky Wade1963: Bernie Moore, Al Moreau, Mel Ott, Mel Parnell1964: Jerry Dalrymple, Larry Gilbert, Bo McMillin1965: Ed Head, Willie Pastrano, Jimmy Perrin,

H. Lee Prather1966: Eddie Dyer, Cal Hubbard, Biff Jones1967: Bernie Bierman, Paul Geisler1968: Doc Fenton, Peggy Flournoy, Tad Gormley,

Dana Jenkins1969: Billy Brown, Tom Dutton, Monk Simons,

Red Thomas1970: Ken Kavanaugh, Jimmy McGonagill, Abe Mickal,

Harry Rabenhorst, Clark Shaughnessy1972: Bill Lee, Y.A. Tittle1973: Joe Aillet, Bob Petit, Tank Younger1974: Tommy Bolt, Rolland Romero, Jimmy Taylor,

Harry Turpin1975: Joe Adcock, Johnny Lynch, Eddie Price,

Don Zimmerman1976: Sid Bowman, Joe Brown, Billy Cannon, Alvin Dark,

John David Crow, J.D. Mooney, John Pennel1977: Willie Davis, Bobby Spell, Dave Styron,

Don Styron1978: Bill Banker, Freddie Haas, Jake Hanna,

Charlie Hennigan, Bob Hopkins1981: Buddy Blair, Bill Dickey, Faize Mahfouz,

Tommy Mason, Howie Pollet, Willis Reed, Glynn Saulters, Jerry Stovall, Emmett Toppino

1982: Atley Donald, Jay Hebert, Lionel Hebert, Dub Jones, Charles McClendon

1983: Lou Brock, Hank Lauricella, Lester Lautenschlaeger, Bob Love, Ham Richardson, Jackie Smith

1984: Eric Guerin, Dwight “Bo” Lamar, Max McGee, Pete Maravich, Jackie Moreland, A.W. Mumford, Johnny Robinson

1985: Willie Brown, Tommy Casanova, Jim Corbett, Clifford Ann Creed, Ralph Garr, Matt Gordy, Eddie Robinson

1986: Frank Brian, Buck Buchanan, Bert Jones, Maxie Lambright, Carl Maddox, Dutch Reinhardt

1988: Terry Bradshaw, Willie Davenport, Tommy Davis, Paul Dietzel, Lenny Fant, Elvin Hayes, Archie Manning, Rod Milburn, Greg Procell, Bill Reigel, J.R. Richard

1989: Mel Blount, Zeke Bonura, Harold Carmichael, Stan Galloway, Grits Gresham, Johnny Morriss,Rusty Staub

1990: Vida Blue, Gernon Brown, Charlie Joiner, Fred Miller, Kim Mulkey, Leo Sanford, Rags Scheuermann

1991: Don Chaney, Gary Johnson, Charlie Tolar, Raymond “Buddy” Parker, Ralph Ward, Roy “Moonie” Winston

1992: Danny Abramowicz, Alex “Greek” Athas, James E. “Big Fuzzy” Brown, Bob Groseclose,Ron Guidry, Richie Petitbon, Andrew Toney



Eric Guerin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Horse Racing Jockey, Maringouin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1984 Ron Guidry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Lafayette, USL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1992 Sue Gunter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Women's Basketball Coach, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2005 Freddie Haas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Amateur Golf, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1978Kyla Hall (Holas) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Softball, ULL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011Darryl Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Baton Rouge, Nicholls State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008 Jake Hanna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Centenary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1978 Billy Hardin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track and Field, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1998 Slats Hardin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track and Field, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1962 James "Shack" Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Monroe, Grambling, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1999 Gayle Hatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Weightlifting Coach, Baton Rouge, Northwestern State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008Joel Hawkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Basketball Coach, Southern Lab, Lake Providence, G.W. Griffin . . . . . . . .2007Elvin Hayes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Rayville, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1988 Ed Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Selma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1965T.P. “Skipper” Heard . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Athletic Director, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011 Bobby Hebert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Cut Off, Northwestern State, NFL, New Orleans Saints . . . . . . . . . . .2000 Jay Hebert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Professional Golf, Lafayette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1982 Lionel Hebert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Professional Golf, Lafayette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1982Lee Hedges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Football Coach, Shreveport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010 Charlie Hennigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Northwestern State University, AFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1978 Tommy Henry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Administrator, Alexandria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008Pete Herman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Professional Boxing, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1960 Dalton Hilliard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU, New Orleans Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1997 Tom Hinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Louisiana Tech, CFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2005 Fred Hobdy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball Coach, Grambling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1994Sonja Hogg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball Coach, Louisiana Tech, Alexandria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009 Bob Hopkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Grambling, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1978 Cal Hubbard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football & Baseball, Centenary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1966 Stan Humphries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, ULM, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2007Luke Jackson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Olympic & NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1998 Rich Jackson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Southern University, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1994 Rickey Jackson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Professional Football, New Orleans Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1999 Dana Jenkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track and Field, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1968 Kathy Johnson (Clarke) . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gymnastics, Centenary College, USA Olympic Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1996 Gary Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Grambling, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1991Vaughan Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pro Football, New Orleans Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011 Charlie Joiner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Grambling, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1990 Bert Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1986 Biff Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Coach, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1966 Dub Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Tulane, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1982 Esther Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2007Buford Jordan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Iota, McNeese State, New Orleans Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011Ken Kavanaugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1970 Pam Kelly (Flowers) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Louisiana Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1994 Kenny Konz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2000 Ernie Ladd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Grambling, AFL, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1994 Dwight "Bo" Lamar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball University of Southwestern Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1984 Maxie Lambright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Coach, Louisiana Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1986 Hank Lauricella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1983 Lester Lautenschlaeger . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Football Coach, Tulane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1983 Janice Lawrence (Braxton) . . . . . . . . . .Pro Basketball, Louisiana Tech, USA Olympic Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2005 Walter Ledet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track & Field Coach, Northwestern State University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1995 Bill Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Plaquemine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1972 Eun Jung Lee (Ok) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Northeast Louisiana University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1998 Albert Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Mansfield, Grambling, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2004Frank Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Grambling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2006 Bob Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Southern University, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1983 Bobby Lowther . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Track & Field, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1995 Johnny Lynch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Referee, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1975 Ted Lyons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Lake Charles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1960 Charles McClendon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Coach, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1982 Dick McCloskey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Football Coach, Hanson Memorial-Franklin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2003Ben McDonald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baseball, Denham Springs, LSU, MLB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010 Max McGee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Tulane, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1984 Jimmy McGonagill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Amateur Golf, Shreveport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1970 Bo McMillin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Coach, Centenary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1964 Rudy Macklin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, LSU, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2005 Carl Maddox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Athletic Director, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1986 Ron Maestri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baseball Coach, University of New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1995 Faize Mahfouz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Football Coach, Eunice, New Iberia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1981 Karl Malone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Summerfield, Louisiana Tech, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008Archie Manning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, New Orleans Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1988 Pete Maravich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, LSU, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1984 Oliver Marcelle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Negro Leagues Baseball, Thibodaux, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1996Leonard Marshall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Franklin, LSU, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008Eric Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU, New Orleans Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2006 Tommy Mason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Tulane, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1981 Abe Mickal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1970 Rod Milburn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track and Field, Southern University, USA Olympics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1988 Fred Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1990 Sam Mills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, New Orleans Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2001 Brian Mitchell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, ULL, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2007J.D. Mooney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Horse Racing Jockey, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1976 Bernie Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Track Coach, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1963 Jim Mora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Coach, New Orleans Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2003 Al Moreau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track and Field, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1963 Jackie Moreland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Louisiana Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1984 Johnny Morriss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track & Field, University of Southwestern Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1989 Kim Mulkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Louisiana Tech, USA Olympic Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1990 A.W. Mumford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Coach, Southern University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1984 Charles "Cotton" Nash . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Baseball, Lake Charles High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1993 Calvin Natt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Northeast Louisiana University, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1993 Mel Ott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1963 Emmett Pare' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tennis Coach, Tulane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1997 Robert Parish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Woodlawn-Shreveport, Centenary, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2001 Raymond “Buddy” Parker . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Centenary, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1991 Mel Parnell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1963 Willie Pastrano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Professional Boxing, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1965 Audrey "Mickey" Patterson (Tyler) . . . . .Track and Field, New Orleans, USA Olympics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2000 John Pennel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track & Field, Northeast Louisiana University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1976

Members of the Louisiana Sports Hall of FameYear-by-year inductee class

1993: Charles Alexander, Charles “Cotton” Nash, Calvin Natt, Connie Ryan, Edna Tarbutton, Doug Williams

1994: John Altobello, Ralph Dupas, Joe Ferguson, Fred Hobdy, Rich Jackson, Pam Kelly (Flowers), Ernie Ladd

1995: Fred Dean, John Franks, Walter Ledet, Bobby Lowther, Ron Maestri, James Silas, Sammy White

1996: Joe Delaney, Mike Green, Oliver Marcelle, Kathy Johnson (Clarke), Isiah Robertson, Rosey Taylor, Earl “Moose” Wilson

1997: L.J. “Hoss” Garrett, Leslie Gaudet, Dalton Hilliard, Emmett Paré, Harold Porter, Gary Reasons, Scotty Robertson, Joyce Walker

1998: Warren Braden, Pat Browne Jr., Billy Hardin, Luke Jackson, Eun Jung Lee (Ok), John Petitbon, Everson Walls

1999: Billy Allgood, Dale Brown, Dave Dixon, James “Shack” Harris, Rickey Jackson, Joe Profit, Pat Studstill

2000: Gary Barbaro, Ken Ellis, Jim Finks, Bobby Hebert, Kenny Konz, Michael Sanders, Audrey “Mickey” Patterson (Tyler)

2001: Charlie Brown, Jimmy “Chick” Childress, Joe Dean, A.J. Duhe, Lin Gamble, Sam Mills, Robert Parish

2002: Skip Bertman, Queen Brumfield (Nard), Eddie Delahoussaye, Dr. Jack Doland, Steve Foley, Nick Revon, Johnny “Red” Robertson

2003: Jim Cason, Mel Didier, Joe Dumars, Billy Joe Dupree, Dick McCloskey, Jim Mora, Lee Smith

2004: Leon Barmore, Will Clark, Hollis Conway, Alton “Red” Franklin, Albert Lewis, Tony Sardisco, Neil Smith

2005: Albert Belle, Mark Duper, Hoyle Granger, Sue Gunter, Tom Hinton, Rudy Macklin, Janice Lawrence (Braxton), Randy Romero

2006: Ronnie Estay, Chuck Finley, Frank Lewis, Eric Martin, Craig Perret, Rick Robey, George “Bo” Strickland, Sheila Thompson (Johnson)

2007: Willard Brown, Joel Hawkins, Stan Humphries,Esther Jones, Brian Mitchell, Warren Perkins, Kim Perrot, Pat Swilling

2008: Darryl Hamilton, Gayle Hatch, Tommy Henry, Karl Malone, Leonard Marshall, Jelly Pigott, Barbara Fay White, Aeneas Williams

2009: Carrice Russell Baker, Michael Brooks,Marty Broussard, Marshall Faulk, Sonja Hogg,Willie Roaf, Freddie Spencer, Hal Sutton

2010: Mark Carrier, J.T. Curtis, Lee Hedges,Ben McDonald, Mike Vining, Theresa Weatherspoon, Larry Wilson,Orlando Woolridge

2011: Morten Andersen, Kyla HallHolas,T.P. “Skipper” Heard, Vaughan Johnson,Buford Jordan, Don Shows, Todd Walker,Donald “Slick” Watts



Warren Perkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Tulane, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2007Craig Perret . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Horse Racing Jockey, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2006Jimmy Perrin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Professional Boxing, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1965Kim Perrot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, ULL, WNBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2007 John Petitbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Notre Dame, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1998 Richie Petitbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Tulane, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1992 Bob Pettit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, LSU, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1973Jelly Pigott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Basketball Coach, Jena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008 Howie Pollet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1981 Harold Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track & Field, University of Southwestern Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1997 H. Lee Prather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball Coach, Northwestern State University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1965 Eddie Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Tulane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1975 Greg Procell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Basketball, Ebarb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1988 Joe Profit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Monroe, Northeast Louisiana University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1999 Harry Rabenhorst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Coach, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1970 Gary Reasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Northwestern State University, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1997 Willis Reed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Grambling, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1981 Bill Reigel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, McNeese State University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1988 Dutch Reinhardt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball Coach, University of Southwestern Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1986 Nick Revon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2002 J.R. Richard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Vienna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1988 Ham Richardson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tennis, Tulane University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1983 Willie Roaf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Louisiana Tech, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009Isiah Robertson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Southern University, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1996 Johnny "Red" Robertson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Football Coach, Ferriday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2002 Scotty Robertson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball Coach, Louisiana Tech, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1997Rick Robey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2006 Eddie Robinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Coach, Grambling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1985 Johnny Robinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1984 Randy Romero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Horse Racing Jockey, Erath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2005 Rolland Romero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track and Field, Loyola, U.S. Olympic Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1974 Connie Ryan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1993 Leo Sanford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Louisiana Tech, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1990 Michael Sanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, DeRidder, UCLA, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2000 Tony Sardisco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Shreveport, Tulane, AFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2004 Glynn Saulters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Northeast Louisiana University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1981 Rags Scheuermann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baseball Coach, Delgado, Loyola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1990 Clark Shaughnessy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Coach, Tulane, Loyola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1970 Don Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Coach, Farmerville, Jonesboro-Hodge, Pineville, West Monroe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011James Silas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Tallulah, ABA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1995 Monk Simons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Tulane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1969 Jackie Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Northwestern State University, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1983 Lee Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Castor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2003 Neil Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, New Orleans, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2004 Bobby Spell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Professional Softball, Lake Charles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1977 Freddie Spencer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Motorcycle Racing, Shreveport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009Rusty Staub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1989 Jerry Stovall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1981George “Bo” Strickland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baseball, New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2006 Pat Studstill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Shreveport, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1999 Dave Styron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track & Field, Northeast Louisiana University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1977 Don Styron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track & Field, Northeast Louisiana University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1977 Hal Sutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Golf, Centenary, Shreveport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2009Pat Swilling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, New Orleans Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2007Edna Tarbutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Basketball Coach, Baskin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1993 Jimmy Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1974 Rosey Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Grambling, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1996 Red Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Northwestern State University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1969Sheila Thompson (Johnson) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Louisiana College, Pitkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2006 Gaynell Tinsley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1959 Y.A. Tittle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1972 Charlie Tolar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Northwestern State University, AFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1991 Andrew Toney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, University of Southwestern Louisiana, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1992 Emmett Toppino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track and Field, Loyola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1981 Jack Torrance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track and Field, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1961 Harry Turpin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football Coach, Northwestern State University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1974 Steve Van Buren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1961 Mike Vining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball Coach, Louisiana-Monroe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010Sparky Wade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1962 Joyce Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, LSU, Harlem Globetrotters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1997Todd Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baseball, Airline HS, LSU, MLB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011 Everson Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Grambling, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1998 Ralph Ward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball Coach, McNeese State University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1991Donald “Slick” Watts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Xavier, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011Theresa Weatherspoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Women’s Basketball, Louisiana Tech, WNBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010 Barbara Fay White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Golf, Shreveport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008Sammy White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Grambling, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1995 Aeneas Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, New Orleans, Southern, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008Doug Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Grambling, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1993 Earl "Moose" Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Major League Baseball, Ponchatoula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1996 Larry Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Nicholls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010Roy “Moonie” Winston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, LSU, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1991 Orlando Woolridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Mansfield, NBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010Tank Younger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Grambling, NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1973 Don Zimmerman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Football, Tulane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1975

Married Names of Women Members of the Hall of Fame Janice Lawrence Braxton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pro Basketball, Louisiana Tech, USA Olympic Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2005 Kathy Johnson Clarke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gymnastics, Centenary College, USA Olympic Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1996 Pam Kelly Flowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Louisiana Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1994Kyla Hall Holas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Softball, Louisiana-Lafayette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2011Sheila Thompson-Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Louisiana College, Pitkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2006 Queen Brumfield Nard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Southeastern Louisiana University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2002 Eun Jung Lee Ok . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Basketball, Northeast Louisiana University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1998 Audrey (Mickey) Patterson Tyler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Track and Field, New Orleans, USA Olympics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2000

Members of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame



Kicking, smiling,Great Dane isa Saints’ legendBy Brian Allee-WalshWritten for the LSWA

Morten Andersen distinguished himselffor 25 NFL seasons, arguably kicking afootball between two unforgiving goal postsbetter than anyone who has played thegame.

Longtime NFL observers believe the left-footer is destined to land in the Pro FootballHall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, and perhapswill be a first-ballot entrant with the Class of2012 on the eve of Super Bowl XLVII (Feb.3, 2013) in New Orleans.

According to former Saints Coach JimMora, who coached Andersen in NewOrleans from 1982 through 1994, the“Great Dane’’ is a shoe-in for Canton.

"If you follow football at all, you got tomarvel at the career Morten has had," Morasaid. "Good kickers can make the 50-yarders in practice and in pre-game warm-ups, but the great kickers are the oneswho can put it through the uprights with thegame on the line. I can remember so many

times standing on the sidelines when thegame was on the line, no matter what thedistance, and he would go out there with agreat deal of confidence, with ice water inhis veins, and he would stick it through theuprights.

“That's the big difference betweenMorten Andersen and other kickers in theNFL. Not only should Morten Andersen godown as the greatest kicker in NationalFootball League history, but he should godown as one of the great players inNational Football League history. I reallybelieve that.’’

Mora is not alone in his belief."Sooner or later another specialist is

going to go in," said Andersen, who fin-ished his NFL career as the Saints' andNFL's all-time leading scorer with 1,318points and 2,544 points, respectively.

“Whether it's me or Gary Anderson orNick Lowery or Ray Guy, I don't know.There are so many other great players outthere who have been waiting for years andyears and years. Based on the body ofwork, I think I belong, but there are other

guys that belong, too."Time will tell if Andersen makes the cut in

Canton.Meantime, he has a few stops along the

way.The first came on Nov. 6, 2009, when he

was unanimously inducted into the NewOrleans Saints Hall of Fame. The secondcomes when he will take his rightful place inthe Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame duringdinner ceremonies at the NatchitochesEvents Center.

Two down, one to go.“This is a tremendous honor,’’ Andersen

said of his inclusion with the esteemedLouisiana Class of 2011. “I am very humbletoday. Today my heart is smiling, andtoday my spirit soars.

"This means a lot to be able to come innow in an environment when the Saints areso successful and everybody is so upbeatand positive about the football team.’’

Andersen, a native of Copenhagen,Denmark, finished his storied career withthe Atlanta Falcons (1995-00, 2006-07),New York Giants (2001), Kansas City

MMoorrtteenn AAnnddeerrsseennDubbed the “Great Dane,” the native of Copenhagen was certain-ly that as he made six Pro Bowl appearances in 13 seasons withthe New Orleans Saints (1982-94) to highlight his amazing 25-yearpro career, one season shy of the NFL’s all-time record of 26 byGeorge Blanda. He made the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the1980s and the 1990s. In his time with the Saints, Andersen setfranchise records with 1,318 points, 302 field goals and 412 PATs.He made 77.6 percent of his field-goal attempts (302 of 389) andhad a long of 60 yards. He still holds the club record for gamesplayed with 196. Known for his accuracy and game-winning kicksafter joining the team as a fourth-round draft pick in 1982, he was31-of-35 on field goals in 1985 and 26-of-30 in ’86. He scored 100-plus points nine times in his career with the Saints, including aclub-record 121 in 1987 when they went to the playoffs for the firsttime in club history. His six Pro Bowl trips tie for second in club his-tory. Andersen, who made 40 of 84 field-goal tries from 50 yardsand out, was released by the Saints in 1995 and went on to play12 more years with four teams. The three-time first-team All-Propick holds NFL career records in field goals made (565), attempts(709), points (2,544) and games played (382). He also ranks sec-ond in extra points made (849) and attempts (859) and set aleague mark for consecutive games scoring (360) -- 97 more thanJason Elam (263). He made 25 of 28 field-goal attempts at the ageof 47 with Atlanta in 2007, earning a seventh Pro Bowl appear-ance. Andersen is a member of the Saints Hall of Fame and theWalter Camp All-Century Team for college football for his career atMichigan State.

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Chiefs (2002-03) and Minnesota Vikings (2004).The seven-time Pro Bowl player is a member of the NFL’s “All-

Decade’’ team for the 1980s and 1990s and the Walter Camp All-Century team for college football for his career at Michigan State

If elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Andersen said hewould proudly represent each of the five teams he representedduring his illustrious NFL career. But the feeling is New Orleans stillcommands a special place in his heart, despite being dumpedunceremoniously by the Saints organization on the eve of trainingcamp in 1995.

Sixteen years later, the wound has scarred over and the good faroutweighs the bad.

"One of the reasons that my relationship was great with NewOrleanians was that I immersed myself in the culture there and thecity, and I became a New Orleanian,'' Andersen once said.

"Even though I'm still a Danish citizen I became part of the fab-ric of the city and I got involved in community service. I was a vis-ible Saint. I wasn't a guy who went home afterward. I liked to party.I was single back then and I had a good time there and NewOrleans likes to party.''

Though Andersen claims to remember nearly every single kick,the makes and misses, of all his Saints memories, he cited twokicks that remain in the forefront:

• Oct, 27, 1991,Chicago beats NewOrleans 20-17 tosnap the Saints' sea-son-opening seven-game winning streak:"I remember thesound of a 60-yarderI made in the Domeagainst the Bearsbefore halftime. Itwas a sound unlikeany kick I've ever hit.You wish you couldcan that thing andmake it part of youalways, but it sound-ed like a cannongoing off in there.Then, of course, theroar in the crowd andmy beating heartafterward was pretty intense as well.''

• Oct. 9, 1983, Andersen kicks Saints past Atlanta 19-17: "I comeback to the 35-yarder from the left hash at Atlanta-Fulton CountyStadium with Kenny Stabler driving us down, and Kenny Duckettreturning the kick, and Hokie Gajan getting a couple of swing pass-es and all of a sudden we're there. And it's two seconds to go and(Stabler) calls timeout. I'm coming on the field, and I'm nervousand I'm 23 years old and (Stabler) is 38 and he's in maybe his lastyear and he goes, 'Hey Morten, let's go home.' It calmed me rightdown and I kicked the 35-yarder from the left hash and we wenthome and it was a great experience.''

If given more time to reflect, Andersen probably could recallnumerous occasions when he kicked his opponents where it hurtthe most – right between the goal posts.



Cajuns’ greatestgets rightful spotin legends lineup

By Bruce BrownWritten for the LSWA

Kyla Hall hasn't changed much from herdays as an All-American softball pitcher atLouisiana-Lafayette.

She's Kyla Holas now, and she's coach-ing the University of Houston instead ofplaying, but you get the feeling she wouldsuit up today if given the chance.

Holas will be inducted into the LouisianaSports Hall of Fame as the first in her sportto be so honored, but she downplays herrole as pioneer.

"When you're in the heat of the moment,that kind of thing doesn't seep in," Holassaid, one day after coaching Houston pasther alma mater in NCAA Regional play. "It'sthe kind of thing you realize in hindsight.

"It (pioneer status) was never my inten-tion. It was what I loved to do."

She still loves growing with the game,

years after her playing career."You keep learning," Holas said. "You

have to find different ways to reach ath-letes. You have to get to know them andunderstand them. As long as they're learn-ing the game, you can be flexible. But thereare certain things that have to be done cor-rectly.

"If you do those things, you can do otherstuff that's yours. You have to be flexible,yet firm."

It's the flexible part that some formerteammates might find amusing.

"The players around her played better,because she demanded that they did," saidYvette Girouard, who created the ULL pro-gram and retired this year as LSU's coach."If you dropped the ball, you'd better fieldit."

Girouard recalled one event that illustrat-ed Hall's legendary intensity.

"Lynn Britton couldn't hit a curve, eventhough she was a four-time All-American,"Girouard said. "So one day, Kyla threw hercurves until Lynn learned how to hit it. Theyworked until we turned the lights on at thepark.

"Finally, Lynn hit it. But then she saidsomething about it, and Kyla hit her in theback with the ball! Kyla wanted to raise thatperformance, and she was willing to help,but she's still got that fire inside her."

That fire hasn't changed. Holas led herHouston team to its second NCAA SuperRegional in 2011, capping a 10th straightwinning season for a UH program she builtfrom scratch, much as Girouard did at then-USL.

The latest Cougar team has tested flexi-bility for its famously intense coach.

"This team had to do a little growing,"Holas said. "They are a loose, fun-lovingbunch, and that wasn't the type any of uscoaches were as athletes. We wereaggressive. If you punch us, we punchback. At first we didn't realize this differ-ence. These kids love the game, and stillhave fun."

Tempramental differences aside, theCougars have a perfect role model inHolas, a three-time All-American (twice firstteam) and led the Ragin' Cajuns to theschool's first appearance in the Women'sCollege World Series and a third-place fin-

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KKyyllaa HHaallll HHoollaassA three-time All-American -- twice a first-team selection -- Hall wasa record-setting pitcher for Louisiana-Lafayette and led the Ragin’Cajuns to their first Women’s College World Series in 1993.Former ULL and current LSU coach Yvette Girouard, the win-ningest coach in state history and a member of the National FastPitch Coaches Hall of Fame, called her a “pioneer” in state colle-giate softball. In Hall’s four-year career from 1991-94, she com-piled a 104-20 record (.839) for the best career winning percent-age in state history and one of the nation's top 15 all-time marks.She compiled a career 0.50 ERA, including an 0.23 mark in 1992which ranks in the NCAA’s all-time top 20, when she had a 30-4record. She topped that with a 31-3 record as a senior in 1994,which also ranks in the NCAA’s top 20 all-time marks. The Cajunshad a combined 155-24 record her final three years, and she hada win over top-ranked Arizona in the 1993 WCWS in leading theCajuns to a third-place national finish. Hall also hit third in the bat-ting order and ranked second on the team in hitting as a senior.More than half of her career wins (56 of 104) were shutouts, andshe holds school records for no-hitters (17) and perfect games(five). She is now the successful head coach at the University ofHouston and becomes the first female softball player enshrined inthe Hall.



ish in 1993.In Hall's four-year career from 1991-94, she compiled a 104-20

record (.839) for the best career winning percentage in state histo-ry and one of the nation's top 15 all-time marks. She compiled acareer 0.50 ERA, including an 0.23 mark in 1992 which ranks inthe NCAA's all-time top 20, when she had a 30-4 record. Shetopped that with a 31-3 record as a senior in 1994, which alsoranks in the NCAA's top 20 all-time marks.

The Cajuns had a combined 155-24 record her final three years,and she had a win over top-ranked Arizona in the 1993 WCWS.Hall also hit third in the batting order and ranked second on theteam in hitting as a senior.

More than half of her career wins (56 of 104) were shutouts, andshe holds school records for no-hitters (17) and perfect games(five).

"She was a bulldog," Girouard said. "She had a take-no-prison-ers attitude. She was an incredible athlete who could hit in the No.4 hole for us. She could have been a shortstop. She was an ath-letic pitcher, not just a thrower. She simply refused to lose.

"She was one of the premier pitchers in the game, and I thinkthese days she would be just as good. She's still the best player Iever coached."

"I remember being obsessive about the details of the game,"

Holas said. "I would study film and break things apart untilGirouard would tell me to stop. I truly think that separates goodfrom great. That negative, breaking that down - that's where I live,where I work. I want to make sure it doesn't happen.

"I used to love to practice. Working hard is exciting to do. I lovedand hated every minute of it. Even now, I can't wait for practice."

The Cajuns' breakthrough to the national stage was not repeat-ed in 1994, reflecting the transitory nature of success.

"That was clearly the high point," Holas said of the 1993 squad."I wish we could have repeated in my senior year. No matter howmany times you go, the World Series is special, unique. That expe-rience changes lives.

"Getting there is not something that can be measured or boxed.It takes the 'it' factor, a timely hit, the right 10 people in the lineup.It's not always the 10 you'd choose, but it's the right 10. When it'sright, you know it."

Holas majored in psychology, a perfect field for getting insideathletes' heads. She never had a doubt about her own mind.

"She wasn't too tolerant of players who couldn't match her tal-ent," Girouard said. "I told her, 'You're special; you have to bepatient with others.' I'm sure it's still hard for her. I guess she'sfound that balance."

As long as her players play the game the right way, balance canbe a part of the game for Holas.



Skipper Heard hadamazing impacton LSU Athletics

By Marty MuléWritten for the LSWA

More than eight decades after hearrived on the scene, his fingerprintsremain all over the LSU athletic program.

A case could be made that in the 118-year history of Tiger sports no one – notDoc Fenton, Billy Cannon, Pistol Pete oreven the Kingfish, Huey Long – left andeeper imprint on the program, whichowns an Southeastern Conference-lead-ing 43 national championships, thanThomas Pinckney Heard.

A force behind three expansions ofTiger Stadium (1931, 1936, 1954) – with-out which LSU could not evolved into thepotent football entity it has become –Heard, known as “Skipper,'' was the far-sighted athletic director when the Tigersbecame a charter member of the SEC(1933); when LSU first hooked up with50,000-watt clear-channel WWL-AM(1942), giving the Tigers a nationalbroadcast platform; when LSU becameone of the first teams to fly to farawayinter-sectional football games (1939). Heeven coached the LSU golf team to anational championship (1947).

Heard was also an early pioneer in theestablishment of legal and above-boardathletic grants-in-aid, and is described inTimes-Picayune columnist PeterFinney's book “The Fighting Tigers'' as“a man who might well be considered thefather of the tremendous sports plant ontoday's Baton Rouge campus.''

Prime example is relayed fromFinney's tome in which he writes, “Thefirst addition to the stands in TigerStadium reflected the shrewd businesssense of LSU's graduate manager.

Later, though the grapevine, Heardlearned that LSU president James M.Smith had $250,000 earmarked for dor-mitories. Armed with that knowledge heproceeded to sell Smith on the idea thatthe president could have his dormitoriesin the stadium simply by raising thestands on both sides and extendingthem to each goal line. Explained Heard:“What it meant was, for $250,000, thepresident got his dormitories and weincreased the seating capacity.''

The dorms housed 1,500 studentsand the stadium grew by 10,000 seats.

But what Heard will forever be remem-bered for is his invention of “SaturdayNight in Tiger Stadium.'' Night football,which changed the landscape of fallevenings in Louisiana – and gave LSUits signature sports persona.

As Jim Corbett, who succeeded Heardas LSU athletic director, told Finney,“Skipper Heard was a real trailblazer.''

The revolutionary change to nightfootball came early, in 1931 when Heardwas serving as “graduate-manager,''meaning he was given the responsibili-ties of running the program for RussCohen, too busy coaching the footballteam for anything else. In the vernacularof today, Heard was thinking outside thebox, though this was not a first in collegefootball. Illinois defeated Carlisle in an1897 game played indoors at theChicago Coliseum. But the concept of“after dinner'' games would become pop-ularized at LSU.

There were several reasons Heardexperimented with such a radical notion:

First and foremost was the shiftchanges of refinery workers in BatonRouge. Many couldn't attend afternoongames, but they could in the eveningand getting off work at 7 p.m. allowedlaborers enough time to make 8 p.m.kickoffs.

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TT..PP.. ““SSkkiippppeerr”” HHeeaarrddHeard was a transcendent innovator as LSU’s second athletic

director, serving from 1933-54. He reshaped the face of the Tigers’

football program. The most vivid image of LSU sports is “Saturday

Night in Tiger Stadium.” That was the idea of Heard, then in the

position of graduate manager of athletics, in part to solve sched-

uling problems and conflicts with Tulane and Loyola. It also

allowed the refinery workers in Baton Rouge time to get off their

shifts and get to the stadium in time for an 8 p.m. kickoff. He was

also on the scene when LSU became a charter member of the

SEC in 1933, and when the school hooked up with WWL-AM radio

-- whose nighttime signal helped cultivate more Tiger football fans

all over the country. Heard was responsible for two expansions of

Tiger Stadium -- without which LSU couldn’t have become the pro-

gram it is today. Heard was also credited as the catalyst behind

LSU in 1931 putting 1,500 dorm rooms in Tiger Stadium, which

became a treasured home to many students over the years. Hall

of Fame sportswriter and historian Peter Finney wrote Heard

“might well be considered the father of the tremendous sports

plant on today’s Baton Rouge campus.” Born in 1898, he died July

11, 1980 at the age of 82.



Also it's said that competition for fansplayed a role. Tulane, then in its footballheyday, and Loyola, both in NewOrleans, were both playing on Saturdayafternoons. A late Tiger kickoff wouldallow more fans to take in one of thosegames, then motor to LSU. The moveextended LSU's reach because an esti-mated 80 percent of Tiger crowds inthose days came from within a 30-mileradius of Baton Rouge.

Then there was the factor – and thismay have been the most important – ofthe scorching Louisiana afternoon heatin September. Those concrete seats thatcould get mighty hot at mid-afternoonwere comfortable when the sun wentdown.

Anyway, for the princely Depression-era sum of $7,500, Heard took a gamble,installed lights – and forever changedthe setting of LSU football.

* * *When Cohen resigned, Army's Biff

Jones was brought in. But Jones wasalso an instructor in military science anddid not have extra time from his coach-ing to oversee the entire program. Thus,Heard became LSU's second official ath-

letic director but in reality continued asits first, and began building further on anenviable and long-lasting program. DanHardesty, who covered LSU athletics theBaton Rouge State-Times for sixdecades, described Heard's tenure as“outstanding.''

But not every story has a fairytale end-ing. After more than two decades on thejob, Heard was forced out of office in1954 largely because of his persuasionof the state legislature to again enlarge

Tiger Stadium by more than 20,000seats enclosing the south end to 67,500.

It was a good idea, but not whenHeard's boss, LSU president TroyMiddleton, wanted a badly needed newlibrary to come first. Both projects even-tually came to fruition, but when Heard'sidea prevailed, his fate was probablysealed.

Still, Heard got off the last word, orleast the most memorable, on the sub-ject.

Four years later, when LSU filled theexpanded stadium for the first time withthe new-ranked No. 1 Tigers playingundefeated Ole Miss, Heard was sittingin the press box he had built, watchingthe fans squeeze into the stands. “I won-der,'' he said low, but loud enough forthose immediately around him to hear,“how many people are at the librarytonight?''



Johnson key toDome Patrol LBsand Saints’ rise

By Sheldon MicklesThe Baton Rouge Advocate

When people talk about the New OrleansSaints of the late 1980s and early 1990s, itdoesn’t take long for the conversation toevolve into the heart and soul of the orga-nization’s best teams to that point in fran-chise history.

The term “Dome Patrol,” a moniker givento the team’s four starting linebackers, wassynonymous with helmet-rattling, pad-pop-ping tackles especially in a six-year stretchfrom 1987-93 in which the Saints won 70games and made the playoffs four times.

Rickey Jackson. Sam Mills. Pat Swilling.Vaughan Johnson.

While the first three names receivedmost of the attention, former Saints defen-sive coordinator Steve Sidwell saidJohnson was every bit as good -- which iswhy he’s taking his place alongside histhree close friends in the Louisiana SportsHall of Fame.

With Jackson, who was enshrined into

the Pro Football Hall of Fame last summer,and Swilling going after the quarterback,Mills and Johnson did a lot of the dirty work-- taking on extra blockers at times to freeup Jackson and Swilling to rush the passer.

At the same time, Mills and Johnsonwere no slouches against the run.

“The people who knew football back thenrealized that Vaughan was as good as anyof those guys,” said Sidwell, who ran theSaints defense from 1986-94. “Rickey, Samand Pat got a little more acclaim, butVaughan was playing a position that’s hard-er to get acclaim. Vaughan was a solidplayer, too, and it’s great to see him gettingthis kind of recognition.”

Sidwell remembers the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Johnson, who was selected by theSaints in the USFL Supplemental Draftafter that league folded in 1986, as a versa-tile athlete with a rare combination of sizeand speed.

“The thing that stuck out to me is thatVaughan was a wonderful athlete,” Sidwellsaid. “He was big and fast, and he had anincredible ability to keep his feet when hewas moving laterally. He could move like a

gazelle -- and when he drew a bead onyou, he would knock you silly.”

Indeed, the hard-hitting Johnson, whomissed the first month of Jim Mora’s firsttraining camp, was quickly welcomed bythe linebackers corps headed by Jackson -- who also was the leader of the entiredefense.

By his second season, in 1987, Johnsonbecame a starter and proceeded to cementhis spot with the “Dome Patrol.”

He eventually played eight seasons withthe Saints from 1986-93 and was named tofour consecutive Pro Bowls from 1989-92.Together, Jackson (6), Mills (4), Swilling (4)and Johnson (4) combined for 18 Pro Bowlberths.

In 1991, Johnson, Mills and Swillingbecame the first set of three linebackersfrom one team to start the Pro Bowl. Oneyear later, Jackson joined them, giving theSaints the distinction of being the first clubwith four linebackers in the all-star game.

Johnson said recognition was never histhing, as long as his peers knew who hewas. That was evident when opposingplayers and coaches voted him to four Pro

VVaauugghhaann JJoohhnnssoonnJohnson was a four-time Pro Bowl pick as perhaps the hardest-hit-ting member of the Saints’ famed “Dome Patrol” linebacking corpsin the late 1980s and early 1990s. A sturdy 6-foot-3, 235-pounder,Johnson was part of the star linebacking corps that also includedLouisiana Sports Hall of Fame members Rickey Jackson, SamMills and Pat Swilling. Johnson was chosen by the Saints in theUSFL Supplemental Draft and joined the team in 1986. He playedeight seasons with the Saints, making the Pro Bowl four times from1989-92. In 1991, he, Mills and Swilling became the first set ofthree linebackers from the same team to start the all-star contest;one year later they were joined by Jackson to be the first club withfour linebackers in the Pro Bowl game. Johnson was a second-team All-Pro pick by The Associated Press in 1989. He became astarter in 1987 -- the first year the Saints made the playoffs -- andcollected more than 100 tackles three times (including a career-high 114 in 1988) while starting 98 of the 120 games he played withthe team. He also had 12 sacks, four interceptions, 11 forced fum-bles and five fumble recoveries in his NFL career. In 1991 and ’92,the Saints had arguably the best defense in the NFL as they led theleague in fewest points allowed (211 in 1991 and a club-record 202in ’92). They also ranked second in fewest yards allowed in boththose seasons.

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Bowls. He also was a second-team All-Propick in 1989.

“I wasn’t into the publicity thing, like whowas getting this and who was getting that,”he said. “I just came to work every day andgave it 100 percent. … That’s all I coulddo.”

It was plenty enough.The “Dome Patrol,” of course, was a big

reason the Saints allowed the fewest pointsand ranked second in fewest yards allowedin 1991 and ’92.

The Saints captured their first divisiontitle in 1991 and won a total of 23 games in’91 and ’92, a club record for a two-yearspan until the 2009 and ’10 Saints sur-passed that with 24 regular-season victo-ries.

Twenty-five years after walking into theSaints’ training camp, Johnson, whoearned a spot in the Saints Hall of Fame in2000, can look back fondly on the experi-ence.

But, he said, it wasn’t a sure thing whenhe arrived. Johnson said there were a num-ber of inside linebackers on the practicefield and he had a lot less time to prove

himself.“I wasn’t nervous because I never

thought I would have a problem making theteam,” Johnson said. “I was confident Icould make it on my play given the oppor-tunity.”

Getting the opportunity was the key. Hedidn’t play in the first preseason gamebecause he hadn’t picked up the defenseyet and was told by Mora that he wouldplay the second half of the next gameagainst New England.

“He told me, ‘Don’t worry, just go out andplay and we’ll make our decision,’” Johnsonrecalled. “It never dawned on me that theymight cut me if I didn’t show out in thatgame. They didn’t know anything aboutme.”

Johnson shouldn’t have worried.On his first play, he remembered making

a thunderous hit on the ball carrier thatdrew oohs and ahs from the stands, and onthe next play provided blanket coveragedownfield on the tight end.

Apparently, that’s all they needed toknow.

“One of the good things was Jim Moracame from the USFL,” said Johnson, whoplayed for the Jacksonville Bulls in 1984and ’85. “He had seen me play; I just had torefresh his memory.”

From there, Johnson fit in well with therest of the linebackers. They developed astrong bond that has lasted a quarter of acentury and Swilling said there’s a reasonfor that: they didn’t care who got the credit.

Jackson and Swilling came off theperimeter of the defense to combine for152 sacks with Mills and Johnson in thelineup. Johnson lined up mostly on theweak side with Swilling, who twice earnedfirst-team All-Pro honors with the Saintsand was the AP’s Defensive Player of theYear in 1991.

“I always said that my success was pred-icated on Vaughan’s ability to play the run,”said Swilling, who had 76 1/2 sacks inseven seasons with Johnson. “A lot of thetime, Vaughan would look over and give methe OK to go after the quarterback. He tookon a lot of extra blockers to let us run free.

“He was a killer in the middle of ourdefense,” he continued. “Sam was great,but Vaughan was an integral part of whatwe did as a defense. He definitely madesome major stops for us.”

Johnson had 100-plus tackles in a sea-son three times with the Saints, including acareer-high 114 in 1988. He also recorded12 sacks, four interceptions, forced 11 fum-bles and recovered five.

Individual stats aside, Johnson was morethrilled to find out he would be joining hissidekicks in the Louisiana Sports Hall ofFame. Jackson was inducted in 1999, fol-lowed by Mills in 2001 and Swilling in 2007.

“Playing with those guys really made mea better player and a complete player,”Johnson said. “It was outstanding playingwith those guys. We took great pride in that‘Dome Patrol’ label, and I think our playindicated that.”



Jordan shined atIota, McNeeseand New Orleans

By Louis BonnetteWritten for the LSWA

The Iota “two step” was fashionable inSouthwest Louisiana in the early 1980s.

It was the touchdown signature of McNeeseState tailback Buford Jordan and he enteredinto a long striding, high knee kick each time hescored during his four year career with theCowboys.

And, he scored often.Ernie Duplechin, his first collegiate coach,

made the call.“I started it the first game he played,” the

coach said. “We were playing at West TexasState (Canyon, TX). Our tailback was TheronMcClendon but he was injured during the gameand we sent in our backup, Tony Burlingame.

“Tony was a hard worker but things weren'tgoing good so I told Ted (offensive coordinatorBrevelle) to send Buford in. Ted didn't want tobecause he didn't think that Buford (in hisfreshman year) was ready.

“But, he sent him in. If I remember right,Buford carried the ball six straight times, andscored.”

The Cowboys won the game, went on to a10-1 Southland Conference championship win-

ning record and met up with Southern Miss inthe Independence Bowl.

Jordan, even though he ranked behindMcClendon and quarterback Stephen Starringon the team in rushing totals, earned confer-ence rookie of the year honors, setting the tonefor three more outstanding seasons with theCowboys.

And, the “Iota two-step” caught on.He became McNeese's and the Louisiana

all-time leading rusher and it wasn't easy, shar-ing tailback duties with McClendon for anotheryear and then being injured in his senior yearand missing several games while brotherSimon filled in.

Jordan would go on to become a first rounddraft choice in the old USFL (New OrleansBreakers and then Portland Breakers) and thenplay seven seasons with the New OrleansSaints as a starting fullback, becoming one ofthe team's most popular players.

But it was those nights at Cowboy Stadiumin Lake Charles when his magic as a runningback made him one of the best in the nationthat his star shined the best.

He left McNeese with the Louisiana colle-giate all-time rushing record, a mark that wouldremain his until broken by LSU's Kevin Faulk inthe late 1990s.

Jordan carried the football 763 times for4,156 yards for the Cowboys, an average of5.5 yards every time he handled the ball. Hestill ranks in the top five on the Louisiana all-

time rushing list.He would score 45 touchdowns and one

two-point conversion for 272 points and hewould amass 4,888 all-purpose yards.

“What I am reminded of when we talk aboutBuford's football career here,” said formerMcNeese assistant coach Hubert Boales, whoalso served as Jordan's head coach in his jun-ior year, “is that Iota two-step.

“Like Coach Dup said, it got started there inWest Texas when he scored with someone nip-ping at his heels and he began high stepping toget out of the way. It just went on from there.

“You knew what you were going to get fromBuford on the practice field and in a game. Itwas going to be his all. He was a team playerfrom the start and he would do whatever thecoaches wanted him to do.”

Daryl Burckel, who was a teammate atMcNeese and is now a professor in theaccounting, finance and economics depart-ment at the university, said, “He was very hum-ble and he worked very hard. He was a com-petitor in everything he did…on the practicefield, in the weight room, in the games onSaturday.

“He was always ready to play and he madethe best of it…here at McNeese and as a proplayer.”

Having to platoon at tailback his first twoseasons wasn't the easiest way for Jordan topile up the more than 4,000 yards rushing hedid in his career with the Cowboys.

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BBuuffoorrdd JJoorrddaannAfter a stellar four-year career at McNeese State, Jordan was

Louisiana’s all-time rushing king with 4,106 yards when he left the

school and now ranks third behind Kevin Faulk and Mewelde

Moore. Jordan, a prep star at Iota, was a four-year All-Southland

Conference pick for the Cowboys who played nine pro seasons -

including seven with the New Orleans Saints (1986-92). A full-

back during his Saints career, Jordan helped the team win 69

games, posting their first winning season and first playoff appear-

ance (1987), and first division title (1991). He was a starter during

five NFL seasons and was also a special teams standout. He

rushed for 687 yards on 184 career attempts and scored six TDs

while blocking for Rueben Mayes and Dalton Hilliard, two of the

team’s top all-time rushers. Jordan also played in the USFL in

1984 and ‘85 for the New Orleans Breakers and Portland

Breakers. In 1984, he was the league’s fourth-leading rusher

(behind Joe Cribbs, Kelvin Bryant and Herschel Walker) with

1,276 yards and eight TDs, while catching 45 passes for 427

yards and four TDs. Jordan later coached the Louisiana Bayou

Beast to a 1998 Indoor Professional Football League arena title

and was hired to coach the New Orleans Thunder in the Regional

Football League in April 1999.



That first year, McClendon ran for 1,272yards, quarterback Stephen Starring picked up974 and Jordan got 766 as the Cowboys rankedamong the nation's leaders with a 295.3 yardsper game average.

His sophomore season Jordan ran for 1,267yards, as a junior he collected 1,116 yards andas a senior despite missing three games andparts of a fourth he rushed for 1,007 yards.

When he wrapped up his career, not only didhe hold the school career record for yards rush-ing but he also had his name stamped on thosefor rushing attempts (763), touchdowns rushing(44), total touchdowns (45), points scored (272)and all-purpose yards (4,888).

“Like Coach Bum Phillips used to say,” saidcurrent McNeese defensive coordinator LarkHebert, who blocked for Jordan in college, “hemay not be in a class by himself but it doesn'ttake long to call roll.

“I don't know that I can recall any one partic-ular game but I do remember the plays that hemade and all the great hits. He was one of akind but he was always Buford. He didn't thinkof himself as being a celebrity or any differentfrom any of the players on the team.

“He was always positive and he just had thatenergy that everyone feeds off. He was alwaysabout the team.”

Hebert, who played in the offensive line forthe Cowboys, was part of an event that hasn'thappened on the field often in McNeese history.

Following Jordan's final game with theCowboys when he had rushed for enoughyardage to become the all-time McNeese and

Louisiana collegiate leader - in 1983 on theroad against a Lamar University team - Hebertand Ivy Woods, another offensive lineman andnow a Louisiana State trooper, put Jordan ontheir shoulders and carried him off the field.

“I can remember thinking 'Wow' back then,”said Jordan. “That was really something.”

He still ranks as one of the more decoratedplayers in McNeese history….all-Americarecognition (Associated Press), four time all-Southland Conference, twice all-Louisiana,SLC and Louisiana Player of the Year, twiceSLC rushing leader, Louisiana amateur athleteof the year and twice McNeese team MVP.

As a tailback his strength was his speed andhis power. His single game rushing high was208 yards on 25 carries against then NortheastLouisiana (now UL Monroe) and he had 10other games in which he rushed for more than135 yards.

His road to McNeese tells a lot about theman.

“I had a lot of schools recruiting me and theytold me a lot of things. Coach Tate (formerCowboy assistant and later head coachTommy) was always truthful to me. And, thenwhen I met Coach Duplechin he told me that heknew that I could play four years of college ballbut he couldn't guarantee me anything.”

The Cowboys had a returning star at tailback- McClendon - and Jordan would have to makehis way - something that he also did in the proranks.

He started not with the Saints, but with theNew Orleans Breakers in the new USFL. Heplayed two seasons (the team moved toPortland for the second year) and rushed forover 1,000 yards each time, 1,276 yards in1984 when he was the league's fourth-leadingrusher behind Joe Cribbs, Kelvin Bryant andHerschel Walker.

“I signed my contract on Friday, January 13and that has been my lucky number since,” hesaid.

When the USFL folded, the NFL held a spe-cial draft and Jordan was picked by the GreenBay Packers. He spent a couple of weeksthere, was released and signed as a free agentwith the New Orleans Saints.

“It was an opportunity for me and I was goingto make the best of it. I just wanted to play.”

The Saints had drafted four tailbacks thatyear (Dalton Hilliard and Ruben Mayes amongthem) and since he was the biggest of thegroup, Jordan was shifted to fullback.

“It really didn't matter. Just tell me what I hadto do,” he said.

With that attitude it's no wonder he becameone of the team's most popular players.

“Anytime anything came up involving theSaints with the public, I was there,” he said. “Ireally enjoy meeting and visiting with people.”

He was with the Saints in the Jim Mora era,played on the squad's first winning team and

was the starting fullback when the Saints madetheir first playoff appearance (1987) and wontheir first division title (1991). He was also aspecial teams standout.

When he got the chance he made the mostof his rushing attempts, compiling 687 careeryards on 184 attempts while blocking for Hilliardand Mayes, two of the team's leading all-timerushers.

“That was Buford,” said Hebert. “Here hehad been a first round draft choice as a tailbackand he moved to fullback to help his team.”

At 30 years of age, Jordan retired from thegame and went into coaching. He led theLouisiana Bayou Beast to the 1998 IndoorProfessional Football League arena title andalso coached the New Orleans Thunder in theRegional Football League in 1999 and later theLafayette Roughriders.

Since 2002 he's been in the personal train-ing profession, bringing fitness programs to theyoung people of the state.

“I had a great football career,” he said, stillpossessing the physique that made him one ofthe most talented running backs in the state'shistory. “It's all been good.”

Can he still do that “Iota two-step?”You bet, on any given Saturday or Sunday.



National Baseball Hall of FameCooperstown, New YorkLou BrockWillard BrownBill DickeyCal Hubbard (Umpire)*Ted LyonsMel Ott

Basketball Hall of FameSpringfield, MassachusettsLeon BarmoreJoe DumarsSue GunterElvin HayesPete MaravichRobert ParishBob PettitWillis Reed

NBA 50 Greatest PlayersElvin HayesKarl MalonePete MaravichRobert ParishBob PettitWillis Reed

Pro Football Hall of FameCanton, OhioMel BlountTerry BradshawWilie BrownBuck BuchananWillie DavisFred Dean

Marshall FaulkJim FinksCal Hubbard *Rickey JacksonCharlie JoinerJackie SmithJim TaylorY.A. TittleSteve Van Buren

Women’s Basketball Hall of FameKnoxville, TennesseeLeon BarmoreSue GunterSonja HoggJanice Lawrence BraxtonKim Mulkey Edna TarbuttonTeresa Weatherspoon

College Baseball Hall of FameLubbock, TexasSkip BertmanWill ClarkBen McDonaldTodd Walker

College Football Hall of FameSouth Bend, IndianaJoe AilletBill BankerBernie BiermanTerry BradshawBuck BuchananChris CagleBilly Cannon

Tommy CasanovaJohn David CrowJerry DalrympleFred DeanJoe DelaneyDoc FentonCal Hubbard *Gary JohnsonKen KavanaughHank LauricellaLester LautenschlaegerCharles McClendonBo McMillinArchie ManningAbe MickalBernie MooreA.W. MumfordEddie PriceGary ReasonsEddie RobinsonClark ShaughnessyMonk SimonsJerry StovallGaynell TinsleyDoug WilliamsTank Younger

National High School Hall of FameIndianapolis, IndianaRed FranklinKim MulkeyEdna Tarbutton

* - Only player inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame, National Baseball Hall of Fame, and College Football Hall of Fame.

Members in Other Prominent Halls of Fame



Sparking success,dynasty buildingare Shows’ legacy

By O.K. DavisWritten for the LSWA

“Finish what you have started.”The words might as well been 10 feet tall

and highlighted in red as Don Shows left hishome on Lea Drive in West Monroe one morn-ing en route to West Monroe High School.

He couldn't help but notice them and partic-ularly so on this day when thoughts of not com-pleting what he had begun circulated throughhis mind.

“Finish what you have started,” Showsrecalled about the words on that sign locatedoutside of the Good Hope Baptist Church.“Those words weighed heavily on me as I mademy way to school.”

How couldn't they?Shows had just completed his first year as

head football coach at West Monroe in 1989and the Rebels had gone 5-5.

Given the struggles of so many Rebels'squads before his arrival, that record was tanta-mount to winning a district championship or-heaven forbid-even a state title.

Still, Shows wasn't so sure what he was get-ting into when he accepted the West Monroejob following a three-year stay as an offensiveline coach at Northwestern State.

“West Monroe had not won a district game inthe previous five years,” he said. “The firstmeeting I had as a head coach there, only 33players showed up. I went home and told mywife, Daune, that I think I might have made amistake taking this job.”

To nudge his thoughts of maybe excitingRebels' country and going elsewhere, Showshad gotten a call from the principal at PinevilleHigh, where he had been the head coach from1979-84 and captured four district champi-onships and averaged 8.6 wins per year.

“They wanted me to come back,” he said.“My wife grew up in Alexandria, so it would havebeen going back home for her. It was verytempting.”

But then there was that sign.“So here I am, wondering what I had gotten

into at West Monroe and thinking about theopportunity of returning to Pineville, and I seethat sign. And those words just kept staying withme, telling me that I needed to finish what I hadstarted.”

And so, in a decision that would significantlyalter the course of the sport not only with hisprogram but throughout the state in the years to

come, Don Shows opted to remain at WestMonroe.

Over a 22-year stay as the architect of theRebels' amazing rags-to-riches script, Showshas compiled a 252-40 record and won sevenstate championships.

There's also been 15 league titles, a 66-12playoff mark and six state runner-up finishes.

Where once West Monroe would do well toproduce at least 10 wins over a combined twoor three seasons, the Rebels will enter the 2011season with a streak of 15 consecutive years ofdouble-digit victories.

Fittingly, on 12 occasions, there's been nofewer than 12 wins.

The last time a West Monroe team sufferedmore than one - repeat, one - loss in a seasonwas 2003 when the Rebels went 12-2.

If you exclude his first two teams that had 5-5 marks, only once during his 22 seasons at thehelm have the Rebels lost more than fourgames in a single year.

His 321 victories over an overall 35-yearhead coaching career ranks No. 3 in state prephistory. He's a 21-time district Coach of the Yearhonoree and a multi-winner of state Coach ofthe Year awards.

So little wonder, then, that Shows will beamong the members of 2011 induction class ofthe Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

“Don is certainly deserving of the honor,”

said longtime friend and coaching adversaryBilly Laird of Ruston High. “It's amazing whathe's been able to do and he's remained true tohis principles and what has helped make theprogram at West Monroe successful.”

Whatever success has followed in the footprints of Shows, he will quickly credit the influ-ence of one man in his life: the late L.J. “Hoss”Garrett, his football and track coach at RustonHigh and a Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer.

“The thing that sets him apart is that I alwayswanted to please him,” Shows said. “If youplayed for 'Hoss,' you had the utmost respectfor him. And for me, there was nothing betterthan to just be able to hear some words ofpraise from him. I always wanted to do well andsucceed for him.”

Shows got a double dose of the “Hoss” phi-losophy by running track and playing football,plus was also on the basketball team.

“My second year at RHS, I came back lateone August from a summer trip to Florida visit-ing my uncle,” he recalled. “I had told my fatherthat I was planning not to play football. Well,when I told him that, my dad said, 'Okay, let'sget in the truck and you're going to go tellCoach Garrett.'

“So I go over to the school and tell him I'mnot going to be playing football. He grabs myarm, leads me over to where our equipmentwas located and said that I knew what needed

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DDoonn SShhoowwssShows, 71, has a 314-66 (.832) record after his 13th state cham-pionship game appearance in 30 years as a head football coachat four public high schools (Farmerville, Jonesboro-Hodge,Pineville, West Monroe). He has won seven state championships(1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2009) in the state’s largestclassification and has been state runner-up five times at WMHS(1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010) and once at JHHS. West Monroehas won 17 district titles and two mythical national championships.At West Monroe in 1989, he took over a program that regularly fin-ished last in its district, going 3-6 in 1988. Shows built one ofLouisiana’s great prep football powerhouses complete withremarkable facilities and sellout crowds of 8,000. The Rebelsreached the state finals seven consecutive seasons from 1996-2002 and won 40 straight games from 1996-1999. West Monroe’sprogram was the focus of an ESPN season-long reality show in2008. He took over a 1-9 JHHS team and guided the Tigers to a13-1 state Class AA runner-up season in 1977, earning the first ofhis state “Coach of the Year” honors. Shows moved to Pinevilleand steered those Rebels to an undefeated regular season beforejoining the Northwestern State staff as offensive line coach, help-ing the Demons win the 1988 Southland Conference crown beforetaking the WMHS post. He was a standout running back at RustonHigh under Hall of Fame coach “Hoss” Garrett.



to be done. By the time I got to where my equip-ment was, I knew I'd be going out for footballagain.

“And that's what I did. When Coach Garretttold you something, it was like God speaking. Icouldn't disappoint him.”

While Shows chose forestry as a major whileattending Louisiana Tech University, the seedswere being planted for a career in coaching.

“I was doing some student teaching atRuston Junior High while going to Tech andthat's when my interest in coaching began,” hesaid. “Growing up, I had played all sports andloved being around athletics.

“Once I got into coaching, I would alwayscome back to Ruston High and pay some visitsto Coach Garrett. It was just a natural part of mylife.”

Shows' first head coaching job was atFarmerville in 1976, when the team had a 3-7record.

One year later, he took over at Jonesboro-Hodge, a proud program which had struggledthrough a slump.

Shows took a team that had gone 1-9 with18 players ending the 1976 season, got nearly60 players dressed out and completely turnedaround the Tigers, who went 13-1, won a districttitle and finished as state runner-up in 1977.After a 10-2 mark the following year, Showsmoved for another challenge.

His seemingly magical touch made a majorimprint at Pineville High School, which went 43-21 and captured five district titles during his six-year stay (1979-84).

Following a 10-1 record and district crown in1984, Shows was chosen as an inside lineback-

ers' coach at then named Northeast Louisiana.That stint lasted one year before he joined theNorthwestern State staff as an offensive linecoach.

And while he enjoyed his stay with theDemons, a daily trek from Pineville toNatchitoches began to wear on Shows and hisfamily. After a 1988 Southland Conferencechampionship season, West Monroe principalFrank Machen called with a job offer.

“I told Daune either we needed to move toNatchitoches so we could end that daily drivefrom Pineville or call West Monroe High backand tell them I was going to take the job there.”

Shows took the Rebels' job, beginning apath that would lead him and the once-haplessprogram into one of the most remarkable runsof any high school coach in history.

After suffering a heart attack in 1996, thesame year WMHS would win their second statetitle, he said: “I learned to not let things upsetme as much as they once did. I'm as passion-ate as I've always been, but I've learned how tocontrol the stress better.”

Besides, he's having too much fun doingwhat he considers is a proverbial stroll in thepark.

He's 71 going on 31.“I've always told people that I've never gone

to work a day in my life,” he said, “because whatI'm doing is fun and pleasure. I've never dread-ed coming to work. Never. Being around youngpeople keeps you young and so do the chal-lenges you face in this profession.

“I don't see it as work. Again, athletics hasalways been a part of my life, so I don't see it asa job.”

In terms of facilities, West Monroe High's lay-out can equal - or surpass - some found in the

NCAA or the junior college ranks.Credit Shows' ingenuity of adding on some-

thing different every year to what some admir-ers term as “the Rebels' palatial surroundings.”

One year, it was a state-of-the-art field-house. The next, artificial turf. And later, a videoscoreboard.

His latest project?“We're enlarging our stadium, moving the

home side to the visitors side and making roomto seat about 13,000,” Shows said.

For him and the Rebels' program, it's allabout getting the community pumped up aboutanother season and - yes - another shot at astate championship.

“Here's the thing,” said Doug Ireland, chair-man of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame whoplayed on Shows' first team at Jonesboro-Hodge High in 1977. “He's a great salesman.Each stop that he's made, he's gotten bothcommunity leaders and athletes to buy in andbelieve in what he's doing.”

Says former Rebels' star and current startingCincinnati Bengals' offensive tackle AndrewWhitworth:

“He's created a legacy and a powerhousethat can match any school in the country. He isalways looking to make things better. He's got atremendous drive for excellence and never set-tles for anything but being the best.”

And forget about any discussion of retire-ment or signing up for AARP newsletters.

That can wait.“The best is yet to come,” Shows said.And to finish what he started.



One mighty swinglaunched Walkertoward stardom

By Scott FerrellShreveport Times

One swing took Todd Walker from a goodhigh school baseball player to a great one.

One swing sent Walker on a journey that car-ried him from Bossier City's Airline High Schoolto LSU and eventually the major leagues.

One swing set in motion a career that willculminate with his induction into the LouisianaSports Hall of Fame.

That one swing came early in Walker's highschool baseball career. As a sophomore atBossier City's Airline High School, Walker wasthe Vikings' leadoff hitter on a team thatreached the 1989 Class 4A state tournament atAlex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge.

In his first at-bat in the stadium he wouldlater call his collegiate home, Walker turned ona pitch and sent it over the right-field wall for ahome run, setting the tone for a game Airlinewould win on its way to reaching the statechampionship game.

“It was one of the biggest, if not the biggest,home runs of my life,'' Walker recalls. “Because

it was the first significant home run, especiallybeing a sophomore in high school. I'm not sureif it gave me confidence but I definitely remem-ber it distinctly. I remember it being a high andinside pitch and there was nowhere to go with itbut to right field.''

Walker's Vikings lost the 1989 state champi-onship game. The next year, he was namedShreveport-Bossier City's Player of the Yearand he led his team back to the state tourna-ment. The Vikings lost in the quarterfinals in1990.

As a senior he was named the state's MostOutstanding Player and led an Airline team thatdidn't suffer its first loss until the state titlegame.

A prep career that started well had blos-somed after the home run at Alex Box Stadium.

“That had to have boosted his confidence,''says former Airline coach Clay Bohanan says.“He realized that he could he play in the bigarena, even moreso than what he was alreadyplaying in. Maybe that was just a sign that therewere great things to come for him.''

Just a few weeks after finishing his highschool career, Walker was selected by theTexas Rangers in the 51st round of the 1991First-Year Player Draft. His selection round was

affected by a couple of issues. He had rotatorcuff surgery earlier in his senior year and ascholarship offer to play at LSU.

Walker, though, passed on the opportunity tosign a professional contract after high school ina move he calls the “greatest decision I evermade.''

“There were so many reasons to sign andreasons not to,'' Walker recalls. “One of themain reasons not to (sign) was to let my shoul-der heal a little bit. I felt like in college, not play-ing six, seven days a week would help me.

“And getting the opportunity to play at LSUwas better than any minor league deal I couldfind. I jumped at that.''

Walker arrived at LSU when the Tigers werecoming off their first baseball national champi-onship. He was also arriving at a time whenthere were a couple of players - Keyann Cookand Mike Neal -- ahead of him at second base.

“Now we're all stacked up at second baseand I'm the third-string guy. That was anotherreason people told me to sign (with theRangers),'' Walker recalls. “They (LSU) wereone of the top programs and they had someyounger guys. A lot of people told me I'd getburied down there. It was a big risk for me. Butit was where I wanted to go to school. I remem-

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TToodddd WWaallkkeerrA 12-year major league baseball veteran, Walker is already amember of the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame (2006) and CollegeBaseball Hall of Fame (2009). The Bossier City native was namedto the 28-person College World Series Legends Team announcedin May 2010. During a three-year career at LSU from 1992-94,Walker, an infielder, was one of the greatest hitters in SEC histo-ry. In just three seasons, he became the SEC’s all-time leader inhits, runs, RBI and total bases. A first team All-American in 1993and ’94, he earned CWS MVP honors while helping LSU to itssecond national title in 1993 after being named SEC Player of theYear that spring. He was a first-team All-SEC performer in each ofhis three seasons at LSU. After the 2010 season, he still rankedfirst in school history in batting average (.396) and triples (15),second in total bases (557), third in hits (310) and RBI (246), andfourth in home runs (52), runs (234) and doubles (61). Selected inthe first round of the 1994 draft by the Minnesota Twins (No. 8overall), he played mostly second base for seven teams from1996-2007 (12 seasons). He batted .289 in 1,288 career gameswith 1,316 hits, 107 home runs and 545 RBIs. Walker eclipsed the.300 mark twice (posting a career-best .316 in 1998 withMinnesota and hitting .305 with the Chicago Cubs in 2005) andbatted .280 or better seven times in his 12 seasons. He had acareer-best 183 hits when he batted .299 with the Cincinnati Redsin 2002. Walker made just 96 errors in 5,088 total chances in themajor leagues for a career fielding percentage of .981.



ber thinking if the baseball thing doesn't workout, I'm where I want to be.''

The baseball thing worked out, all right. During fall practice, Walker hit. And hit. And

hit until LSU coach Skip Bertman called him intohis office at the end of fall practice.

“By the end of the fall,'' Bertman recalls, “Icalled him into the office as I did all the players.I said, 'Listen, you're our starting second base-man from start to finish' as a freshman.''

“For him to tell me that I was going to be thestarting second baseman, it was like that scenefrom 'Major League' when Willie Mays Hayesmakes the team and he tries to play it cool andhe goes outside and screams, that's kind ofhow it was for me,'' Walker says.

If the home run at Alex Box ignited Walker'shigh school career, then the meeting withBertman during the fall of 1991 set Walker upfor one of the historic careers in college base-ball.

“Once Skip told me that, I've never beenmore motivated to do anything in my life,''Walker says. “I wanted badly to play well. Thatrequires a lot of sacrifice, but I wanted it badenough that I didn't care. I didn't care aboutgoing to the beaches in the summer or goingout with friends at night. Instead, I was hittingbaseballs until four in the morning and that'swhat I loved to do. It wasn't that I felt like I hadto do that to get to the big leagues. I was just in

the moment and wanting to be the best at thattime.''

As a freshman, he did something no one hadever done at LSU - hit .400 for a full season.While the Tigers didn't return to the CollegeWorld Series in 1992, Walker earned severalindividual accolades. He was named nationalFreshman of the Year by both Baseball Americaand Collegiate Baseball and he was a consen-sus second-team All-American.

He didn't hit .400 as a sophomore but he didsomething better - he helped the Tigers win asecond national championship. In his first trip toOmaha, Neb., for the College World Series hewas named the Most Outstanding Player of theCWS, capping a season that also included anSEC-record 33-game hitting streak.

Walker hit a grand slam against Texas A&M.He had a game-winning single against LongBeach State to send the Tigers to the nationalchampionship game. In the title game, he hit anearly home run to help LSU win, 8-0 againstWichita State. He hit .350 with three home runsand 12 RBIs in the CWS, paving the way forhim to later be named to the all-time CWS team.

The national championship provided somesolace for the near-misses in high school. But italso provided more evidence that Walker was aclutch hitter.

He left LSU after his junior season as a first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins.Although he played parts of 12 seasons withseven teams, it was the fall of 2003 with theBoston Red Sox that allowed Walker to thriveon the big stage again.

In that 2003 postseason, Walker hit a RedSox franchise record five home runs. He hit.313 in the American League Division Seriesagainst Oakland and .370 in the AmericanLeague Championship Series against the NewYork Yankees. Only an Aaron Boone home runin Game 7, kept Walker off baseball's biggeststage - the World Series.

“My good friend Doug Mientkiewicz hadbeen in the playoffs the year before and wetalked about that,'' says Walker. “He said, 'Youcan tap into something in the playoffs that youcan't tap into in the regular season. I don't knowwhat it is but you can just focus better.'

“It takes you two different ways. It makes youbetter or way worse. When we started the play-

offs in 2003 I was hitting between Nomar andManny. It was Johnny Damon, NomarGarciaparra, Todd Walker and Manny Ramirez.That was a lot of pressure. I was just able tofocus better than I ever have in my life. I could-n't repeat it the next season in the regular sea-son. It's just something you draw power from.''

Walker's baseball career came to a close in2007. It was a career, though, that includedselection to College Baseball's Hall of Fameand the LSU Hall of Fame. It was a career thatincluded 1,316 hits in the big leagues and a.289 career batting average. It was a career thattook off after that one swing in high school andnow has him in the state's sports Hall of Fame.

“Growing up, if you had told me I would be inthe College Baseball Hall of Fame, the LSU Hallof Fame and now the Louisiana Sports Hall ofFame, I not only would have told you that youwere crazy, I never would have thought about itagain,'' Walker says. “For it to be a reality now,I look at the people I'm surrounded by and I'mjust in awe and I'm very blessed.''



Time at Xavierpaved the wayfor Slick Watts

By Brent St. GermainThe Houma Courier

Donald “Slick” Watts is proof that perse-verance does pay off.

Being persistent is what helped Wattsexcel on the basketball court.

After spending one season at DrakeUniversity, Watts yearned for a chance toplay closer to his Mississippi home and toescape Iowa winters. He found that spot atXavier-New Orleans.

After being passed over in the 1973 NBAdraft, Watts wanted a chance to prove that hecould play in the league. He got that chanceas a free agent with the Seattle SuperSonicsand parlayed it into a memorable six-yearNBA career with the SuperSonics, NewOrleans Jazz and Houston Rockets.

Perseverance also helped Watts endurethe long road to become a member of theLouisiana Sports Hall of Fame. At the age of59, he will officially join the Hall of Fame 32years after retiring from the NBA.

“I’m really pleased to be included withsuch an elite group of basketball players,”Watts said. “It’s truly an honor and privilege tobe considered a Hall of Famer. It doesn’t mat-ter if it was football, baseball or basketball

because this is truly an honor for all athletes.”In addition to the Louisiana Sports Hall of

Fame, Watts is a member of the LouisianaAssociation of Basketball Coaches Hall ofFame (Class of 1991).

Watts made a name for himself as anNAIA All-American guard at Xavier playing forBob Hopkins. In three seasons, he scored1,460 career points (eighth in school history)and averaged 18.3 points per game (fourth inschool history) and 4.1 assists per game(sixth in school history).

Watts said getting an opportunity to playfor Hopkins helped make him a better overallplayer and eventually paved the road to hissuccess in the NBA and in life.

“Going over there was a blessing becauseI learned so many things at Xavier,” Wattssaid. “I learned so much about life and diver-sity. It also gave me a chance to be closer tohome. It was a blessing to be over there andbe around all of that.”

Xavier thrived during Watt’s tenure at theschool. The program had back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since the late

1930s and won the NAIA District 30 champi-onship his junior and senior seasons, reach-ing the national quarterfinals in his seniorseason.

Hopkins said Watts was the type of playerthat most coaches would dream of having ontheir roster.

“Slick was never a player who lacked con-fidence. He didn’t have that great shootingtouch, but he had the ability to score in a vari-ety of ways. He was also such a terrorizingdefensive player that he had the ability tochange the momentum in a game.”

Watts also earned the respect from hisXavier teammates.

Sammy Young said playing with Watts wasan experience he will never forget.

“He was such a unique guy,” Young said.“Everything he set out to do, he did it. He wasdoing things most guys were not doing backthen. That’s one of the reasons why he wasable to make it to the NBA.”

Despite becoming an NAIA All-American,Watts’ NBA dreams appeared to end before iteven started after he was passed over in the

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DDoonnaalldd ““SSlliicckk”” WWaattttssAn NAIA All-American at Xavier in New Orleans and a first-teamNBA All-Defensive selection as a 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard,Watts was a dynamic pro guard who made the SeattleSuperSonics 40th Anniversary Team in 2007. He averaged 18.3points and 3.5 assists per game during a three-season career atXavier University (1970-73), earning All-America honors as a jun-ior and helping the Gold Rush post back-to-back 20-win seasonsfor the first time since the late 1930s. Xavier won NAIA District 30championships his junior and senior seasons and reached theNAIA national quarterfinals his senior year after a second-roundupset of top-seeded and unbeaten Sam Houston State. Anundrafted free agent who played six NBA seasons, he led theleague in assists, assists per game, steals and steals per game inhis third season with the Seattle SuperSonics (1975-76) en routeto making the All-Defensive team. He was the first of only fourplayers to lead the NBA in assists per game and steals per gamein the same season. He ranked second in assists and third insteals in 1976-77. He averaged 8.9 points and 6.1 assists in 437career NBA games and ranks eighth in NBA history with 2.2 stealsper game for his career. He played 4 1/2 seasons with theSuperSonics, half a season with the New Orleans Jazz and oneseason with Houston before retiring in 1979 because of injuries.His best seasons were in 1975-76 when he averaged 13.0 pointsand 8.1 assists and 1976-77 when he averaged 13.0 points and8.0 assists. He was the first Xavier player inducted into theLouisiana Association of Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame (1991)and the 18th-leading vote-getter on the LABC All-Louisiana Teamof the Century. Watts was credited by NBA.com as the “first NBAplayer to turn a bald head into a fashion statement.” In 1975-76,he was the second winner of the NBA’s J. Walter KennedyCitizenship Award for exemplary community service.



1973 draft.Hopkins made a call on Watt’s behalf to his

cousin – NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell –who was the head coach and general manag-er of the SuperSonics at the time. Russelltook a chance on Watts and invited him for atryout.

“Russ asked me to send him to Seattle fora tryout, so I decided to make the trip withhim,” Hopkins said. “Slick said that the Sonicstold him that he would get $10,000 if he wentfor a tryout and another $10,000 bonus if hewas invited back to camp. Slick told me that itwas money in the bank.”

Watts made the most of the opportunityand became a reserve for the 1973-74SuperSonics.

Going into training camp as an undraftedplayer and trying to make an NBA roster wasa challenge Watts was willing to accept.

“It was tough, but to me, it was morerewarding because I know I earned it,” hesaid. “I had to work hard to achieve it. It did-n’t matter if you were from UCLA, NorthCarolina or Xavier because when they throw

the ball up, it’s all about the game of basket-ball.”

Watts eventually became a starter for theSuperSonics, earning All-NBA defensive hon-ors during the 1975-76 season. That season,he also averaged 13.0 points and 8.1 assistsper game and was won the NBA’s J. WalterKennedy Citizenship Award for his service tothe community. He followed it up averaging13.0 points and 8.0 assists per game in the1976-77 season.

After 4 1/2 seasons, Watts had an oppor-tunity to return to the city where he made aname for himself as a college player. He fin-ished the 1977-78 season as a member ofthe Jazz.

Watts said he welcomed the change ofscenery.

“It was always fun to come back home andplay in Louisiana,” he said. “It was the end ofan era in Seattle, but it was to come back toNew Orleans.”

Watts was traded to the Houston Rocketsfollowing the 1977-78 season and played onemore season before retiring.

Since retiring and moving back toWashington, basketball has remained a bigpart of Watt’s life. He became a high schoolbasketball coach in the Seattle and has beenrunning a successful youth basketball camp –Watts Basketball – for nearly 20 years.

Watts said he attributes his success asbasketball camp director to the same personthat launched his college and professionalcareer – Bob Hopkins.

“I learned everything about running acamp from Bob Hopkins,” Watts said.“Training kids is something I enjoy doing. It’ssomething that appeals to me and helps stayinvolved in the game I love so much.”

Watts’ legacy as a basketball player willalways live on. However, it has nothing to dowhat he did on the court.

NBA.com credited Watts as being the “firstNBA player to turn a bald head into a fashionstatement.”

Watts said it is a recognition that he willalways embrace.

“When I played, I used to think that I wasWalt Frazier because I liked to dress nice,” hesaid. “When you would for shopping forclothes in department stores, all the man-nequins would have no hair on their heads. It

made me think that having no hair on yourhead was a good fashion statement. When Idressed like that, people used to joke aroundand tell me that I went from a two to a ninereal quick.

“It’s also a good way of hiding how old youreally are.”

Young said he will remember Watts formore than just his play on the court.

“We can never forget his bald head. Hewas such a character,” Young said.

His induction in the hall confirms he’sunforgettable among the greatest inLouisiana sports lore.



A complete list ofHall of Famers

already enshrinedDANNY ABRAMOWICZAbramowicz carved out a memorable 11-year NFL career,emerging as a star receiver for the fledgling New OrleansSaints from 1967-73. He holds club records for most touch-down passes caught (37), most consecutive games withreceptions (79), most career receptions (309) and mostyards gained receiving(4,975). He was named to TheSporting News NFL Eastern Conference All-Star team in1968. He averaged 15.4 yards per catch and scored 30TDs in his career. Abramowicz set an NFL record, andranks second today, with catches in 105 straight games. Hewas the second player inducted in the Saints Hall of Fame.

JOE ADCOCKAdcock was a power-hitting first baseman in the majorleagues for 17 years. He is among the all-time home runleaders with 336. Adcock broke in with Cincinnati in 1950,played at Milwaukee from 1953 through 1962, Cleveland in1963 and California from 1964 through 1966. He managedthe Indians in 1967. Adcock had a career batting averageof .277, and his highest home run years were in 1956 whenhe hit 38 and 1961 when he had 35. Adcock, in addition tohis home runs, had 35 triples and 295 doubles in themajors.

JOE AILLETAillet was head football coach at Louisiana Tech from 1940through 1966, compiling a record of 151-86-8 for a winningpercentage of .633. During that time, he won or sharednine Gulf States Conference championships and finishedsecond seven times. Aillet received virtually every honoravailable for coaches, including a spot in the CollegeFootball Hall of Fame. The impressive Joe Aillet Stadiumand Fieldhouse at Louisiana Tech is named in memory ofthe former coach and athletic director.

CHARLES ALEXANDERLSU’s Charles Alexander was a consensus All-America run-

ning back in 1977 and 1978 before a seven-year NFLcareer with Cincinnati. Alexander is LSU’s No. 2 careerrushing leader with 4,035 yards and the single seasonleader with 1,686 yards (1977). He is LSU’s all-time seasonscoring leader with 104 points 1977). He was named theSEC’s MVP by the Nashville Banner in 1977. In the 1977Sun Bowl he set records with 31 carries for 197 yards. The12th player taken in the 1979 NFL Draft, he scored 15career NFL touchdowns. He was a member of theBengals’1981 Super Bowl team.

BILLY ALLGOODBasketball coach at Louisiana College from 1959-85 andathletic director from 1965-96, Billy Allgood retired as base-ball coach in 1998 at age 65. He is Louisiana's fifth-win-ningest college basketball coach (327-332) despite a bare-bones budget and willingness to play much bigger foes. OnFeb. 5, 1970, LC defeated Grambling 71-52 in the first-everregular season meeting of predominantly black and mostlywhite state schools. In 1994, LC beat LSU 7-5, the first timean NAIA school had beaten a defending NCAA champion.His overall baseball coaching record is unknown.

JOHN ALTOBELLOAltobello posted an .865 career winning percentage at twoNew Orleans high schools and won 12 state titles, eight inbasketball and four more as a baseball coach. His basket-ball teams at St. Aloysius and DeLaSalle won eight stateand 16 district championships and had a combined 589-92record. His baseball teams at the same two schools wonfour state and seven district titles and had a combinedrecord of 629-202 (.759). In 25 years of coaching, histeams never had a losing season in basketball or baseballand he won at least one championship every year.

ALEX ATHASA three-time All-Southeastern Conference basketball stand-out for Tulane, Alex “Greek” Athas led the Greenies to a 72-14 record from 1943-48. Before serving in the Navy he ledthe SEC in scoring in 1943-44 and set an SEC Tournamentsingle-game record with 28 points. He played halfback forthe 1943 Tulane football team and also was one of theSEC’s premier trackmen, once single-handedly beatingLSU in a dual meet by winning five events. In the 1944 SECChampionships, he scored 14 points for the Wave. Athasplayed pro basketball for three years.

CARRICE RUSSELL BAKERDuring her 39-year girls high school basketball coachingcareer, Carrice Russell Baker won over 1,000 games and isthe state's winningest girls coach. Her teams posted anastounding 972-191 (.836) record (three of her seasons inthe late 1940s do not have records available, but there wasa 22-5 record sandwiched between two of them). They woneight state championships and finished second four moretimes. Four state titles came at Winnsboro HS in the era ofsix-player, three at each end of the court competition, andfour more came in the 1970s at Jena HS in the five-playerfull-court game. She was 588-138 (.810) with 20 playoffappearances and 11 district titles at Winnsboro after takingover as head coach at the age of 19 for the 1946-47 seasonfollowing her graduation from Louisiana Tech. Her 1952-53team made history by ending the national-record 218-gamewin streak by nearby Baskin HS, coached by Hall of FamerEdna Tarbutton.

BILL BANKERBanker, inducted into the National Football Hall of Fame,was an All-American at Tulane in the late 1920’s. He stillholds Tulane records for all-purpose career running with597 plays, career touchdowns with 37 and total points with259. His average yardage per game rushing in 27 contestswas 93.2. He ran the ball 515 times in 1929 when Tulanewas unbeaten and was the nation’s second-leading scorerin 1928 with 128 points. He later became a professionalplayer with the old Memphis Tigers.

GARY BARBAROA New Orleans native and Nicholls State product, Barbarowas a three-time All-Pro safety with the Kansas City Chiefswho started every game (101) with KC in his first seven NFLseasons. He was voted as a Pro Bowl starter by his fellowplayers in 1980, 1981 and 1982. He is fourth in the Chiefs’career interception list with 39, including a club-record 102-yard return that tied the NFL record in 1977. He had acareer-best 10 interceptions in 1980, second in club history,and a single-season high of 96 tackles in 1981.

LEON BARMOREThe first male coach enshrined as a women’s coach in theBasketball Hall of Fame, Barmore compiled a 576-87record in 20 seasons as head coach at Louisiana TechUniversity, where he began his college coaching career asan assistant in 1977. Upon his retirement following the2001-2002 season, Barmore’s .869 winning percentagewas the best in men’s or women’s college basketball histo-ry. He was the fastest coach in women’s basketball historyto reach 500 wins. In the 1988 season, Barmore led Techto the NCAA championship with a 32-2 record. Under hisdirection, Tech reached five national championship gamesand nine Final Fours, second best in women’s basketballhistory. Named the Naismith national Coach of the Year in1988, Barmore led Tech to thirteen 30-win season (best inhistory) and nineteen 20-plus win season (seventh best inhistory).

ALBERT BELLE A Shreveport native, the former LSU star and second-rounddraft pick of the Cleveland Indians in 1987, Belle becameone of the most feared power hitters in major league base-ball in the 1990s while playing for Cleveland (1989-96), theChicago White Sox (1997-98) and Baltimore Orioles (1999-2000). He finished his career playing in 1,539 games with1,726 hits, 389 doubles, 381 home runs and 1,239 RBIs.Belle had a career batting average of .295 and a careerslugging percentage of .564. Among his highlights weretying Babe Ruth with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIsin eight straight seasons from 1992-99 (only Lou Gehrigand Jimmie Foxx had more) and becoming the first playerin baseball history to hit 50 doubles and 50 home runs in aseason (he had 52 doubles and 50 homers) in 1995.

Louisiana Sports Hall of Famers

LSU coach Skip Bertman, who was elected to the College Baseball Hall of Fame, led the Tigers to five national champi-onships and was named national coach of the year six times.



SKIP BERTMAN Bertman steered LSU to five national championships in abrilliant 18-year career as head baseball coach at LSU. TheCollege World Series wins came in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997and 2000 among 11 CWS appearances. From 1984-2001,Bertman guided LSU to a 870-330-3 (.724) record, includ-ing Southeastern Conference championships in 1986,1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1997. He was namednational coach of the year six times -- 2000, 1997, 1996,1993, 1991 and 1986. He served as head coach of the1996 USA Olympic Team which won the bronze medal inAtlanta. Bertman directed LSU to the highest all-timeNCAA Tournament winning percentage (.754, 89-29).

BERNIE BIERMANA native of Minnesota, Bierman forged powerful footballteams at both Tulane and the University of Minnesotabefore retiring from the game in 1950. From 1927 through1931, his Tulane teams produced three All-Americans. Helater served as head coach at Minnesota from 1932-41 and1945-50. He guided Minnesota to national championshipsin 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940 and 1941. The Gophers alsowon six Big Ten titles under his leadership. At Tulane andMinnesota, he had seven unbeaten teams.

BUDDY BLAIRBlair, a native of Sicily Island, was a forward on LSU’s onlynational championship basketball team, a member of theschool’s only national championship track squad as ajavelin ace and a regular on the Tiger baseball team. Heearned nine letters at LSU and later played pro baseball forfive years in the Yankee and Athletics organizations. In thenational championship basketball game against Pittsburgh,Blair scored 20 of LSU’s 41 points. He is a member of theLSU Hall of Fame as an all-around athlete.

MEL BLOUNTBlount, also a member of the National Football League Hallof Fame, is a Georgia native who played at SouthernUniversity before becoming one of pro ball’s all-time bestdefensive backs in 14 seasons with the Steelers, winningfour Super Bowls. He set a team career interception recordwith 57 and was seventh in NFL history when he retired.Blount, who played in a record 200 games for Pittsburgh,was the National Football League’s Most Valuable Playeron defense in 1975, when he had 11 interceptions.

VIDA BLUEA Mansfield native, Blue played 17 seasons in the MajorLeagues for Oakland, Kansas City and San Francisco. Hewon the 1971 Cy Young Award and was named theAmerican League Most Valuable Player after posting a 24-8 record with a 1.82 ERA and eight shutouts for theAthletics. Blue played in six All-Star Games, becoming thefirst pitcher to start and win the All-Star Game for bothleagues. He pitched in three World Series. Blue had 2,175strikeouts in his career.

TOMMY BOLTBolt won 16 tournaments on the PGA tour, including the1958 U.S. Open and the Colonial Invitational. He set aPGA record of 60 at Hartford, Conn., and set another recordby playing 72 holes without a five on his card. He was twiceselected to the Ryder Cup team, and as a senior he won thePGA, Open and World, three events considered the seniorGrand Slam. Bolt is the only Louisiana golfer ever to winthe National Open. The Shreveport native was also notedfor his hot temper and club-throwing.

ZEKE BONURABonura, who grew up in New Orleans, was a first basemanfor seven seasons in the major leagues. He played in 900games, hit 119 home runs, drove in 704 runs and had acareer batting average of .307. In three of his seven sea-sons in the big leagues, Bonura hit more than 20 homers.He had over 90 RBI’s in five seasons. His slugging percent-

age for his major league career was .487. Bonura playedfor the Chicago White Sox, the Washington Senators, NewYork Giants and Chicago Cubs from 1934 through 1940.

SID BOWMANBowman jumped 49-1 in the triple jump in the 1928 Olympictrials while still a student at Hammond High School, and hecompeted in that event in the Olympics. After enrolling atLSU in 1929, Bowman set school records in the broad jumpand triple jump with leaps of 23-11 and 49-7 1/2. He wonthe national triple jump title in 1932 and earned a berth thatyear in the Olympics at Los Angeles. As a senior at LSU,Bowman won the conference championship in the triplejump, an event he also won in the Penn Relays.

WARREN BRADENWarren "Jug" Braden led the Southern University footballteams of Coach Ace Mumford to consecutive nationalchampionships in 1948-49. A two-time All-America quarter-back, the New Orleans native guided the Jaguars to recordsof 8-2-1, 10-2, 12-0 and 10-0-1. Braden played safety ondefense, averaged 44 yards per punt and returned puntsand kickoffs. He made the Tom Harmon and PittsburghCourier All-America teams, joining Eddie LeBaron on the1949 Tom Harmon team. On Dec. 5, 1948, Southern metSan Francisco State in college football's first integratedbowl game (the Fruit Bowl) and Southern won 30-0 asBraden was voted the game's MVP. He played profession-ally in Canada.

TERRY BRADSHAWBradshaw, also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, quarter-backed the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl champi-onships in the 1970’s and was chosen the game’s MostValuable Player in the last two in 1978 and 1979. He wasalso the 1978 NFL Player of the Year and the SportsIllustrated Sportsman of the Year in 1979. A Louisiana TechAll-American before going to the NFL, Bradshaw completed2,025 of 3,901 passes for 27,989 yards and 212 touch-downs in 14 years as a pro. He played in four Pro Bowlsand was 49 of 84 with nine TD’s in SuperBowls.

FRANK BRIANAn All-State basketball player at Zachary, Brianas All-Southeastern Conference as a sopho-more at LSU in 1943. He was also a confer-ence champ on the LSU track team, competingin hurdles, broad jump and the mile relay. Aftera military stint, Brian was again chosen to theAll-SEC basketball team as a senior in 1946.He signed with the Anderson Packers of theNBA, where he was Rookie of the Year. Brianwas named to NBA All-Star teams twice andranked in the top six in scoring in the NBA threetimes in 10 years.

LOU BROCKAn El Dorado, Ark., native who starred atSouthern University, Brock broke into the bigleagues in 1961 with the Cubs and joined theCardinals in 1964. He broke the major leaguestolen base record in 1974 with 118 and heldthe record for most stolen bases in a careerwith 938 (broken by Rickey Henderson, 1991).Brock had a lifetime batting average of .293 andwas the Sporting News Player of the Year in1974. He played in three World Series and fiveAll-Star games and set series records for bat-ting average and most stolen bases.

MICHAEL BROOKSA Ruston native who was All-America as a jun-ior at LSU, hard-hitting Michael Brooks reachedthe Pro Bowl in 1992 for the Denver Broncos tohighlight 10 NFL seasons (1987-92 in Denver,1993-95 with the New York Giants, 1996 with

Detroit). After earning AP and Scripps-Howard NewsService All-America honors as a junior for LSU, an injurycurtailed his bid to become one of the few two-time All-Americas in LSU history. He was All-SoutheasternConference in 1985 (AP, UPI and SEC Coaches). Brookswas a third-round NFL Draft pick who starred at linebackerwhile playing 138 career games with 4 interceptions and 9fumble recoveries. Brooks was a two-time Class 4A (at thetime the state's largest classification) All-State pick and athree-year all-district selection at Ruston High. He posted97 tackles as a junior, 104 as a senior and added two passinterceptions, three aerial deflections as a junior, along withthree pass interceptions and four deflects as a senior whenBrooks helped lead Ruston to the 1982 state title.

MARTY BROUSSARDBroussard, a trainer for the USA in the 1960 Rome OlympicGames and the 1955 Pan American Games, was one of thenation's most innovative trainers and a fixture at LSU forfive decades. Among his accomplishments are being co-developer of the Drury-Broussard Torque Table to test mus-cular strength, co-authoring booklets on functional isometriccontraction for football and functional isometric contractionfor golf and writing the noted Athletic Training Guide. Hedeveloped the Quickkick energy drink. An Abbeville nativeand 1944 graduate of LSU, Broussard lettered in track andbaseball during his undergraduate days and was high pointscorer in the 1944 SEC meet. He also served as trainer atFlorida and Texas A&M before returning to LSU in 1948. Hewas selected National Trainer of the Year by the RockneFoundation in 1963. Broussard was elected to the NationalAthletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame, after beingamong the organization's five founding fathers years earli-er. He was one of three founders of the SoutheasternConference Trainers' Association. In 1982 he was namedto the LSU L Club Hall of Fame.


Shreveport native, Louisiana Tech and Pittsburgh Steeler quarterbackTerry Bradshaw was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in1988.



BILLY BROWNBrown graduated from Baker High and became one ofLSU’s best-known track stars. The highlight of his careerwas in 1936 when he represented the United States in thetriple jump at the Olympic Games in Berlin. He won theNCAA broad jump crown in 1941 with a leap of 24-7, and heset a conference record in the 220 with a time of 20.6. Healso ran a 9.5 century and collected a total of 43 points inSEC championship meets during his three years on theLSU team.

CHARLIE BROWNHead football coach at Monroe-Neville for 30 seasons(1963-92), Brown compiled a record of 263-66-6 that putshim sixth on the state all-time wins list. His .794 winningpercentage is No. 3 among coaches ranked in the top 15 inwins. Brown’s Tigers won three state titles, reached threeother state championship games and claimed 11 districtcrowns. His teams had only one losing season. As a topassistant coach for 12 years at Neville prior to succeedingBill Ruple as head coach, he helped the Tigers reach fivechampionship games, with four state title wins. Alsocoached four baseball state championship teams at Nevillebefore taking over for Ruple as football head coach.

DALE BROWNAn unequaled figure in state basketball history, Brownretired in 1997 after 25 seasons as basketball coach atLSU. He built a mediocre program into a nationally promi-nent one which reached two Final Fours among 13 NCAATournament appearances. LSU is the only SoutheasternConference school to appear in 10 straight NCAATournaments and 15 consecutive national tournaments.Only six schools in NCAA history have made more consec-utive NCAA Tournament appearances. Brown (448 winsfrom 1973-97) is the second-winningest coach in SEC his-tory behind Adolph Rupp of Kentucky. Brown won threenational Coach of the Year awards.

GERNON BROWNFew coaches have dominated their arena as Gernon Browndid in prep sports during the 1930’s and 1940’s at JesuitHigh in New Orleans. Brown won 19 state championshipsfor Jesuit in three sports during the so-called “Golden Era”of prep sports. In 20 years as football coach, he compileda 146-43-11 record, a .757 winning percentage. He had fivestate championships, seven city titles and coached fourunbeaten teams. Brown won three state basketball titlesand 11 state baseball crowns.

JAMES “BIG FUZZY” BROWN“Big Fuzzy” Brown took Istrouma of Baton Rouge to the

heights of Louisiana state high school football after suc-ceeding his brother, “Little Fuzzy,” as coach. From 1950-62,Istrouma won eight state championships, and 11 of 13 dis-trict titles, in the state’s top classification. He retired afterthe 1967 season with a record of 162-40-11. Among hisplayers were Hall of Famers Billy Cannon and Roy Winston.While his brother was president of the Louisiana HighSchool Athletic Association, “Big Fuzzy” was president ofthe Coaches Association, thus creating a power base neversince equaled in state prep athletics. He died in 1977.

JOE BROWNBrown won the lightweight boxing championship of theworld in 1956, fighting 13 of the 15 rounds with a brokenhand. He defended his title 11 times in his seven-year reignas champion before losing the crown to Carlos Ortiz in1962. During his 25-year boxing career, Brown-known asthe Creole Clouter won 104 fights, lost only 12 and foughtto two draws. He retired at the age of 44 and went out awinner, beating Ramon Flores in his last fight. Of his 104wins, 47 were by knockouts.

WILLARD BROWNInducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in July 2006, theShreveport native was black baseball’s premier sluggingoutfielder in the 1940s. He joined Jackie Robinson, LarryDoby and Hank Thompson as blacks who made their MajorLeague Baseball debuts in 1947. Brown, 36 at the time,lasted 21 games with the St. Louis Browns and wasreleased after batting .179. He became the first blackAmerican Leaguer to hit a home run during his short staywith the last-place team. He returned to the Negro Leagueand batted .374 with 18 homers in 1948 and .317 in 1949,ending his Negro League career with a .355 batting aver-age. In Puero Rican winter ball, he had a career .350 bat-ting average, won three batting titles and set a home runrecord in the 1947-48 season (27). Future Dodgers manag-er Tommy Lasorda played winter ball with Brown and adecade later called him “one of the greatest hitters I eversaw.” Brown’s career ended in the Texas League withDallas and Houston, averaging .306 and 23 home runsdespite being in his 40S. Brown,. nicknamed “Home Run”by Negro Leagues slugger Josh Gibson, died in 1996.

WILLIE BROWNBrown, a Grambling product, played with the Broncos andRaiders in the NFL. He earned All-NFL honors in 1968 and1969 and was All-Pro four straight times from 1970 through1973. He played in four Pro Bowls in the early 1970’s andhad a record-breaking 75-yard pass interception return inthe 1977 Super Bowl. Brown, who retired in 1978, finishedhis career with 54 interceptions, and he shares the NFLrecord of four interceptions in a game. Brown was electedto the NFL Hall of Fame in 1984.

PAT BROWNE JR.A lifelong New Orleans resident, Pat Browne, Jr.. has beenchampion of the United States Blind Golfers' Association 21times since 1975, including the last 20 years. He was three-time captain of the U.S. Stewart Cup Team in competitionsheld against Great Britain's blind golfers. In 1988, he wasselected by the Golf Writers of America for the Ben HoganAward for the national golf figure who has battled adversityand triumphed. Before losing his sight in an auto accident,

Browne captained Tulane's golf and basketball teams, set-ting a single-game basketball scoring mark with 33 points in1954. He has won 50 tournaments, including nine victoriesin the Heather Farr Drive for Sight Tournament.

QUEEN BRUMFIELD (NARD)Brumfield is the greatest player in the history ofSoutheastern Louisiana University women's basketball. Theonly three-time All-American in the history of Lady Lions'basketball, Queen Brumfield set career marks in points(2,972) and rebounds (1,586) which have remaineduntouchable. The rebounding total is a state record.Brumfield, a three-time All-Louisiana player, led the LadyLions to the 1977 AIAW National Championship as well asfour consecutive LAIAW state and SWAIAW regional cham-pionships. Along with her career points and reboundsmarks, Brumfield also holds numerous other SLU stan-dards.

BUCK BUCHANANConsidered one of Grambling’s all-time greatest players,Buchanan was a No. 1 draft choice of the Kansas CityChiefs in 1963 as a 6-foot-7,287-pound defensive tackle.He played 13 seasons in the NFL, appearing in 12 playoffs,championship and Pro Bowl games. The Gainesville, Ala.,native missed only one game in his long pro career.Buchanan played in six straight AFL-All-Star games startingin 1964 and was picked for the Pro Bowl after the 1970 and1971 seasons. He was a standout in the Chiefs 1969 SuperBowl win.

CHRIS CAGLECagle was a high school star at Merryville who went on tocollegiate greatness at Southwestern Louisiana and Army.At Southwestern, he completed 54 percent of his passes in1924 for 859 yards. He scored 120 points in 1925 and inone game against LSU hit on 22 of 33 passes. In his threeyears at Southwestern, he ran back 10 punts for touch-downs. Cagle was a three-time All-American halfback atArmy from 1927 to 1929. He was considered one of thebest run-pass-kick combination players in the game.


Buck Buchanan was a No. 1 draft choice of the Kansas CityChiefs in 1963 and played in six straight AFL All-Stargames.

Joe Brown won the 1956 Lightweight World Championshipafter defeating Wallace “Bud” Smith in 15 rounds.



BILLY CANNONCannon is perhaps the greatest folk hero in Louisianasports history. He led LSU to the national championship in1958 and won the Heisman Trophy in 1959. He played bothrunning back and defensive back before the return of two-platoon football. He was a fearsome blend of speed andsize, tipping the scales at 205 and running the 100 in 9.4.Cannon was one of the earliest stars of the AmericanFootball League with the Houston Oilers. He played 11years in the pros, finishing his career with the Raiders.

TONY CANZONERIBorn in Slidell, Canzoneri began his professional boxingcareer in 1924, the year after winning the New York 118-pound AAU title. He retired in 1939 to become an actor andrestauranteur. Canzoneri had 181 pro bouts, winning 138,drawing in 11, losing 29. He kayoed 44 opponents and heldthree world titles-featherweight, lightweight and junior wel-terweight. Canzoneri, who died in 1959, appeared in 21world title bouts in four divisions from 118 to 140 poundsbetween 1925 and 1939.

HAROLD CARMICHAELA product of Southern University, Carmichael had a brilliantcareer as a wide receiver with the Philadelphia Eagles from1971 through 1983. He played his final NFL season in 1984with the Dallas Cowboys. He set an NFL record by catch-ing at least one pass in 127 consecutive games and hadclub records with the Eagles for most receiving yardagewith 8,978, most passes caught with 589 and most touch-down passes with 79 during his career. Twice an All-Pro,Carmichael played in four Pro Bowls and was NFL Man ofthe Year in 1980.

MARK CARRIERA 12-year NFL veteran receiver, Carrier was a 1989 All-Propick at Tampa Bay after an All-America career at Nicholls.The Church Point native played for Nicholls State from1983-86 and was a first-team Division I-AA All-American in1986. A first-team All-Gulf South performer in 1986 when hecaught 78 passes for 1,513 yards and 20 TDs, he is

Nicholls' all-time leader in catches (147), receiving yards(2,709) and TDs (24), and ranks fourth all-time in puntreturn average (8.9) with two TDs. A third-round draft pick(57th overall) by the Tampa Bay Bucs in 1987, he played 12NFL seasons with Tampa Bay (1987-92), Cleveland (1993-94) and Carolina (1995-98), posting career totals of 569catches, 8,763 yards, 15.4 yards per catch, 48 TDs.

TOMMY CASANOVAAn All-Southeastern Conference defensive back for threestraight years at LSU, Casanova was a consensus All-American selection as a senior in 1971. He had a six-yearcareer with the Cincinnati Bengals, earning All-Pro honorsin 1975 and playing in the Pro Bowl. Casanova still ranksfourth in interceptions for the Bengals with 17. He had 90punt returns in the NFL, including runs of 89 and 74 yards.Casanova was chosen as a member of the Sporting News’all-time college team as a cornerback after his LSU career.

JIM CASONA Tallulah native, and an LSU halfback from 1944-47,Cason played eight years of pro football, twice reaching thePro Bowl as a defensive back (1952, 1955). He was elect-ed defensive team captain in five of his eight pro seasons inSan Francisco, Los Angeles and Denver. He played from1948-52 for the San Francisco 49ers, leading them in inter-ceptions in three years and serving as defensive captain.He was an International News Service All-Pro in 1949 andhonorable mention All-Pro in 1955. At LSU, he was a high-ly-respected defender who had some memorable offensivehighlights in the era of two-way players.

DON CHANEYA Baton Rouge native, Chaney played on two Boston CelticNBA Championship teams(1969, 1974) and was the 1990-91 NBA Coach of the Year with the Houston Rockets. AnAll-American guard, all-state first baseman and a footballstar at McKinley High, Chaney played collegiately atHouston, helping the Cougars reach two NCAA Final Fours.A second-team All-American in 1968, Chaney scored 1,133points and was a first-round NBA draft pick. He played 12seasons and was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Teamfive times. Chaney scored 6, 616 career points.

JIMMY “CHICK” CHILDRESS One of the most successful prep football coaches in statehistory, Childress is a member of the Louisiana High SchoolCoaches’ Association Hall of Fame after leading Ruston toa 131-27 (.829) mark in 12 seasons. He won four statetitles, in 1982, 1986, 1988, and 1990, and his 1990 unbeat-en team was ranked No. 1 nationally in one poll. He wasvoted Class 4A Coachof the Year five times and districtcoach of the year seven times. Childress, raised in anorphanage, was Most Valuable Player at NortheastLouisiana University in 1956 and a third-team All-GulfStates Conference pick. He was defensive coordinator atNeville High for 15 years, helping the Tigers win four statetitles, and played on the 1947 Ruston High state champi-onship team coached by Hall of Famer “Hoss” Garrett.”

WILL CLARKA six-time All-Star selection, Clark retired from professionalbaseball after the 2000 season, concluding his 15-yearMLB career with a .303 batting average, 2,176 hits, 1,205RBI and 284 home runs. A native of New Orleans and grad-uate of Jesuit High School in New Orleans, Clark starred asa first baseman during a record-setting three-year collegiatecareer at Mississippi State. A two-time All-SEC standout,he earned All-American honors in 1984 and 1985. Clarkearned collegiate baseball’s highest honor that season, theGolden Spikes Award. He played in the bigs for SanFrancisco, Texas, Baltimore and St. Louis. He helpedteams to postseason playoffs in five years, including 1987and 1989 with the Giants, highlighted by an incredibleNLCS in ’89 when he batted .650 (13-for-20) in five gamesand had two home runs.

HOLLIS CONWAYThe top-ranked high jumper in the U.S. seven straight yearsfrom 1988-94, Conway is the only American ever to win twoOlympic medals in the high jump. The Shreveport nativewent 7-8 3/4 in the event at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul,Korea, as a sophomore at USL, setting a U.S. collegiaterecord and earning a silver medal. He won a bronze medalin the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona after going 7-8 1/2in winning the U.S. Olympic Trials that year. In 1989,Conway broke the American record twice in the high jump,winning the NCAA Outdoor Championships at 7-9 3/4 andthe U.S. Olympic Festival at 7-10. A six-time NCAA All-American and three-time NCAA champ at USL, Conway setan American indoor record of 7-10 1/2 while winning in 1991World Indoor title. His NCAA outdoor record of 7-9 3/4 stillstands 15 years later, as does his mark of 7-9 1/4 at thatyear’s NCAA indoor meet. Conway won 10 USAChampionship titles (five outdoor, five indoor) and wasranked No. 1 in the world in 1990 and 1991 beforeannouncing his retirement in 2000.

JIM CORBETTAthletic director at LSU from 1955 until his death in 1967,Corbett guided the Tigers sports program through a periodof remarkable growth and prosperity that included a nation-al football championship and continuous sell-outs at TigerStadium. A forceful spokesman for college athletics at thenational level, Corbett helped develop the NCAA footballtelevision package. The National Association of AthleticDirectors’ award to the nation’s outstanding athletic directoreach year is named in memory of Corbett.

CLIFFORD ANN CREEDThe first woman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Creedwas the state amateur women’s golf champion five times,including four straight titles from 1956 through 1959. AnAlexandria native, she was a Curtis Cup player in 1962before turning pro in 1963. She was the women pro tour’srookie of the year that season and fifth in money winnings.Clifford Ann finished in the top 10 in money winnings on thepro tour for six consecutive years while winning 11 LPGAtournament championships and one team tournament in the1960’s.


New Orleans native and Major League Baseball All-StarWill Clark was inducted in 2004.

An Alexandria native, Clifford Ann Creed was the firstwoman inducted into the Hall of Fame.



J.T. CURTISCurtis has won a record 23 state titles, including a record-tying five straight from 2004-08. His Patriots have 14 con-secutive state championship game appearances through2009 and 25 overall appearances in the state finals. Curtishas taken his team to the state playoffs 36 times in his 40seasons and has made the postseason every year since1975. From 1979-82, Curtis won 43 consecutive games andfrom 1979 to 2001, Curtis was not shut out in a nationalrecord 303 straight games. Curtis won 136 consecutive dis-trict games from 1977-2001 before losing to O.P. Walker 20-0. Curtis was 0-10 in 1969 -- his first season -- and 3-3-3 in1974 for the only non-winning seasons in his tenure.

JOHN DAVID CROWCrow, former head football coach at Northeast LouisianaUniversity, was an All-American at Springhill who won theHeisman Trophy in 1957 during a brilliant career for BearBryant’s Texas A & M teams. As a professional, he playedfor 11 years with the Chicago and St. Louis Cardinals andlater the San Francisco 49ers. He rushed for 1,071 yardsin 1960 and holds the Cardinals’ single game rushing recordof 203 yards. The No. 1 draft choice of the Cardinals, hewas the first Cardinal ever to rush for 1,000 yards.

JERRY DALRYMPLEA two-time All-American at Tulane, Dalrymple played onBernie Bierman’s great teams from 1929 to 1931. Duringhis three years, the Greenies were 28-2, went unbeaten in1929 and 1931 and went to the 1932 Rose Bowl. One ofthe finest defensive ends in the history of Southern football,Dalrymple was only six-feet tall and weighed 170 pounds.Referring to his vicious tackling, Knute Rockne said ofDalrymple, “You can sit in the stands and see him play orclose your eyes and hear him play.”

ALVIN DARKDark was a versatile athlete, excelling in golf, football andbaseball. But the Lake Charles native won stardom inbaseball, earning Rookie of the Year honors with the BostonBraves in 1948 when he batted .322. He played from 1948until 1960, compiling a .298 career batting average with theGiants, Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies and Braves. He managedthe San Francisco Giants in 1961 and guided the Giants to

the National League pennant the next year. He took the1974 Oakland A's to the AL pennant. Dark was a multi-sportathletic great at LSU and Lake Charles High.

WILLIE DAVENPORTDavenport competed in four Olympic Games and at onetime held the Olympic record in the high hurdles. A Troy,Alabama, native who attended Southern University,Davenport won the gold medal in the 120-high hurdles inthe 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. He won a bronzemedal in the 1976 Olympics at Montreal and just missedanother bronze at the 1972 games in Munich. He lost in thesemifinals of the 1964 Olympics at Tokyo after an injury. Hehad a career best time of 13.2 in the 110 meter high hur-dles.

TOMMY DAVISDavis was an All-America prep linebacker-fullback for the1952 state champion Fair Park team, was a fullback andkicking specialist for the 1958 LSU team that won thenational championship and had a brilliant 11-year NFLcareer. He had 234 consecutive extra point kicks at onepoint during his pro career and overall was 348 of 350 for arecord 99.4 percentage. His career punting average of 44.6was second on the all-time NFL list when he retired. In twostraight seasons, he had the NFL’s longest field goals, 53-yarders.

WILLIE DAVISGrambling coach Eddie Robinson calls Davis the bestdefensive end he has ever seen. Davis, who now resides inLos Angeles, was an All-American selection at Grambling inthe 1950’s. The 6-foot-3, 245 pounder later won All-Prohonors while a member of Vince Lombardi’s Green BayPackers. Green Bay dominated the National FootballLeague during Davis’ career, winning the NFL champi-onship five times, and Davis was considered the premierdefensive end and one of the best defensive players in proball. He is a member of the NFL Hall of Fame.

FRED DEANDean emerged as one of the NFL’s premier pass rusherswith San Diego and San Francisco after a remarkable col-lege career at Louisiana Tech. The Ruston native was athree-time All-American for the Bulldogs from 1972-74. Hewas the 33rd player picked in the 1975 NFL Draft. Dean,undersized for a defensive lineman ( 232 pounds), made 94sacks in his 11 NFL seasons and played on two Super Bowlchampionship teams with San Francisco. He played inthree Pro Bowls (1979-81) and was picked for another in1983, when he led the NFL with a 49ers record 17 1/2sacks. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Famein 2009.

JOE DEANIn 13 years as director of athletics at his alma mater (1987-2000), Dean oversaw incredible athletic success in the1990s as LSU won 21 national championships (5 baseball,16 track) and 25 SEC titles. During Dean’s tenure, LSU wonmore national championships than in the entire previoushistory of the school. A former three-time All-SEC basketballplayer who helped the Bob Pettit-led Tigers reach the FinalFour, Dean also played baseball and competed in track forthe Tigers. He was an alternate on the 1956 U.S. Olympicbasketball team after winning honorable mention All-America honors in 1952.

EDDIE DELAHOUSSAYEA New Iberia native, Delahoussaye was inducted into theRacing Hall of Fame in 1993. He has won five Triple Crownraces, the 1982 Kentucky Derby with Gato Del Sol and the1983 Derby with Sunny’s Halo; the 1988 Preakness and the1988 Belmont Stakes on Risen Star; and the 1992 Belmonton A.P. Indy. He is one of only four riders to win consecutiveDerbys. Delahoussaye, who began riding thoroughbreds atthe Fair Grounds in New Orleans in 1967, rode his first win-

ner in 1968 at Evangeline Downs. He became the 14th riderin history with 5,000 wins in 1993. He won the GeorgeWoolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1981. He has seven totalBreeders’ Cup victories.

JOE DELANEYA 1997 inductee in the College Football Hall of Fame,Delaney was an All-America star in football and track atHaughton High and Northwestern State. He was the 1982AFC Rookie of the Year as a running back for Kansas City.He set Northwestern’s career rushing record with 3,047yards (5.0 average). Delaney set Demon records in the100 (10.26) and 200 meters (20.6) and ran the second legon NSU’s 1981 NCAA champion 4x100 relay team. As arookie with the Chiefs, he set four club records and his1,121 yards rushing still ranks among the top 5 rookie totalsin NFL history. He drowned in a heroic rescue attempt inJune 1983.

BILL DICKEYDickey, a native of Bastrop, broke into organized baseballwith Little Rock of the Southern Association in 1925 andplayed until 1947. A member of the Baseball Hall of Fame,he is considered one of the top catchers in baseball history.Dickey played in 1,789 games as a Yankee catcher and hada lifetime batting average of .313. He had 202 home runsand 1,209 runs batted in. Dickey played in eight WorldSeries and scored the winning run against the St. LouisCardinals in the 1943 Series.

MEL DIDIERA longtime major league baseball executive and scout,Didier has served as Assistant General Manager forArizona, the Los Angeles Dodgers (twice), the BaltimoreOrioles, and as Director of Minor League Operations andScouting Director for two expansion teams, Montreal (1969-75) and Seattle (1977-78), and is now working for the TexasRangers. He is best known for his scouting report whichKirk Gibson credited for his dramatic 1988 World SeriesGame One-winning pinch-hit home run, voted one of the 10Most Exciting Moments in World Series History. Among themajor league stars he helped develop were Mike Piazza,Andre Dawson and Gary Carter. Didier was a third-team(UPI) football All-American at LSU in 1945, and captain ofthe Tigers’ SEC-champion baseball team in 1947. Hefounded the Louisiana High School All-Star Baseball Gamein 1981 while baseball coach at USL (83-35 in two years).Didier also served as athletic director at USL in 1981-82.

PAUL DIETZELDietzel coached LSU for seven years-from 1955 through1961-and his unbeaten 1958 national championship teamwas the crowning achievement of LSU’s long football histo-ry. The team featured the fabled three units, the WhiteTeam, Go Team and Chinese Bandits. His 1959 teamextended LSU’s winning streak to 18 games, and Dietzel’s1961 Tigers ended a 10-1 season with a victory in theOrange Bowl. In a four-year span, he guided LSU to a No.1 national finish in 1958, No. 3 in 1959 and No. 3 again inthe 1961 season.

DAVE DIXONA New Orleans businessman, Dixon is considered the"father of professional football" in Louisiana along withbeing the driving force behind development of the LouisianaSuperdome. He also has helped found several professionalsports ventures such as the United States Football Leagueand World Championship Tennis. Dixon also played keyroles in attracting events such as the NCAA Final Four, theNCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and theUSA Track and Field Olympic Trials to New Orleans. Hisefforts, extending over a period of several years, resulted inthe NFL awarding a franchise to New Orleans that becamethe Saints in 1966.


Recently inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, Fred Deanwas enshrined into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in1995.



JACK DOLANDDr. Doland served as head football coach, athletic director and then president of McNeeseState, and served in the Louisiana Senate until his death in 1991. As football coach, he was64-32-3 from 1970-78, leading the 1971 team (9-1-1) to a No. 1 national ranking in DivisionII and a spot in the Grantland Rice Bowl. He guided the 1976 (10-2) squad to the SouthlandConference title and a berth in the inaugural Independence Bowl in Shreveport. A native ofLake Arthur, he played football and basketball at McNeese when the school was a juniorcollege, then went to Tulane, where he was a football and baseball standout and played onthe Green Wave’s 1949 SEC championship team. He was head coach at DeQuincy andSulphur High, winning a state title at Sulphur. He became an assistant coach under CharlieMcClendon at LSU before taking the McNeese head coaching post.

ATLEY DONALDA native of Morton, Mississippi, who grew up in North Louisiana, Donald pitched for the NewYork Yankees from 1938 through 1945. He compiled a record of 65 victories and 33 loss-es and had a career earned run average of 3.52. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound righthander hadhis best season in 1939 when he went 13-3 and 1942 when he had an 11-3 mark. Heappeared in two games in the 1941 and 1942 World Series, Donald set a record for MajorLeague rookies when he won 10 straight games at the beginning of the season.

A.J. DUHEAll-Pro as a rookie and the AP’s NFL Rookie of the Year in 1977, Duhe was a prep star atGodchaux (Reserve) who blocked three punts in the 1973 Louisiana High School AthleticAssociation All-Star Game. He then became a four-year starter at LSU, averaging 72 tack-les per season and making all-SEC in 1976. He was the outstanding defensive player forthe South in the Senior Bowl. A first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 1977, Duhe (6-4,248) played both defensive end and linebacker in eight seasons for the Dolphins and helpedthem reach the 1982 and 1984 Super Bowls. He was named to the All-AFC team by UPIin 1981 and was chosen to play in the Pro Bowl in 1984.

JOE DUMARSA six-time NBA All-Star, Dumars averaged 16.1 points per game during a 14-year careerwith the Detroit Pistons (1985-99). The Natchitoches native was named MVP of the 1989NBA Finals after averaging 27.3 points in a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers,giving the Pistons the first of two consecutive league championships. He was all-NBA threetimes, including a second-team selection after averaging a career-best 23.5 points pergame in 1992-93. A four-time NBA all-defensive selection, including three times on the firstteam, the McNeese State product was the first winner of the NBA Sportsmanship Award,which is now named the Joe Dumars Trophy, in 1996. He is the Pistons’ all-time leader inthree-point field goals made (990) and second in points (16,401), assists (4,612) and steals(902). A 6-foot-3 shooting guard drafted by the Pistons in the first round in 1985, he was atwo-time Southland Conference scoring champion at McNeese (26.4 ppg as a junior, 25.8as a senior) and the SLC Player of the Year and a second-team All-America in 1984-85.

RALPH DUPASDupas held the world junior middleweight crown during a 16-year pro boxing career. Theclever New Orleans native was noted for his fancy footwork and was nicknamed “NativeDancer.” At 17 he was the fourth ranked lighweight after beating No. 1-ranked contenderJohnny Gonsalves and fifth -ranked Amond Savoie. He claimed the junior middleweightchampionship on a decision over Denny Moyer on April 29, 1963 and then beat Moyer in aJune 17 rematch. In his career, which went from 1950-66, he was 104-23-6 and that includ-ed losing title bouts with such champions as Joe Brown and Emile Griffith.

MARK DUPERA three-time Pro Bowl receiver with the Miami Dolphins (1982-92), Duper was inducted intothe Dolphins’ Honor Roll during a 2003 Monday Night Football game. He was a two-timeNCAA Division I All-American as a sprinter at Northwestern State, running the anchor leg onthe Demons’ 1981 NCAA champion 4 x 100-meter relay team that also included Hall ofFamer Joe Delaney. Duper, a Moreauville native who didn’t play prep football, was a sec-ond-round NFL Draft pick in 1982 after two college seasons. He played in 146 regular-sea-son games with Miami, catching 511 passes for 8,869 yards (17.7 career average) and 59TDs. He averaged better than 16 yards a catch in seven of his 11 seasons. He also caughtat least 50 passes five times and went over the 1,000-yard mark in receiving four times - fin-ishing with 1,313 yards in 1986 and 1,306 yards in 1984. He owns the Dolphins’ all-timemark for 100-yard receiving games (28), the single-season record (eight in 1986) and thesingle-game record for receiving yards (217 vs. N.Y. Jets in 1985). Dolphins QB Dan Marinoand Duper are tied for eighth all-time in NFL history among QB-WR scoring combinations(55 TDs).

BILLY JOE DUPREEDupree was a West Monroe native who began playing football at Richardson High, helpinghis team reach three state championship games from 1966-68, with two wins. He becamean All-American at Michigan State, earning a trip to the Blue-Gray All-Star Game, and wasa first-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 1973. Dupree played 11 seasons at tightend as the Cowboys became known as "America's Team." He played 159 regular-seasongames in a row and in 22 playoff games. His career totals were 267 catches for 3,565

yards, 13.4 yards per catch, and 41 touchdowns. He played in three Pro Bowls (1977, 1978,and 1979) and was part of three Super Bowl teams (X, XII, XIII), winning in 1978 as theCowboys defeated Denver in his home state, at the Louisiana Superdome.

TOM DUTTONDutton went to LSU from Minden and became a legend as a defensive player and blockerfor the Tigers in 1913, 1914 and again in 1919 after the war. He was All-Southern all threeseasons. Dutton played “roving center” on defense, following instructions to find the balland make the tackle. Dutton, a monster in those days at 6-3, 225 pounds, was also an out-standing field man for the LSU track team. He held the school’s shot put record prior to thearrival of Olympian Jack Torrance.

EDDIE DYERDyer was known throughout baseball as “That Little Cajun Lefthander.” He was fromMorgan City. A halfback at Rice, he earned a spot in the Hall of Fame by managing the 1946St. Louis Cardinals to the National League pennant and victory in a seven-game WorldSeries with Joe Cronin’s Boston Red Sox. He was a freshman manager that year, and hestayed at the helm of the Cardinals until 1960. At Rice, he lettered in football, baseball andtrack and was football captain in 1921.

KEN ELLISInducted (1998) in the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame, Ellis was a Southern Universitygreat who won three All-Pro honors during a 9-year NFL career as a cornerback. All-Pro in1972, 1973 and 1974 and playing in the Pro Bowl in 1974 and 1975, Ellis played six yearswith Green Bay. He played in Super Bowl XIV for the Los Angeles Rams and also playedfor Cleveland, Detroit, Houston and Miami. He made 22 career interceptions, 20 for GreenBay, and scored 9 TDs, 5 on kickoff returns. In college, he led the nation in punt returns in1968 with a 33-yard average while also starring at halfback and flanker on offense for theJaguars.

RONNIE ESTAYThe second Louisiana native enshrined in the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame (join-ing Tom Hinton), Estay was an All-American at LSU who played in played in nine Grey Cups- winning six. He is in the Hamilton Tiger Cats Hall of Fame. He was elected by fan vote toLSU’s “Modern Day Team of the Century” encompassing teams from 1936-93, joining threeother defensive linemen. A defensive tackle at LSU from 1969-71, Estay was a KodakCoaches All-American and the ABC-TV Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year as a seniorwhen the Tigers led the nation in total defense. The Larose native, was a finalist for theLombardi Award for the country’s top defensive lineman. A two-time All-SEC pick, he tack-led standout quarterbacks Archie Manning and Pat Sullivan for safeties and helped corralNotre Dame’s Joe Theismann during a memorable 3-0 confrontation at South Bend in 1970.In his three years at LSU, the Tigers twice led the nation in rushing defense.


Louisiana Sports and Basketball Hall of Famer Joe Dumars advises the Northwestern StateDemons basketball team before their thrilling NCAA Tournament victory over Iowa onMarch 17, 2006.



LENNY FANTHead basketball coach at Northeast for 22 years-from 1957through 1979-Fant ranked 11th among active Division Icoaches in career victories when he retired. He coached atLouisiana College and East Texas Baptist before going toNortheast and had a career record of 388-253. He had 18consecutive winning seasons at Northeast-the longestamong active Division I coaches at the time of his retire-ment-and his Northeast teams won eight conference cham-pionships or district titles and 12 tournament champi-onships.

MARSHALL FAULKMarshall Faulk was one of the NFL's most dynamic runningbacks during a brilliant 12-year career with the IndianapolisColts (1994-98) and St. Louis Rams (1999-2005). The NewOrleans native and Carver High graduate was a three-timeAP All-Pro pick and seven-time Pro Bowl selection. He wasnamed by the AP as the NFL MVP in 2000 and was the AP'sOffensive Player of the Year from 1999 to 2001. He wasalso the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1994 afterbeing the second overall pick in the draft. He piled up seven1,000-yard rushing seasons, gaining more than 1,300 yardson the ground for four straight years (1998 to 2001). Faulk,who played in 176 games with 156 starts, finished hiscareer with 12,279 rushing yards, which ranked ninth all-time going into the 2008 season. He set the NFL single-sea-son record in 1999 with 2,429 yards from scrimmage, help-ing the Rams to the playoffs and a win in Super BowlXXXIV.

GEORGE “DOC” FENTONFenton was LSU’s first great football player. As a quarter-back in 1907, 1908 and 1909, Fenton was considered awizard. He could do everything-run, pass, kick, block.Nicknamed “The Artful Dodger,” Doc led the 1908 team to a10-0 record with 132 points, six field goals, 36 extra pointsand a 45-yard field goal, all records during their time. Inthree varsity seasons, Fenton scored 36 touchdowns andhelped LSU win 23 games while losing only five.

JOE FERGUSONFerguson set national prep passing records at Shreveport’sWoodlawn High, starred at Arkansas and ranks among theall-time NFL pasing leaders. He played 7 NFL seasons, 12for the Buffalo Bills (1973-84) and also with Detroit (1985-87) and Tampa Bay (1988-89). In 1976, he set NFL recordsfor fewest interceptions (1 in 151 attempts) in a season andlowest interception ratio per attempt. Upon his retirement,he ranked ninth all-time in pass attempts (4,511), 11th incompletions (2,367), 12th in yardage (29,756) and 18th intouchdown passes (196). He completed 52.2 percent of hispasses while starting 171 of his 185 games.

JIM FINKSAs president and general manager (1986-93), Finks mas-terminded the remarkable turnaround of the New OrleansSaints. The club won 60 percent of its regular season NFLgames and posted a streak of six consecutive non-losingrecords, matched only by two other NFL teams over thesame timespan. In 1987, after the Saints’ first-ever winningseason (12-3), Finks was named NFL Executive of the Yearby the Sporting News, Football News and Touchdown Clubof Washington. Also GM earlier in his career for playoffteams at Minnesota and Chicago, Finks was posthumouslyinducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

CHUCK FINLEYA West Monroe native and former UL-Monroe pitcher, hewas a first-round pick (fourth overall) of the CaliforniaAngels in the 1985 amateur baseball draft. A five-time All-Star, the left-hander played 17 seasons in the majorleagues with California (1986-99), Cleveland (2000-02) andSt. Louis (2002) and had a career record of 200-173 with anERA of 3.85 and 2,610 strikeouts in 3197.3 innings (averag-ing 7.35 Ks per nine innings pitched). He started 467 gamesand had 63 complete games and 15 shutouts. His best sea-sons were in 1989, ‘90 and ‘91 when he went 16-9, 18-9

and 18-9 for a 52-27 record over that three-year span. Hada career-best 2.40 ERA in 1990, ranking second in theAmerican League, and was seventh in the AL Cy Young vot-ing.

CHARLES “PEGGY” FLOURNOYFlournoy starred for Tulane’s football team from 1923 to1925. He was more than a triple threat, showing prowessas an inside runner, outside runner, passer, punter andplace kicker. Tulane was 23-4-2 during his career. As asenior, Flournoy led the Green Wave to an unbeaten sea-son and became the school’s first All-American. He led thenation in scoring with 128 points, a total which still standsas a Tulane record. He also holds the single-game scoringrecord with 31.

STEVE FOLEYA star quarterback at Tulane, Foley played 11 seasons atsafety for the Denver Broncos (1975-86) and led the teamin interceptions for four straight seasons (1978-81). Namedto the UPI All-AFC Team after the 1978 season, he playedin 150 games, starting 135, and picked off 44 career inter-ceptions, piling up 627 return yards and scoring one touch-down. He started in two Super Bowls (XII and XXI) and wasone of only three players, upon his retirement, to have start-ed all of the postseason games in Denver’s AFC history. AtTulane, the New Orleans (Jesuit HS) product led the GreenWave to the Bluebonnet Bowl, rushing for a team-high 601yards.

ALTON “RED” FRANKLINWhen he retired in January 2002, Franklin capped a careerof 35 seasons as head coach at Haynesville High Schoolincluding 11 state championships, 4 state runner-up finish-es, 366 wins (366-76-8), a career-ending run of 15 consec-utive district titles and 33 straight winning seasons. TheGolden Tornado reached the state playoffs in 31 of his 35seasons and won 27 district crowns. He was district coachof the year 23 times, and state coach of the year six times.Twice (1985, 1993), Franklin was named the National HighSchool Athletic Association’s Region 5 coach of the year,making him a finalist for national prep coach of the yearhonors. In seven consecutive seasons from 1990-96,Haynesville’s won-loss record was a mind-boggling 96-4.Among his wins in the 1990s were victories at national pow-

erhouses Evangel and West Monroe. Franklin was induct-ed in the Louisiana High School Coaches Association Hallof Fame in 1991.

JOHN FRANKS Franks, a Shreveport resident, was the only man to win fourEclipse Awards as the nation’s top thoroughbred owner. Hewon his first Eclipse Award in 1983, repeated in 1984, thenwon back-to-back in 1993 and 1994. Voting is based notjust on wins or purses, but the quality of the victories.Franks led the nation in wins and earnings in 1983, 1984and 1986 and was the leading breeder of stakes winners in1989 and 1990. Ranked No. 1 nationally for money win-nings four times, including 1993, he also finished secondthree more times since 1983.

STAN GALLOWAYGalloway was football coach at Southeastern LouisianaUniversity from 1951 through 1964, winning six Gulf StatesConference championships and finishing second five times.His 1954 team went undefeated. Galloway’s conferencerecord was 50-20-3, and his overall record was 82-41-5. In12 years of coaching at the prep level at Donaldsonville,Hammond and Bogalusa, Galloway compiled a record of80-30-5. His overall prep and college mark was 167-71-10for a .700 winning percentage. He was GSC Coach of theYear four times.

LINDA “LIN” GAMBLEA three-time All-American guard at Ouachita Baptist in theheyday of AAU women’s basketball, Gamble representedthe USA in the 1971 World University Games and the 1971Pan American Games and was a three-year member of theUSA National Team before women’s basketball became anOlympic sport in 1976. The DeSoto Parish native was thefirst female athlete inducted in the Louisiana High SchoolCoaches Association Hall of Fame. At Grand Cane HighSchool, she was a two-time Class C All-State pick who hada career 37.4 ppg average, including 48.2 as a senior. In the1971 Pan Am Games, she had 28 points vs. Cuba in a winthat gave the USA the silver medal.

RALPH GARRGarr was in the major leagues for 11 years with the Braves,White Sox and Angels. He led the National League in bat-


Alton “Red” Franklin coached 35 seasons at Haynesville High School and won 11 state championships while compiling a366-76-8 record. The Golden Tornado reached the state playoffs in 31 of his 35 seasons and won 27 district titles.



ting with a .353 average in 1974. Nicknamed “Roadrunner”because of his speed on the base paths, Garr had a careertotal of 175 steals, including 35 in 1973. He finished his bigleague career with a .306 batting average, 75 homers, 65triples and 220 doubles. Now a coach for the Braves, Garrplayed college baseball at Grambling, where he led theNAIA in batting with a .567 average in the 1967 season.

L. J. “HOSS” GARRETTThe impact of Hoss Garrett on Louisiana high school foot-ball remains, a quarter-century after he retired in 1971 asthe state’s winningest all-time coach. His teams were 270-122-21 (.682) in 38 years, 35 of them at Ruston High. HisRuston teams won 247 games, 14 district championshipsand state titles in 1941, 1947 and 1951. His 1944 Bearcatsfinished second in the state and five other Ruston teamsreached the state semifinals. Ruston won 47 straight regu-lar season games and four straight district titles from 1951-54. Garrett also guided the Ruston track team to fourstraight state championships, beginning in 1956.

LESLIE GAUDETGaudet was America’s winningest all-time high school bas-ketball coach when he retired from Pine Prairie High Schoolin 1970, and he retained that honor for more than twodecades. His 1,026 wins still ranks sixth-best all time in thenation’s high school record books. He won 74 percent of hisgames in his 30 years as boys coach, and also won an esti-mated 350 games as girls coach. He never received a tech-nical foul in the nearly 2,000 games he coached. Gaudetaveraged 34 victories a season and had two teams that wonmore than 60 games in a season. He was inducted in theNational High School Hall of Fame in 1991 along with JohnWooden and Tom Landry.

PAUL “HOSS” GEISLERGeisler, a native of Berwick, was one of CentenaryCollege’s all-time great defensive players. A standout onCoach Homer Norton’s powerful Gent teams of the early1930’s, Geisler was an All-American. One of the highlightsof his career was in 1932 when he caught the LSU quarter-back for a 15-yard loss to preserve a 6-0 upset victory forCentenary over the Tigers. In later years, he coached atLake Providence and Tallulah High Schools and Stephen F.Austin State College in Texas.

LARRY GILBERTA New Orleans native, Gilbert spent 25 years as a manag-er in the Southern Baseball Association. Before becominga manager, he was an outfielder with the 1914 “Miracle”Boston Braves. He played at New Orleans from 1917 to1925, batting .309 and fielding .977. He managed NewOrleans from 1923 until 1938. When he left the league in1948, Gilbert had established Southern Association recordsfor 2,128 wins, nine pennants, five Dixie Series champi-onships, and he was All-Star manager five times.

MATT GORDYGordy was a member of LSU’s famed five-man nationalchampionship track and field team in 1933, and his 14-footvault in the final event of the national meet in Chicago tiedhim for first and enabled the Tigers to take the title. AnAbbeville native, he set state high school records in highjump and pole vault and later set records in these events atLSU. Coach Bernie Moore and all five members of thechampionship team-Gordy, Buddy Blair, Slats Hardin, AlMoreau and Jack Torrance-are now in the Hall of Fame.

TAD GORMLEYGormley went to Loyola University in New Orleans in 1927as head boxing, basketball and track coach and athletictrainer for the Wolfpack football team. In 1932, two of hisboxers and two of his track and field stars competed in theOlympics at Los Angeles. Before he began developingchampionship teams at Loyola, Gormley coached track atLSU and Tulane. He holds membership in the HelmsFoundation Hall of Fame as an athletic trainer and is a char-ter member of the Loyola Hall of Fame.

HOYLE GRANGERAn Oberlin High product, Granger was an All-AFL fulbackfor the Houston Oilers in 1968 and played in the AFL All-Star Game in 1968-69. He ranks as the Oilers’ No. 2 all-time rusher with 3,514 yards (topping La. Sports Hall ofFame members Charlie Tolar and Billy Cannon and trailingonly Earl Campbell), has the team’s all-time best careeraverage of 4.5 yards per carry and scored 18 rushing touch-downs, sixth-best in franchise history. He was second in theAFL in rushing yards in 1967, fourth in 1968 and third in1969, and first in yards from scrimamge in 1967. Granger issecond to Earl Campbell with 11 100-yard rushing games inclub history and is second, with Campbell, in most consec-utive games scoring a TD (5). At Oberlin, he was a two-timeAll-State back as OHS lost in the state finals twice beforewinning the Class B crown in his senior year, when he wasthe All-State Outstanding Player, scoring 199 points andrushing for a 12.5 average per carry.

MIKE GREENA 6-10 center, Green set Louisiana Tech career records forpoints (2,340) and rebounds (1,575), averaging 22.9 pointsand 15.4 rebounds from 1969-74. He played seven pro sea-sons and averaged 11.5 points per game. Green was thenational College Division “Player of the Year” as a senior,when he averaged 30.9 points and led the Bulldogs to sev-eral No. 1 national rankings. He was a four-time all-confer-ence pick, a three-time All-American. Of the first 12 scoringrecords at Tech, Green either owns or shares each of them.He was a first-rounder in both the ABA and NBA drafts.

GRITS GRESHAMThe first outdoorsman chosen for membership in the Hall ofFame, Gresham was the Winchester Outdoorsman of theYear and Louisiana Conservationist of the Year. He spent13 years as a field host, consultant and producer for ABC-TV’s “The American Sportsman.” Well-known for televisioncommercials and personal appearances as a Miller Lite All-Star, Gresham was shooting editor of Sports AfieldMagazine, and published his sixth book, “Grits on Guns.”He was a consultant for numerous outdoor industries.

BOB GROSECLOSEGroseclose coached track and field at Northeast Louisianafor 29 years, winning 10 conference titles and developingnine national champions. He coached Hall of Fame mem-bers John Pennel and Dave and Don Styron. Pennel, apole vaulter, broke the world record nine times and theStyron twins, sprinters and hurdlers, shattered numerousworld records. NLU finished in the top 20 in both the NCAAIndoor and Outdoor meets for his last three seasons beforehe retired in 1989. His teams, which included four unbeat-en squads, never finished below fourth place in a confer-ence meet.

ERIC GUERINA member of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame,Guerin is best-known as the jockey who rode NativeDancer. He lost only once in 21 rides aboard the gray colt,finishing second in the 1953 Kentucky Derby. Guerin wonthe Kentucky Derby in 1957 with Jet Pilot, and he rodeNative Dancer to wins in the 1953 Preakness and Belmont.He also won the Belmont in 1954 on High Gun. Among thetop five riders in the nation for five straight years, Guerinrode for 35 years, and his mounts earned $17.3 million.

RON GUIDRYNicknamed “Louisiana Lightning” and “Gator,” left-handedpitcher Ron Guidry had more than 13 great years with theNew York Yankees, posting a 170-91 career record with a3.29 earned run average. The Lafayette native, a USLproduct, is second on the Yanks’ career strikeout list,(1,778). In 1978 he won the American League Cy YoungAward and AP Male Athlete of the Year, going 25-3 with a1.74 ERA and setting club records for single-game (19) andseason (248) strikeouts, 13 straight wins, and an ALrecord-tying nine shutouts. Guidry was 41-10 in 1977-78 asthe Yanks won two World Series titles. He made four All-Star Game appearances.


Grits Gresham was the first outdoorsman inducted into theLouisiana Sports Hall of Fame. His enshrinment came in1989.

Louisiana Tech product Mike Green played seven pro sea-sons. He was a first round pick in both the ABA and NBAdrafts. He was inducted in 1996.



SUE GUNTERRetired after 22 years at LSU as women’s basketball coach,Gunter collected a 442-221 mark with the Lady Tigers andan overall record of 708-308 during her career. She retiredas the fourth-winningest head coach in NCAA women’sbasketball history and in 2005 was posthumously enshrinedin the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hallof Fame. Gunter took over as coach at LSU in 1983, threeyears after she was head coach of the 1980 USA Olympicteam while at Stephen F. Austin. At LSU, she was theBasketball News National Coach of the Year (1983), theLouisiana Coach of the Year (1983, 1997, 2000, 2003) theSEC Coach of the Year (1997, 1999), the WBCA District IIICoach of the Year (1999) and was inducted in the Women’sBasketball Hall of Fame in 2000. Her Tiger teams made 14NCAA Tournament trips and reached the Final Four in herfinal season of 2004.

FREDDIE HAASHaas won 125 amateur golf tournaments, including the1934 and 1938 Southerns and the 1937 NationalIntercollegiate, before turning pro, where he earned moneyon the PGA tour for 30 consecutive years. His best year onthe pro tour was in 1953, when he won five major tourna-ments. He was PGA senior champion in 1966 and won theGulf States senior title three times. Haas was the first golferto play on both the Walker and Ryder Cup teams. He is aresident and native of New Orleans.

DARRYL HAMILTONA speedy, left-handed hitting outfielder who didn't play highschool baseball at University High in Baton Rouge becauseit didn't field a team (he played football and basketball), hewent on to star at Nicholls State and played 13 seasonswith Milwaukee, Texas, San Francisco, Colorado and theNew York Mets. In 1,328 big-league games, he had a .291career average with 1,333 hits and 454 RBIs. He had 163stolen bases -- including a career-best 41 in 1992. An 11th-round draft pick of the Brewers in 1986, he played centerfield primarily, but also played the corner outfield positionsand committed just 14 errors in 13 seasons for a .995career fielding percentage. Hamilton batted .300 four times,hitting a career-high .315 with the Rockies and Mets in1999. His best all-around seasons were in 1993 when he hit

.310 with 161 hits for the Brewers and 1996 when he batted

.293 with a career-high 184 hits in 148 games with theRangers. At Nicholls State from 1984-86, he stole a school-record 140 bases with a career-high 52 in 1985 and led theteam in runs all three seasons, finishing with 193 for hiscareer.

JAKE HANNAOne of the great Centenary football stars of all times, Hannaled the Gents to an undefeated season in 1927. Jakescored 93 points during the season, in which Centenaryupset four Southwest Conference schools. He missedmuch of the 1928 season with injuries but still scored 15touchdowns to lead the team in scoring. A 5-foot-8, 167-pound quarterback and halfback, Hanna was selected toplay in two all-star games in Dallas that were forerunners ofthe Cotton Bowl. He also starred at Byrd High.

BILLY HARDINA member of the 1964 USA Olympic track and field teamand a semifinalist in the 400 meter hurdles at the TokyoGames, Billy Hardin was a three-time All-American at LSU.He won seven Southeastern Conference track titles -- the100 yard dash (twice, once in a record 9.5time), in the 120yard hurdles (twice, including a record 13.9 time), the 220yard hurdles, the 330 yard hurdles and as part of the milerelay team. Hardin captured the 1964 NCAA and AAUchampionships in his specialty. Son of Hall of Famer SlatsHardin, the Baton Rouge native set an LSU record in win-ning the Olympic Trials with a 49.8 time. He and his fatherbecame the first father-son duo to represent the USA inOlympic competition.

GLENN “SLATS” HARDINHardin was an outstanding sprinter and hurdler for LSU inthe early 1930’s. He won the NCAA 440 yard dash in 47.1and the 220 low hurdles in 22.9 in 1933 and repeated thefollowing year with times of 47 flat and 22.7, equaling thenational record. Hardin was in the 1932 and 1936 OlympicGames and earned a silver medal at Los Angeles in 1932 inthe 440 hurdles with a time of 52.0. He won a gold medalat Berlin in 1936 and set a world record in the 400 meterhurdles in 1934.

JAMES “SHACK” HARRISA 12-year pro, Harris started for three NFL teams, becom-ing the first black quarterback to open the season as astarter and complete a season as a starter in NFL history. Anationally-recruited star at Monroe's Carroll High School, heset a state collegiate passing record with 4,705 careerpassing yards at Grambling. He led Grambling toSouthwestern Athletic Conference titles in 1967 and 1968.Harris played for Buffalo, the Los Angeles Rams, and SanDiego. He was the 1975 Pro Bowl Most Valuable Player,leading an NFC victory. He led the NFL in passing in 1976and ranked No. 2 in 1974. His career NFL stats include8,136 passing yards and 45 passing TDs. He is now theplayer-personnel director of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

GAYLE HATCHHatch and Skip Bertman are the only state residents toserve as head USA Olympic coaches. The USA men'sweightlifting head coach at the 2004 Olympic Games, Hatchwas inducted into the USA Strength and ConditioningCoaches Hall of Fame's inaugural 14-member class inAugust 2003, along with Baton Rouge's Alvin Roy; and theUSA Olympic Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame in April2002. He received the NFL Strength & ConditioningCoaches' Society “President's Award” for his role in devel-oping the profession at the 2005 NFL Combine. Hatchserved as meet director of the 2000 USA Olympic Trials. In2007-08, Hatch worked at LSU as basketball strength andconditioning coach after his program helped the 2006Tigers reach the Final Four. The Baton Rouge resident haswon 12 national Coach of the Year honors from USAWeightlifting. He has coached 43 national champion lifters

who set numerous American and junior American records.Hatch was a dynamic basketball player for NorthwesternState in 1960-62 who was drafted to play professionally.While at Northwestern, Hatch led the Demons in scoring,rebounding and field goal percentage before he was cho-sen by the Chicago Majors of the American BasketballLeague, forerunner of the American Basketball Associationwhich eventually merged with the NBA.

JOEL HAWKINSAn ultra-successful high school basketball coach atSouthern Lab (Baton Rouge), Lake Providence and G.W.Griffin (Lake Providence) with a career record of 1,071-263(.803) through 2007. A win in the Class 1A title game withSouthern Lab over Plain Dealing in March 2005 madeHawkins the all-time wins leader in Louisiana high schoolbasketball history, passing Hall of Famer Leslie Gaudet ofPine Prairie, who had 1,026 wins. Hawkins began hiscoaching career in 1965 at his alma mater, G.W. GriffinHigh, and moved to Lake Providence High a few years laterwhen the schools were combined during integration. He hasbeen the boys coach at Southern Lab since 1989, winning11 state championships in a 13 year span. A 1985 title atLake Providence gives Hawkins 12 state crowns to goalong with 39 winning seasons and 21 district titles.Hawkins was inducted into the LHSAA-LHSCA Hall ofFame in 2001.


James “Shack” Harris was the first black quarterback toopen the season as a starter and complete a season as astarter in the NFL.

Sue Gunter compiled an overall record of 708-308 andretired as the fourth-winningest head coach in NCAAwomen’s basketball history.



ELVIN HAYESA Rayville native inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame,Hayes was a three-time All-America at the University ofHouston and was The Sporting News Basketball CollegePlayer of the Year in 1968, when he averaged 36.8 points agame. In three varsity seasons at Houston, he averaged 31points a game and had 1,602 rebounds. A first-round NBAdraft pick, he played for 16 seasons and was All-NBA sixtimes. He played in 12 All-Star games. Hayes led theleague in scoring as a rookie and was the NBA’s leadingrebounder in both the 1970 and 1974 seasons.

ED HEADHead was born in 1918 in Selma, La. He was a left-handeras a youngster, but a serious injury forced him to become aright-handed pitcher. Head went with the old BrooklynDodger organization in 1940 and was sent to Montreal ofthe International League in 1941 where he won 18 and lost8, leading the team to the International League title. Hewon four games in the playoffs. He pitched for the Dodgersfrom 1942 until 1946 and had a no-hitter against the BostonBraves in 1946.

BOBBY HEBERT“The Cajun Cannon” spent 11 seasons in the NFL with theSaints (1985-89, 1990-92) and Atlanta (1993-96) followingthree years in the USFL, leading Michigan to the inauguralUSFL title and being named championship game MVP as arookie. Hebert had a 49-26 (.653) record as the Saints’starting quarterback, leading the club to its best record andonly division title. In high school, Hebert led SouthLafourche to the Class 4A championship, then was an hon-orable mention All-America at Northwestern State while set-ting single-season and single-game passing records. In hisNFL career, he completed 60 percent (1,856-3,104) for21,683 yards, 135 TDs. He had 15 NFL games with 275+yards passing.

JAY HEBERTJay won the PGA Championship in 1960 to make he and hisbrother Lionel the first brothers to win the prestigious title.He also won the Texas Open in 1957, Lafayette Open in1958, Orange County Open in 1959 and the HoustonClassic and American Golf Classic in 1961. He was a mem-ber of the Ryder Cup team in 1959 and 1961. Runner-upin the 1960 Tournament of Champions, Jay also finishedsecond in the 1955 St. Petersburg Open, 1957 Los AngelesOpen, 1958 Canadian Open and several other events.

LIONEL HEBERTPGA champion in 1957, Lionel won the Cajun Classic in1960, the Tucson Open in 1958, Memphis Open in 1962and Citrus Tournament in 1966. He was runner-up in St.Petersburg in 1956, the Azalea Open and Oklahoma CityOpen in 1964 and White-marsh Open in 1963. A memberof the U.S. Ryder Cup in 1957, Lionel was chairman of thePGA Tournament Committee in 1962-63 and 1972-73. Agolf pro since 1950, Lionel was active on the senior tour.Lionel and Jay were runner-up in the 1965 National PGA 4-Ball.

LEE HEDGESIn 28 years as a head coach, Hedges touched four of themost historic schools in Shreveport, serving as head coachat three and taking each of those to the state championshipgame in the state's largest classification. After briefly join-ing the coaching staff for the 1966 season at LouisianaTech, Hedges returned to the prep ranks at Captain Shreve,where he was head coach for 18 seasons (1967-84), mak-ing 14 playoff appearances and winning eight district titles.A year after missing the state title by a point, his Gatorsroared to the 1973 Class 4A championship, the last time apublic school from Shreveport won the state title at the high-est classification. Including a 24-game win streak in 1972-73, Hedges' career record stands at 216-92-5 (.698), stillthe most wins by a Shreveport-Bossier City coach. Hecoached future NFL players as head coach at each school,including state Hall of Fame members Pat Studstill andTerry Bradshaw.

CHARLIE HENNIGANHennigan, a collegiate football and track star atNorthwestern, played for the Houston Oilers from 1960through 1966. With the AFL Oilers, Hennigan caught 410passes for 6,723 yards and 51 touchdowns. An All-AFLchoice three times, Hennigan set pro football records foryards gained receiving in a season with 1,146 (1,700)in1961 and receptions in a season with 101 in 1964. His AFLsingle game record of 272 yards receiving against thePatriots in 1961 still ranks highly in the pro football records.

TOMMY HENRYBefore he retired in 2007 after his 24th year as commission-er of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, Henryemerged as one of the most progressive high school athlet-ic commissioners in the nation. During his tenure theLHSAA became a self-efficient legislative organization.Henry was named the LHSAA's third commissioner in 1983after having served as an assistant commissioner since1976. He founded the Superdome Classic football champi-onships in his first year as commissioner and steered statechampionship events to many outstanding venues aroundthe state. Prior to his tenure, many of the state champi-onship competitions were held at high schools. Henrysecured a major television contract for championshipevents. A native of Alexandria and a graduate of BoltonHigh School and Northwestern State, Henry was a teacherand coach at Bossier High from 1963-75, guiding one of thestate's top prep baseball programs.

PETE HERMANA native of New Orleans, Herman had 134 professionalfights. He won 59 times and lost only 12. Six were draws,and the others “no-decisions.” In the 134 fights, he was

stopped only once while knocking out 19 opponents. Hewon the world bantamweight championship in 1917, lost itin 1920 but regained the title by defeating Joe Lynch in1922 because of blindness. He was enshrined in theNational Boxing Hall of Fame in 1959.

DALTON HILLIARDOne of the golden figures in state sports history, Hilliard wasone of LSU's greatest running backs and led the NewOrleans Saints into the NFL playoffs. A Patterson native,Hilliard is the fourth-leading rusher in SoutheasternConference history and the all-time leader at LSU with4,050 yards and 302 points. A three-time All-SEC pick,Hilliard set NCAA freshman records with 16 touchdownsand 96 points in 1982. The 5-8, 195-pounder is the second-leading rusher in Saints history with 4,164 yards, just 104yards out of first place after his eight pro seasons. He ledthe Saints in career rushing attempts, total TDs (53) andrushing TDs (39). In 1989, he led the NFL with 13 TDs in aPro Bowl season.

TOM HINTONThe first Louisianan in the Canadian Football League Hallof Fame, Hinton was a five-time all-star offensive guard forthe British Columbia Lions during nine pro seasons, includ-ing a 1964 Grey Cup title. Also picked for the Lions DreamTeam spanning 39 years in 1993, Hinton became only thefifth football player elected to the B.C. Hall of Fame, eventhough it had been in existence 26 years and the Lionswere 38 years old at the time. A high school All-American atRuston High who was also all-state in track, he was aLouisiana Tech standout in both sports, winning All-GSChonors four years, three times unanimously. He was athree-year honorable mention All-American and won NAIAAll-America honors as a senior in 1957. Named the GSCAthlete of the Year in 1957, he was the first Tech player inthe Blue-Gray All-Star Game and was drafted by theChicago Cardinals in the NFL and the B.C. Lions.

FRED HOBDYHobdy is the state's all-time winningest college basketballcoach and led Grambling to the 1961 NAIA championship.He was Grambling's head coach for 30 years (1956-86)with a 567-287 (.664) record. He won 10 conference cham-pionships (8 in the Southwestern Athletic, 2 in the Midwest),led the Tigers to 14 national tournaments (including themajor college NIT in 1980) and won the 1961 NAIA title. HisTiger teams won six regional or district NCAA or NAIA titles.He is credited with discovering and launching the career ofall-time great Willis Reed.

SONJA HOGGStarting from scratch, without any previous basketball expe-rience, Sonja Hogg engineered the development of one ofthe country's iconic women's basketball programs, the LadyTechsters of Louisiana Tech. The Alexandria native was thefirst head coach, coined the nickname of Lady Techsterswhile also teaching in the College of Education, andbecame Women's Athletic Director in 1976 and continuedcoaching at the same time. Her overall coaching record atTech was 307 wins and 55 losses in 11 seasons (1974-85),featuring six consecutive Final Four appearances (1978-1984), including two national championships. In 1981, Techwon the AIAW national crown while posting perfect recordof 34-0 and then rolled to the first ever NCAA sanctionednational title in 1982 with mark of 35-1.

BOB HOPKINSHopkins, a 6-10, 210 pounder from Jonesboro, scored3,759 points in 126 basketball games at Grambling for acareer average of 29.1 a game. At one time, he held NCAAand NAIA college basketball records for the most pointsscored with 3,759, most field goals made with 1,292, mostfree throws made with 953 and most rebounds with 2,191.His remarkable career point total of 3,759 is still a staterecord. Hopkins played pro basketball for Syracuse.


Elvin Hayes is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fameand was a first round NBA draft pick.



CAL HUBBARDA 225-pound lineman at Centenary College in 1922-23-24,Hubbard was the school’s first All-American. In his first col-legiate game, he returned a kickoff for a touchdown, but hisgreatest game was in an upset against Maj. FrankKavanaugh’s Boston College team. Hubbard left Centenaryto accompany Coach Bo McMillin to Geneva College. Helater became an all-time great professional player with theGreen Bay Packers and New York Giants. Hubbard laterspent 10 years as a Major League Baseball umpire. He isthe only person enshrined in both the NFL Hall of Fame andthe Baseball Hall of Fame.

STAN HUMPHRIESHumphries quarterbacked Louisiana-Monroe (thenNortheast Louisiana University) to the NCAA Division I-AAChampionship in 1987 (the only I-AA championship everwon by a Louisiana team) and led the San Diego Chargersto their only Super Bowl appearance in 1995. He retired in1998 for health reasons after a 10-year NFL career.Humphries led the Chargers to three playoff appearancesand ended his career ranked third on the Chargers all-timeregular-season passing list. He was inducted into theChargers Hall of Fame in 2002. A Shreveport native, hewas a prep all-American at Southwood High, signed withLSU, then transferred to ULM. In only two seasons hethrew for 4395 yards and 29 touchdowns, figures whichranked No. 2 among ULM quarterbacks at the time he com-pleted his career (these statistics do not include playoffgames). Humphries is a member of the ULM Hall of Fameand one of only two Warhawks football greats to have hisnumber retired.

LUKE JACKSONLuke Jackson launched his sensational basketball career atMorehouse High School in Bastrop. The 6-foot-9 lefty leftLouisiana to become a college All-American at Texas-PanAmerican, a member of the 1964 USA Olympic gold-medalbasketball team and the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1965with the Philadelphia 76ers. Jackson, whose Pan Americanuniform is on display at the Basketball Hall of Fame,became the first Louisiana prep basketball player to winOlympic gold. Jackson won a national NAIA title in 1963 asa junior at Pan American, and was a starting forward on the76ers' squad that claimed the 1967 NBA title. That teamwas voted the best in the first 50 years of the NBA. Heplayed eight pro seasons.

RICH JACKSONJackson was an All-Pro defensive end for the DenverBroncos. A Southern University graduate, the New Orleansnative is on Mile High Stadium’s Ring of Honor as one of theDenver Broncos’ all-time best players. He joined theBroncos in 1967 and made All-Pro at defensive end fourconsecutive seasons (1968-71). Writer Paul Zimmerman ofSports Illustrated chose him on the magazine’s all-time All-Pro team selected as part of the publication’s 40th anniver-sary celebration in 1993.

RICKEY JACKSONA durable six-time All-Pro linebacker (1983-86, 1992-93),Rickey Jackson was the heart and soul of the New OrleansSaints' defense from 1981-94. He spent the last two of his15 NFL seasons with San Francisco, helping the 49ers winSuper Bowl XXIX. Jackson had 128 official career sacks,getting his first 8 before it became an NFL statistic. He stillranks seventh in NFL history in that category. A second-round NFL Draft pick from Pitt, he also averaged 85 tacklesfor New Orleans. Jackson ranks second all-time in NFL his-tory with 28 fumble recoveries, including a club-record 26for the Saints. He played in 227 NFL games and started all195 games he played in for New Orleans. He was induct-ed into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010

DANA JENKINSJenkins was one of the nation’s outstanding high schooland college sprinters in the early 1900’s. He established

eight high school track and field records before his senioryear at Eunice. Jenkins entered Louisiana State Universityin 1916 and led LSU to outstanding seasons in the oldSouthern Amateur Athletic Union from 1916 until 1918. AtLSU, he established records in the 50, 100, 220 and 440yard dashes, 220 low hurdles, broad jump and triple jump.

KATHY JOHNSON (CLARKE)Clarke is one of only three American women to win an indi-vidual medal in both World Championship and Olympicgymnastics competition. At 16, she moved near Shreveportto train. An All-American at Centenary College in 1978 and1979, Kathy Johnson made the U.S. Olympic team in 1980and won two medals in the 1984 Games, taking a team sil-ver and an individual bronze on the balance beam. She isone of only five U.S. women to win an individual Olympicmedal. She was the 1984 USA Olympic gymnastics teamcaptain and twice was named America’s Gymnast of theYear (1977, 1985). She has also been a network analyst forABC and ESPN.

GARY "BIG HANDS" JOHNSONA Bossier City native and Grambling football All-American,Johnson made four Pro Bowl appearances during an 11-year NFL career with San Diego and San Francisco, play-ing for the 49ers' 1984 Super Bowl Champions. The 6-2,251-pounder had 72-1/2 sacks for 659 lost yards and recov-ered 11 fumbles as a pro. He made The Sporting News NFLAll-Star Team in 1980 with 17-1/2 sacks. As a senior atGrambling, Johnson had 134 tackles to earn his thirdstraight All-America award and the Sheridan Black CollegeDefensive Player of the Year Award.

CHARLIE JOINERBorn in Many, raised in Lake Charles, and a star receiver forGrambling, Joiner held NFL records for catches (750) andreception yardage (12,146) when he retired in 1986 after 18seasons as a pro. He set league records for most gamesplayed by a receiver (239) and had a streak of 194 consec-utive games played. Joiner played three seasons withHouston, four with Cincinnati and joined the San DiegoChargers in 1976, where he earned trips to the Pro Bowl in1976, 1979 and 1980.

BERT JONESA Ruston native, Jones played in the NFL for 10 years, andhe was All-Pro three times. The NFL’s Most Valuable Playerin 1976, he had 1,430 completions in 2,551 attempts in hispro career for 18,190 yards and 124 touchdowns. Joneswas a Sporting News All-American at LSU, where he had220 completions and 418 attempts for 3,225 yards and 28TD’s. He was a No. 1 draft choice of the Colts in 1973.Jones joins his dad, Dub, as the first father-son members ofthe Hall of Fame.

DUB JONESAn All-American back at Tulane in 1944, Jones played in the1950’s on some of the Cleveland Browns’ greatest teams.He was selected as an All-Pro in 1951 and played in the1952 Pro Bowl. Jones is still in the Browns’ record booksfor scoring six touchdowns in a single game against theBears in 1951 and for 10 pass receptions in a game againstthe Redskins in 1950. Father of LSU All-American and prostar Bert Jones, Dub served as an assistant coach for theBrowns under Blanton Collier when his playing days ended.

ESTHER JONESA 21-time All-American for the nationally-acclaimed LSUwomen’s track and field team from 1988-91, Jones is themost decorated athlete -- male or female -- in the history ofthe sport at the school. Jones helped the Lady Tigers claimsix national titles (four outdoor and two indoor) during herfour-year career. A native of Chicago who grew up inMilwaukee, she was a dominant short sprinter and a forcein relays. She won 10 Southeastern Conference titles.Jones won a gold medal with the U.S. 4 x 100 team in the1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

LAWRENCE “BIFF” JONESBiff Jones coached football at LSU from 1932 through 1934,guiding the Tigers to a 20-5-5 record. In 1933, his Bengalswere tied twice but unbeaten in a nine-game season. Anative of Washington, D.C., Jones captained the 1915 WestPoint Cadets. He was head coach at West Point,Oklahoma and Nebraska and had a career record of 87wins, 33 defeats and 14 ties. He’s best remembered for arhubarb with Gov. Huey P. Long when Jones ran the gover-nor from LSU’s dressing room in the 1934 Tulane game.

KEN KAVANAUGHKavanaugh was one of the country’s outstanding endswhile playing for LSU in the late 1930’s. He was All-Southeastern Conference in 1938 and 1939 and All-American in 1939. Kavanaugh led the team in scoring in1938-39 and made the longest touchdown run in modernLSU football history, a 100-yard gallop with a fumble againstRice in 1937. Kavanaugh was later an outstanding profes-sional player with the Chicago Bears. At LSU, he was a starbaseball player from 1938 through 1940.

PAM KELLY (FLOWERS)Kelly became only the fourth woman elected to the Hall.Kelly was a three-time Kodak All-America women's basket-ball star at Louisiana Tech and won the Margaret WadeTrophy as the country's top player in 1982. A Columbianative, the 6-footer helped Louisiana Tech to four "FinalFour" appearances and a record 54-game winning streakalong with national championships in 1981 and 1982. Her2,979 points and 1,511 rebounds are career records atTech. She averaged 19.5 points and 9.9 rebounds in her153-game career while shooting 62.3 percent from the field.

KENNY KONZA speedy defensive back in the LSU Hall of Fame, Konzwas LSU’s MVP in 1950 and played on three world champi-onship teams with the Cleveland Browns. The MVP in the1950 Blue-Gray Classic, Konz was a No. 1 draft pick forCleveland. He led, or shared the team lead, in interceptionsin five of his seven pro seasons. After topping the NFL inpunt returns with a 14.4 average, Konz played in the 1956


Ruston native Bert Jones played 10 seasons in the NFL andearned All-Pro honors three times. He was inducted into theLouisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.



Pro Bowl. The Texas native and New Orleans resident alsoaveraged almost 40 yards as a punter in one NFL season.

ERNIE LADDLadd, a Grambling product, was an All-AFL defensive tack-le in an eight-year pro football career. He appeared in fourstraight AFL All-Star games from 1962-65. Ladd, nicknamed"The Big Cat" because of his remarkable size (6-foot-9, 325pounds) and agility, did not miss a game in his pro career.Ladd joined the San Diego Chargers in 1961 and played ontheir AFL championship team in 1963. He capped his careeras a member of the powerful Kansas City Chiefs, where heplayed alongside Buck Buchanan. He became a popularprofessional wrestler at age 30 and is in the Pro WrestlingHall of Fame.

DWIGHT “BO” LAMARLamar earned All-American honors three times during hiscareer at Southwestern Louisiana in 1969 through 1973.He averaged 31.2 points a game, and his 3,493-pointcareer total is second only to Pete Maravich in both thestate and the nation in major college rankings. As a sopho-more, he led the nation’s college division teams in scoringwith a 36.0 average, and he led the country’s university divi-sion as a junior with a 36.3 average. Lamar led USL to a74-13 record in his three final seasons and later played inthe NBA and ABA.

MAXIE LAMBRIGHTLambright guided Louisiana Tech to national football promi-nence during his 1967 through 1978 tenure as head coachwith a record of 95-36-2 for a winning mark of 73 percent.His teams won seven conference championships, includingsix of the last eight years he coached after Tech joined theSouthland Conference in 1971. His teams won five nation-al championships, and Lambright guided Tech to thenation’s longest winning streak of 23 games in 1973-74.His teams were 44-4 from 1971 through 1974 and 12-0 in1972.

HANK LAURICELLALauricella was an All-American running back at theUniversity of Tennessee from 1949 through 1951 and wasrunner-up for the Heisman Trophy in his senior season. Hegained more than 2,500 yards in total offense for the Volsand in Tennessee’s 1951 Cotton Bowl win over Texas had131 yards, including a 75-yard run. Lauricella, a member ofthe National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, averagedfive yards a carry during his career at Tennessee andscored 29 touchdowns. He later served in the Louisianastate senate.

LESTER LAUTENSCHLAGERA member of the College Football Hall of Fame,Lautenschlaeger was Tulane’s quarterback for four seasonsand captain of the Greenie baseball team. He holdsTulane’s single game record for two touchdowns on puntreturns set in 1925 and also scored four touchdowns in onegame to share a Tulane record. An honorable mentionGrantland Rice All-American, he had a 95-yard touchdownrun against North Carolina in 1922. Lautenschlaeger latercoached such Tulane stars as Monk Simons and DonZimmerman.

JANICE LAWRENCE (BRAXTON) A first-team pick on the LSWA’s All-Century All-LouisianaWomen’s Collegiate Basketball Team chosen in 1999, shewas a seven-time All-Europe star who didn’t stop playingprofessionally until 2001. Considered perhaps the greatestLady Techster player ever, Lawrence starred from 1980-84and was a two-time Kodak All-American (1983, 84), the1984 Wade Trophy winner, the 1982 NCAA Final Four MVP,a three-time Final Four All-Tournament pick (1982, 1983,1984), twice NCAA Regional MVP (1983, 1984) and threetimes on the NCAA All-Regional Team (1982, 1983, 1984).She was the second-leading rebounder and third-leadingscorer for the gold-medal winning 1984 USA Olympic team.

An athletic post player, Lawence led Tech to a mark of 130-6, 4 Final Fours and 2 National Championships.

WALTER LEDETAs head track and field coach and assistant football coachat Northwestern State, Ledet built the state's dominant trackprogram for more than a decade and helped shape theremarkable careers of three Louisiana Sports Hall of Famemembers -- Charlie Hennigan, Jackie Smith and CharlieTolar. Ledet, Northwestern's first football All-American as aguard in 1938, was a second-round NFL Draft pick byPhiladelphia. As head track coach from1952-64, Ledet ledthe Demon thinclads to five straight Gulf States Conferencetitles from 1953-57 -- missing a sixth title by half a point.

BILL LEELee went from Plaquemine to the Chicago Cub organizationin 1933. He won 20 games as a pitcher at Columbus hisfirst season in baseball and moved up to the Cubs the nextyear. He went 20-6 in 1935 and 22-9 in 1938, leading theCubs to the pennant both years. Several other years, hewon between 17 and 19 games. After nine years with theCubs, Lee spent three seasons with the Phillies and Bravesbefore returning to the Cubs to finish out his active playingcareer.

EUN JUNG LEE (OK)Nobody who ever saw Eun Jung Lee play college basket-ball will ever forget her dazzling, crowd-pleasing style. Aconcensus All-America point guard at Northeast LouisianaUniversity, she led the Lady Indians to a four-year 102-15record. In 1985, NLU was 30-2 and reached the NCAA FinalFour. She finished her career with 2,208 points (18.8 aver-age), 878 assists (7.5 average) and 297 steals (2.5 aver-age). A four-time pick as the Southland Conference Playerof the Year, she led the conference in assists all four sea-sons, with a high average of 10.3 as a sophomore and asingle-game best of 17 vs. LSU and Louisiana Sports Hallof Famer Joyce Walker. She played professionally inEurope.

ALBERT LEWISA four-time Pro Bowler, Lewis was a cornerback and safetywho played 16 NFL seasons with Kansas City (1983-93)and Oakland (1994-98) after a stellar career at Grambling,where he was a first-team All-SWAC pick his final two sea-sons. The Mansfield native was a third-round draft pick ofthe Chiefs in 1983 and earned AP All-Pro honors in 1989and ’90 and went to four straight Pro Bowls (1988-91). Heplayed in 225 NFL games and finished with 42 intercep-tions, 123 passes defensed, 13 sacks and 13 forced fum-bles. He ranks fifth on the Chiefs’ all-time interceptions listwith 38, leading them in that category in 1985 (8), 1989 (4)and 1993 (6). A 10-year starter for Chiefs, he was chosento that team’s “40 Years in Kansas City” 40-man squad in2002. Lewis was also one of 75 players on the initial ProFootball Hall of Fame ballot for 2003.

FRANK LEWISA Houma (Southdown High) product who starred as a run-ning back/wingback/wide receiver at Grambling StateUniversity, then played 13 NFL seasons - seven with thePittsburgh Steelers and six with the Buffalo Bills. He was afirst-round draft pick by the Steelers in 1971. In his NFLcareer, he caught 397 passes for 6,724 yards and 40 touch-downs. He played on two Super Bowl championship teams.In his top pro season, he caught 70 passes for 1,244 yards(four touchdowns) in 1981. He earned a Pro Bowl start thatyear and made the All-AFC team chosen by UPI. He brokethe Buffalo single-season records for passes caught andthe number of yards that year. He was the first player in NFLhistory to gain 100 yards receiving in postseason games fortwo different teams. At Grambling, he had 42 career touch-downs, earned third-team Little All-America honors as asenior and twice made the All-Southwestern AthleticConference team. He rushed for 1,428 yards, an average of10.8 per carry.

BOB LOVELove, a Bastrop native and Southern University star, wasknown during his playing days as “Butter-bean.” He wasAll-South and NAIA All-American after his 1965 senior sea-son at Southern. A fourth round NBA pick in 1965, Love hadhis greatest years with Chicago, leading the team in scoringseven straight seasons. In nine years with the Bulls, heaveraged 21.3 points. He set Chicago records for mostpoints in a season with 2,043 for a 25.2 average in 1970-71and for career scoring with 12,623.

BOBBY LOWTHERLowther is the only two-sport All-America athlete in LSU'sstoried sports history. In 1946, he made the HelmsFoundation basketball All-America squad and was a two-event All-American in track and field, finishing second at theNCAA Championships in the javelin and fourth in the polevault. The 6-foot-5, 185-pound Alexandria native was alsothe triple jump champion at the 1946 National AAUChampionships. He was voted LSU's "Best All-AroundAthlete" in 1947 over future Louisiana Hall of Fame mem-bers Y.A. Tittle, Al Dark and Joe Adcock.

JOHNNY LYNCHLynch is the only referee to officiate in all of the major bowlgames. He worked in the Southeastern Conference from1946 through 1961. Lynch officiated in the Orange Bowl in1942, 1947 and 1951, the Sugar Bowl in 1944 and 1959,the Rose Bowl in 1945, the Cotton Bowl in 1955 and theGator Bowl in 1952. Lynch helped form the Louisiana HighSchool Officials Association, and he started officiating col-lege games in 1931. He was president, vice-president andchief of referees for the Southeastern Conference.

TED LYONSBorn in 1900 at Lake Charles, Lyons pitched for theChicago White Sox from 1923 until 1946 and managed theChicago team from 1946 to 1948. A member of theBaseball Hall of Fame, he won 260 games for the WhiteSox and had an ERA of 3.67 in 4,162 innings. He had ano-hit game against Boston in 1926 and led the league inshutouts in 1925 and 1940. He led the American League inERA in 1942 with a 2.10 clip. He posted more than 20 vic-tories in three seasons (1925, 1927 and 1930).


Three-time basketball All-American Pete Maravich wasinducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.


80

CHARLIE McCLENDONIn 18 years as LSU’s head football coach, McClendon ledthe Tigers to more victories and more bowl appearancesthan any coach in LSU history. He compiled a record of 137wins, 59 losses and 7 ties for a winning percentage of .698.While guiding the Tigers to 13 bowl engagements,McClendon produced 17 first-team All-Americans. Afterleaving LSU in 1979, he became executive director of theTangerine Bowl in Orlando, Fla., and later served as exec-utive director of the American Football CoachesAssociation.

RICHARD “DICK” McCLOSKEYMcCloskey coached Hanson Memorial of Franklin for 39years (1947-85), becoming the winningest high school foot-ball coach in Louisiana late in his career and finishing witha record of 286-141-6 (.667). His 271st victory -- on Sept.7, 1984, 13-9 over University High of Baton Rouge -- brokethe record of L.J. “Hoss” Garrett of Ruston. McCloskeycoached 21 teams into the state playoffs, the last 12 in arow. His 1976 team won the Class A state title with a 13-2record. His next best year was 11-3 in 1983 and his 1984team reached the state semifinals. He is in the LHSAA-LHSCA Hall of Fame. He died in 1986.

MAX McGEEMcGee is a Texas native who played college football atTulane and later starred on Vince Lombardi’s Green BayPackers teams. He led the Packers in receiving four timesand grabbed 342 passes for 6,410 yards and 51 TD’s in 11seasons with Green Bay. A member of the Green BayPacker Hall of Fame, he played on five NFL championshipteams, including both Packer Super Bowl wins. At Tulane,he averaged 4.4 yards per carry as a running back and alsohandled kickoff and punt returns. He played in the 1953Blue-Gray game. McGee caught the first TD pass in SuperBowl history, a 37-yard toss from Hall of Famer Bart Starr.

JIMMY McGONAGILLFrom 1945 to 1959, McGonagill won the La. State Amateurgolf title nine times, including five straight titles from 1948through 1951. During that same period, he won 110 tour-naments and was a medalist in 30. He qualified and playedin five National Opens and four National Amateurs. Heplayed in the Masters in 1950 and won the Louisiana Prochampionship in 1938 and 1940. He and son Pat won theU.S. Father and Son championship twice. He had 12 holesin one and two double eagles in his career and held strokerecords at 37 courses. He won the 1975 Heart of OhioAmateur Championship.

ALVIN “BO” McMILLINMcMillin was a standout halfback for Centre College’sfamed “Praying Colonels,” and won prominence as a coachat Centenary, Geneva College, Kansas State, Indiana andin the professional ranks. He coached at Centenary from1922 to 1925, guiding the Gents to a 25-3 record andcoached at Indiana for 14 years, winning the conferencechampionship in 1945. He was head coach of the DetroitLions and Philadelphia Eagles from 1948 until 1951.McMillin was a native of Prairie Hill, Texas.

RUDY MACKLINThe first All-American of the Dale Brown coaching era atLSU, Macklin came out of Louisville, Ky., to become a four-year starter for the Tigers. He finished as the No. 1rebounder in LSU school history (1,276 in 123 games and10.4 average) and as the No. 2 scorer (2,080 points and16.9 average). His point total stands behind only PeteMaravich’s 3,667 points. Macklin was a third-team All-SECpick as a freshman, first team his last three seasons andwas the SEC Player of the Year in 1981 when LSU madethe NCAA Tournament and Final Four. He was a third-roundNBA draft pick by Atlanta in 1981 and played three seasonsin the league, two with the Atlanta Hawks and one with theNew York Knicks.

CARL MADDOXA Natchitoches native, Maddox was athletic director at LSUfrom 1968 to 1979. During his tenure, Tiger Stadium wasexpanded and the LSU Assembly Center was constructed.Five men’s sports were added at the university level whilehe was AD, and he was also instrumental in the establish-ment of five women’s varsity sports. When Maddoxreached the mandatory retirement age at LSU, he wasappointed AD at Mississippi State, where he guided a pro-gram of unprecedented expansion. Maddox coached foot-ball before becoming an AD.

RON MAESTRIIn 14 seasons as baseball coach, Maestri developed afledgling University of New Orleans program into a nationalpower, posting an overall 518-247-1 (.677) record andreaching nine NCAA Tournaments. UNO finished second inthe 1975 Division II World Series and tied for fifth in the1984 Division I CWS. Six of Maestri's players reached themajor leagues and another 40 played professionally. UNOranked among college baseball's attendance leaders threetimes. Coach of the 1981 USA team that played in the FarEast, Maestri was inducted in the American BaseballCoaches Hall of Fame in 1991.

FAIZE MAHFOUZThe first high school coach to be inducted into the Hall ofFame, Mahfouz coached at Eunice High for 22 years andhad 20 winning seasons. He later took over a New Iberiateam that had lost 29 consecutive games and turned theprogram around. Known as an offensive innovator,Mahfouz was the first prep coach in the state to install theWing-T and Split-T, and he spoke at coaching clinics nation-wide. He servcd as both president and vice president of theLouisiana High School Coaches Association.

KARL MALONESelected as an all-star 13 times in 19 NBA seasons, Maloneranks among the league's all-time great scorers andrebounders. The Summerfield native scored 36,928 points(second all-time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387)and pulled down 14,968 rebounds (sixth all-time) in 18 sea-sons with the Utah Jazz and one with the Los AngelesLakers. He was also a member of the fabled USA “DreamTeam” that won gold in the 1992 Olympic Games, andreturned for another gold medal in the 1996 Olympics inAtlanta. A first-round draft pick of the Jazz in 1985, he aver-aged 25.0 points and 10.1 rebounds a game for his career.During a legendary college career at Louisiana Tech, heaveraged 18.7 points, hitting on 57 percent of his field-goalattempts, and 9.3 rebounds in 92 career games.

ARCHIE MANNINGThe New Orleans Saints’ first-round draft choice out of OleMiss in 1971, Manning played for the Saints until 1982,when he was traded to the Oilers. He was Player of theYear and Most Valuable Player in the National FootballConference in 1978 and played in two Pro Bowls. Hepassed for 21,734 yards and 115 touchdowns as a Saintand ran for 2,058 yards and 13 touchdowns. Manning hadthree consecutive 3,000-yard-plus passing seasons from1978 through 1980 and 12 straight games with at least oneTD pass in 1978-79.

PETE MARAVICHPistol Pete was a three-time basketball All-American atLSU. He averaged 44.2 points a game during his 1967-1970 career, and his 3,667 career total is still a Division Irecord. Later a standout in the NBA, Maravich still holdsnumerous LSU records, including most points in a gamewith 69, most field goals with 26, most free throws with 30,most points in a season with 1,318 in 1969-70 and mostcareer points. He was an NBA All-Rookie in 1971 andplayed in five All-Star games during his pro career.


Ben McDonald’s best college season came in 1989 when he

posted a 14-4 record with a 3.49 ERA.

Eric Martin played 10 years in the NFL, nine with the NewOrleans Saints and set LSU’s all-time career receivingrecords before his pro career.




OLIVER MARCELLENicknamed "The Ghost of New Orleans," Marcelle was oneof the great players in Negro League baseball in the 1920s.A 1952 Pittsburgh Courier poll named the Thibodaux nativeas the Negro League's greatest third baseman, ahead offuture Baseball Hall of Famers Ray Dandridge and JudyJohnson. When he and Johnson teamed for five years inwinter ball, Johnson played second base. Marcelle had aNegro League lifetime average of .310 from 1919-30, post-ed a .305 average in eight seasons in Cuba including aleague-high .393 in 1923-24, and hit .333 in exhibitionsagainst all-white major league teams.

LEONARD MARSHALLA two-time Pro Bowl defensive end, Marshall is a Franklinnative who played defensive end for LSU from1979-82 andwas a second-round draft pick of the New York Giants in1983. He blossomed into a highly regarded pro player in 12NFL seasons with the Giants (1983-92), New York Jets(1993) and Washington Redskins (1994). A two-time ProBowl pick in 1986 and 1987, he helped the Giants win twoSuper Bowls (XXI, XXV) and led the team in sacks twice,recording 15 1/2 in 1985 and 11 in 1991, He also had 12sacks in 1986 when the Giants went on to win Super BowlXXI. During his 10 seasons with the Giants, they ranked fifthor higher against the run five times and were in the league'stop 10 in total defense seven times.

ERIC MARTINMartin set LSU’s all-time career receiving records before a10-year NFL career, nine with New Orleans, highlighted bya Pro Bowl season in 1988. At LSU, was chosen as a mem-ber of the “Modern Day Team of the Century” in conjunctionwith the football program’s centennial in 1993. For theTigers, He led the team in receiving in his last three sea-sons. In his junior year, he caught 52 passes for 1,064yards and 5 TDs, earning Sporting News All-America hon-ors and LSU’s Offensive MVP award. He twice made All-SEC. After going in the seventh round of the 1985 NFLDraft to the Saints, he started 11 games as a rookie. The 6-1, 207-pounder led New Orleans in receiving for seven

straight years (1987-93). He caught at least one pass in 107consecutive games (105 with New Orleans). In 1988, Martinset club records for receptions (85) and yards (1,083) with7 TDs. He broke the yardage record in 1989 with 1,090 andthat mark remains standing.

TOMMY MASONAn All-American running back for Tulane University in 1960and a participant in several post-season all-star games,Mason became one of the first stars of the MinnesotaVikings expansion team in the NFL. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder led the Vikings in rushing for two years and playedin three pro Bowls in 1962, 1963 and 1964. In his 11-yearprofessional career with Minnesota, Los Angeles andWashington, Mason rushed for 4,203 yards, caught 214passes for 2,324 additional yards and scored 45 touch-downs.

BEN MCDONALDAn intimidating pitcher at 6 feet, 7 inches, the flame-throw-ing McDonald was a two-time All-American baseball star atLSU and a 1988 Team USA Olympic gold medalist whobecame the first player chosen in the major league draft. Hecapped a magnificent 1989 season for coach SkipBertman's Tigers by receiving the Golden Spikes Award,given by the United States Baseball Federation to thenation's most outstanding amateur player. McDonald, whowas also named National Player of the Year by BaseballAmerica, The Sporting News and Collegiate Baseball, wasthe first player chosen in the amateur draft and made hismajor league debut with the Baltimore Orioles in September1989. McDonald set an LSU career mark with 373 strike-outs, and he established Southeastern Conference stan-dards for single-season strikeouts (202), innings pitched(152.1) and consecutive scoreless innings (44.2), finishinghis LSU career with a 29-14 record and a 3.24 ERA.

ABE MICKALAbe Mickal, who grew up in McComb, Miss., is an LSU foot-ball legend. A dazzling passer and deadly place-kicker,Mickal led LSU to a 23-3-3 record from 1933 through 1935.Feared by opponents for his ability to unleash the longbomb, Mickal led LSU in scoring in 1933 and was twice all-SEC. He established a long-standing record of 18 straightPAT’s without a miss. Huey Long took a special liking toMickal and made a State Senator of Abe for a brief periodwhile Mickal was still at LSU.

ROD MILBURNAn All-American hurdler at Southern University, Milburn wasthe Olympic Games high hurdles gold medalist in 1972 atMunich. He tied an Olympic record of 13.24 but 13 times inhis career was clocked at 13.0. In 1970 and 1971, Milburnwon 78 straight races and was named “Most OutstandingAthlete in the World” in 1971. He swept four major titles inone year—NCAA Division I and II, NAIA and AAU. A mem-ber of the NAIA Hall of Fame, he was chosen in 1972 for theJim Corbett Award as the state’s top college athlete.

FRED MILLERA star tackle on the fabled 1957 Homer High “Iron Men” staterunner-up team, Miller became an All-American defender atLSU from 1960-62. He led LSU to a Cotton Bowl upset ofTexas as a senior, played in three postseason all-star gamesand instantly became a starter for the Baltimore Colts, hold-ing that job throughout his 11-year NFL career (1963-74). Heplayed in Pro Bowls in 1967, 1968 and 1969 and was captainof the 1970 Colt team that beat Dallas in the Super Bowl.

SAM MILLSA five-time Pro Bowl selection, four while playing for the NewOrleans Saints, Mills was nicknamed the "Field Mouse" byteammates because of his size (5-9, 225) and ability to makeplays all over the field, especially from sideline to sideline. Ina 12-year NFL career as a middle linebacker with the Saints(1986-94) and Carolina Panthers (1995-97), he recordedmore than 100 tackles in eight seasons. Mills finished his

career with 934 tackles while playing in 133 games during hisnine years with the team.

BRIAN MITCHELLA standout quarterback at Plaquemine High School and UL-Lafayette, he went on to become one of the NFL’s greatestkick returners -- setting nine records while playing 14 sea-sons for the Washington Redskins (1990-99), PhiladelphiaEagles (2000-02) and New York Giants (2003). Mitchell, afifth-round draft pick, helped the Redskins win Super BowlXXVI. When he retired in 2004, he held NFL career recordsfor total kick return yards (19,013), combined kick returns(1,070), combined kick return touchdowns (13), kickoff returnyards (14,014), punt return yards (4,999), kickoff returns(607), punt returns (463) and fair catches (231). He was alsothe leader in all-purpose yards (23,330) until Jerry Rice(23,546) passed him in 2004. At the age of 34, Mitchell aver-aged a career-best 27.0 yards on kickoffs and also averaged12.3 yards on punts. He was a Pro Bowl pick in 1995. At ULLfrom 1986-89, Mitchell became the first quarterback in NCAADivision I history to pass for 5,000 yards and rush for 3,000yards, finishing with 5,447 and 3,335, respectively, with bothsetting school marks.

J.D. MOONEYMooney, who died in 1966, rode the famed Black Gold to vic-tory in the 1924 Kentucky Derby. He also guided Black Goldto wins in the Louisiana, Ohio State and Chicago Derbies andthe Kentucky Derby Trial. Mooney rode for 10 years, posting261 victories, placing second 258 times and finishing third on280 occasions. Horses he rode were in the money 30 percent of the time. Mooney and Black Gold were the subject ofthe popular book, “Black Gold.” The New Orleans native wonthe Louisiana Derby on Amole in 1923.

BERNIE MOOREFormer commissioner of the Southeastern Conference,Moore coached LSU to three national championships in threedifferent sports between 1933 and 1936. He became headtrack coach at LSU in 1930, and his teams won 14 Southernand Southeastern titles. His Tiger football teams went 83-39-


Hall of Famer Kim Mulkey led the Baylor Bears to the 2005NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship.

Robert Parish earned All-American honors at Centenarybefore embarking on a stellar NBA career.



6, playing in three Sugar Bowls, the Orange Bowl and CottonBowl in the 1930’s and 1940’s. He won the national track titlein 1933, basketball championship in 1935 and national foot-ball crown in 1936.

JIM MORAThe only successful head coach in Saints history, holdingthe job for 10 1⁄2 years (1986-'96). During that time, Moracoached the Saints to four playoff appearances and anoverall record of 93-74 with a franchise that had never seena playoff game or a winning season. In '87, Mora wasnamed NFL Coach of the Year after leading New Orleans toa franchise-best 12-3 record. After serving as an assistantat Stanford, Colorado, UCLA and Washington, Mora's procoaching career began in Seattle, where he was named theteam's defensive line coach in 1978. Five years later, Moragot his first head coaching chance in the USFL, where heled the Philadelphia Stars to two consecutive league cham-pionships before departing for the NFL. After New Orleans,Mora took the Indianapolis Colts to NFL respectabilitybefore his coaching career ended after the 2001 season.

AL MOREAUMoreau won international recognition both as a track andfield star at LSU and later as the Tigers’ track coach. Hewas three times conference hurdles champion and wascaptain of the famous five-man LSU track team which wonthe national college title in 1933. Moreau was the world 110meter high hurdles champion in 1935 with a time of 14.2and won 13 straight races during a tour of Europe, includ-ing a 13.9. He coached LSU track teams to seven SECtitles between 1949 and 1963.

JACKIE MORELANDA charter member of the Louisiana Tech Athletic Hall ofFame, Moreland was Tech’s first basketball All-American,winning the honor in 1958, 1959 and 1960. The Mindennative finished his three-year career with 1,491 points and1,124 rebounds. In three seasons at Tech, he had a 21.3scoring average. At Minden High, he was twice a Prep All-

American and established a national high school record of5,000 points. Moreland, who died in 1971 at the age of 33,also had an outstanding professional career.

JOHNNY MORRISSOne of Louisiana's early track standouts, Morriss tied theNCAA high hurdles record of 14.6 in 1930. An All-Americanat Southwestern Louisiana, he won the hurdles in 14.5 inthe World Games in Italy. An alternate on the 1932 Olympicteam, he toured Europe in 1933 and won 17 straight hurdlesraces, tying the world record of 14.3. After his athleticcareer, Morriss coached at Southwestern Louisiana,Arkansas, University of Houston and Houston Baptist. Hecoached seven members of Olympic teams and 72 All-Americans.

KIM MULKEYThe second woman inducted in the Hall of Fame, Mulkeywas a crowd-pleasing, championship caliber point guard atHammond High, Louisiana Tech and on the 1984 UnitedStates women’s basketball teams. She led Hammond tofour state prep titles, guided Louisiana Tech to two nationalchampionships and four Final Four appearances and a130-6 record, helped the U.S. win the 1984 Olympic goldmedal, and coached Baylor to the 2005 NCAA NationalChampionship. She won the Corbett Award as Louisiana’stop amateur athlete in 1984.

A.W. MUMFORDMumford coached Southern University football teams for 25years—from 1936 through 1961—and compiled a record of169-57-14. His Southern teams won or shared the leaguechampionship 11 times and won the national black collegetitle four times. His total football record, which includedstints at Bishop College, Jarvis Christian and TexasCollege, was 232-82-25. Mumford, who also coached bas-ketball, baseball and track in his early years at Southern,produced 35 All-Americans. Many became pro stars.

CHARLES "COTTON" NASHA four-sport star, "Cotton" Nash attended Lake CharlesHigh School in 1958-60, was a three-time All-America bas-ketball star at Kentucky and played pro basketball andbaseball. He played end on a state champion football teamat Lake Charles High, was twice the “Outstanding Player”on the Class AAA All-State basketball team and won thestate discus title twice. A three-time basketball All-American, he was the first Kentucky player to score morethan 20 points a game (22.7) in three straight seasons.Nash played in the NBA and in baseball’s major leagues.

CALVIN NATTA Bastrop native and All-America star at NorhteastLouisiana, Calvin Natt was the eighth player taken in the1979 NBA Draft and played 10 seasons in the pro ranks. Hewas named to the NBA All-Rookie Team and played in the1985 NBA All-Star Game. He retired with a career scoringaverage of 17.5 points. At NLU, he was an All-America pickwho averaged 23.0 points and 11.9 rebounds in his career.The 6-5 Natt was the top scoring freshman in the country in1976, averaging 20.6 points per game. His 2,581 points stillranks 29th best all-time in NCAA major college history.

MEL OTTOtt left New Orleans at the age of 16 to join John McGraw’sNew York Giants. For 22 years, he played outfield and thirdbase for the Giants. During his career, Ott set a NationalLeague career home run mark of 511. He played in 2,739major league games, drove in 1,860 runs and scored 1,859runs. Ott starred in the 1933, 1936 and 1937 World Seriesand posted a lifetime batting average of .304. A member ofthe Baseball Hall of Fame, he also had a lifetime fieldingaverage of .974.

EMMETT PARE' In his 37 seasons as the Tulane Green Wave coach, Tulanewas 285-61-19, including a share of the 1959 NCAAChampionship with Notre Dame. He produced 20Southeastern Conference team champions, 14 SEC singlestitles, six NCAA singles winners and two NCAA doubleschampions. He also coached Louisiana Sports Hall of Fameplayer Ham Richardson, a Davis Cup star. Pare' won theNational Clay Courts singles title in 1929 and turned pro twoyears later. He toured with the original Bill Tilden troupe andin 1933, the same year before he took the Tulane job, hewon the National Professional doubles title.

ROBERT PARISHA Shreveport native and Centenary All-American who wasnamed to the NBA’s 50th Anniversity All-Time Team, Parishwas a nine-time NBA All-Star with Boston and a four-timeNBA champion (3 with Boston, 1997 with Chicago). After hisretirement Aug. 25, 1997, Parish ranked 13th on the NBAall-time scoring list (23,334 career points), sixth in rebounds(14,715) and sixth in blocks (2,361). He holds NBA careermarks for seasons (21), games (1,611) and defensiverebounds (10,117). His trademark “00” jersey was retired bythe Celtics on Robert Parish Day (Jan. 28, 1998). From hisrookie year of 1976-77 until his next-to-last season, Parishwas able to play in 95 percent of his team’s games, missingonly 73 games over 20 seasons. In 1982, he was second toLarry Bird in MVP voting.

RAYMOND "BUDDY" PARKERParker was a star player on the Centenary College power-house football teams of the 1930s and played six seasonsin the NFL before launching a great coaching career. Hebecame Detroit's head coach in 1951, and starting a yearlater, the Lions won three straight division titles and two NFLchampionships with stars like Bobby Layne and DoakWalker. He took over the moribund Pittsburgh Steelers andposted a 51-48-6 record through 1964. His overall NFLcoaching record was 115-74-9 through 14-plus years.


Craig Perrett, a native of New Orleans, won the 1987 Belmont Stakes and the 1990 Kentucky Derby. While ridingImpeachment (above), he finished 3rd in the 2000 Kentucky Derby as future hall of famer, Kent Desormeaux, won while rid-ing Fusaichi Pegasus.



MEL PARNELLA native of New Orleans, Parnell has been rated the great-est left-handed pitcher in the history of the Boston Red Sox.He pitched for Boston from 1947 through 1956, winning 123games and losing 75. He had career bests of 25-7 in 1949and 21-8 in 1953. Parnell threw a no-hitter against theWhite Sox in 1956. He coached Tulane’s baseball team in1958 and was general manager of the New OrleansPelicans in 1959 before rejoining the Red Sox to manageAlpine, Tex., and Seattle, Wash. farm clubs.

WLLIE PASTRANOPastrano won the light-heavyweight boxing championshipin 1963 over Harold Johnson and successfully defended histitle twice the following year against Gregorio Peralta andTerry Downes. He lost the title to Jose Torres in 1965 andretired from the ring. Pastrano, who campaigned as aheavyweight toward the end of his career, had 83 fights,winning 62, losing 13 and drawing in eight. He had 14knockouts and won on 48 decisions. Pastrano lost 11 deci-sions but was knocked out only twice.

MICKEY PATTERSON (TYLER)A New Orleans native, Patterson in 1948 became the firstblack American woman to win an Olympic medal by takingthe bronze in the London Olympics in the 200 meter dash.After graduating from Gilbert Academy in New Orleans, shecompeted at Tennessee State and retained her undefeatedrecord in prep and collegiate competition. She won the 200at the 1948 U.S. Olympic Trials. She was named WomanAthlete of the Year by the Amateur Athletic Union. Pattersonlater became a driving force in track and field, managing a1969 USA women’s team and serving as vice president ofthe AAU.

JOHN PENNELPennel was the first pole vaulter to break the 17-foot barri-er, and he held the world record in 1963 and his last one sixyears later. His first world standard was 16-3. TheNortheast Louisiana University star cleared 17-0 3/4 in theGold Coast AAU meet in Miami in 1963, and his last recordwas 17-10 1/4 in 1969. He competed in the 1964 and 1968Olympics and was selected as the Athlete of the Year in theUnited States in 1963.

WARREN PERKINSAn iconic sports figure in New Orleans as an athlete andcivic leader, Perkins was in the starting lineup for the first-ever NBA game featuring his Tri-City Blackhawks againstthe Denver Nuggets. He was the first basketball playerenshrined in the Tulane Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977 (play-ing career from 1945-49) as one of 11 charter members andis also a member of the Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame. He is athree-sport Tulane letterman. He set scoring records for theGreen Wave. He is a member of the Louisiana BasketballHall of Fame. Twice an All-SEC selection (1948, 1949). Heplayed in the NBA for the Tri-City Blackhawks from 1949-51.

CRAIG PERRETA New Orleans native who began riding quarter horses atthe age of 10, he ranked 33rd all-time with 4,384 careerwins (through the 2004 season). Has a career winning per-centage of 16.26 in 26,955 races, earning $111,832,051 onthose mounts. Won the 1987 Belmont Stakes on Bet Twiceand the 1990 Kentucky Derby aboard Unbridled. Claimedthe prestigious Eclipse Award (equivalent to the HeismanTrophy) as the top jockey of 1990, riding Unbridled,Housebuster, Safely Kept, Rhythm, and With Approval toGrade I victories. He guided Safely Kept to the Breeders’Cup Sprint title in 1990 and capped the year by tying JorgeVelasquez’s record for most stakes wins in a single season(57). Also won Breeders©ˆ Cup races on Eillo (1984 Sprint)and Rhythm (1989 Juvenile) and rode Peteski to theCanadian Triple Crown in 1993. Recorded his 4,000thcareer win aboard Heloise at Turfway Park on Sept. 30,1995. Was inducted into Fair Grounds Hall of Fame in NewOrleans in 1994.

JIMMY PERRINPerrin, whose real name was James LaCava, was born inNew Orleans in 1916. He was a member of the U.S.Olympic boxing team before entering the professionalranks. His greatest years in the ring came in 1939 and1940. By late 1940, he had rolled up 46 victories and hadbeen defeated only three times. He was one of the world’smost successful boxers in 1939, winning 12 of 13 bouts.Perrin laid claim to the featherweight title by beating BobbyRuffin and Joey Archibald in 1940 fights.

KIM PERROTNamed to the LSWA’s 20-woman All-Century Team forwomen’s hoops, she starred at Louisiana-Lafayette in herhometown from 1986-90, played for Team USA and over-seas and became a star in the first two years of the WNBA.She helped lead the Comets to back-to-back WNBA titles inher first two years in the league as the team's starting pointguard. Perrot inspired the Comets to their third title despitebeing stricken with cancer and passing away in late August1999. She etched her name into numerous spots in theCajun record book as well as the NCAA record book. Sheregistered 14 games in which she scored 30 or more pointsduring her career. Perrot ended the 1989-90 season as thenation’s leading scorer with a 30.0 average. The Cometsretired her No. 10 jersey, the WNBA’s Sportsmanship Awardis named in her honor and the children’s treatment center atM.D. Anderson Cancer Center is named “Kim’s Place.” Shewas an all-state performer at Acadiana HS in Lafayette.

JOHN PETITBONA New Orleans native, John Petitbon had an amazing four-sport career at Jesuit High School, starred in football atNotre Dame and won an NFL championship in 1955 withthe Cleveland Browns. In 1946, Jesuit won state titles in

football, basketball, baseball and track behind Petitbon. The1946 state MVP in football, he accounted for 50 touch-downs in his last two years. As a sophomore safety in 1949,he played for an unbeaten Notre Dame team that won anational title. In his last two years, Petitbon had 1,432 totalyards and 10 TDs at halfback. In his pro career, delayed bythe Korean War, he made 8 interceptions. His youngerbrother Richie is also in the Hall of Fame.

RICHIE PETITBONA star Tulane quarterback, Richie Petitbon played 14 yearsin the NFL as a safety with Chicago -- helping the Bears winthe 1963 NFL title -- Los Angeles, and Washington, helpingthe Redskins to the 1973 Super Bowl. Petitbon made fourPro Bowl appearances (1963, 1964, 1967, 1968), was All-Pro in 1963 and made the Sporting News All-NFL WesternConference first team in 1966. He had a career-high 8interceptions with Chicago in 1963 and made 48 in hiscareer. The New Orleans native helped coach theRedskins to Super Bowl titles in the 1982, 1987 and 1991seasons.

BOB PETTITAn All-American at Louisiana State University in 1953-54,Pettit went on to become one of the all-time great profes-sional basketball stars and one of only four men to scoreover 20,000 points during his career in the NBA. He had20,880. Pettit started with the Milwaukee team in 1954-55and stayed with the Hawks for 10 more years in St. Louis.He was first team All-NBA every year he played except oneand had a career scoring average of 26.4 points per gameas a professional.

JELLY PIGOTTThe girls prep basketball coach at Dry Prong, Selma,Greensburg and Jena, she made an indelible impact onstate prep history as the Lady Giants coach. She coachedat Jena from 1952 to 1970, averaging 35 wins a year andlosing no more than five games a season. Jena girls bas-ketball became one of the state's premier high school pro-grams in any sport during her reign. In 34 years of coachingher teams never had a losing season, winning about 90 per-cent of their games. She had two one-loss seasons. Herteams won 29 district championships, six state titles and fin-ished second three times, but no precise won-loss careerrecord can be compiled. She is thought to have won 900+games. She was the second girls basketball coach induct-ed to the LHSCA Hall of Fame (1980) a year after EdnaTarbutton was part of the first-ever induction class. ANorthwestern State alumnus, she died in 1988.

HOWIE POLLETTPollett, a New Orleans native, gained fame as a member ofthe outstanding St. Louis Cardinals teams of the 1940’s.The stylish left-hander had a 14-year pitching record in theMajor Leagues of 131-116 and a career ERA of 3.51. Hisbest season was 1946 when he had a 21-10 record andhelped the Cardinals win the World Series. He also had a20-9 record in 1949 and led the National League in ERA in1946. He closed out his career with the Pirates, Cubs andWhite Sox.

HAROLD PORTERHarold Porter blazed into national track and field circles atUSL after setting state sprint records at East Jefferson High.He was the state Class 3A 100 and 220-yard dash champi-on in 1970, running a wind-aided 9.3 in the 100 to win thestate title. He went on to set eight school records at USL,where he became the school's first NCAA Division I All-American as a freshman. He ran on the U.S. Track andField Federation's national championship 400 meter relayteam and went on to represent the USA in internationaltours of Russia, China and Cuba. He set USL records witha 9.2 100-yard dash, 20.8 in the 220 and 20.90 in the 200meters. Porter was also a ninth-round NFL Draft pick as afootball receiver.


Richie Petitbon, a star QB for Tulane, played 14 seasons inthe NFL and helped lead the Chicago Bears to the 1963NFL title and the Washingont Redskins to the 1973 SuperBowl.



H. LEE PRATHERPrather coached at Northwestern for 38 years, winningmore than 385 basketball games between 1913 and 1950,when he became president of the college. He was presi-dent of the NAIB, and his team represented Louisiana in theNAIB Tournament six of the last 10 years he coached. Anative of Odessa, Mo., Prather coached all sports atNorthwestern before becoming athletic director and basket-ball coach in 1934. He helped organize the old LouisianaIntercollegiate Athletic Association.

EDDIE PRICEPrice had 3,095 yards rushing as a Tulane running back,which stood as a state record for 27 years. He earned All-SEC honors in 1948 and 1949. In the 1949 game againstNavy, he gained 289 yards in all-purpose running, a recordthat still stands. He averaged over six yards a carry atTulane and became an outstanding pro back with the NewYork Giants. He had more 100-yard rushing games thanany other Giant in history with 11 and still ranks in the topfive in eight running categories in Giant records.

GREG PROCELLProcell, the nation’s top high school basketball scorer of alltime, had 6,702 points—a 37.2 per game average—in fouryears at Ebarb High from 1966 through 1970. As a senior,he scored 3,173 points and averaged 46.7 a game. He seta state single game scoring record that year of 100 points.All-State twice and All-America as a senior, Procell was alsothe state’s Most Valuable Player in Class C twice. He laterled the conference in scoring at Panola College and com-pleted his collegiate career at Northwestern State.

JOE PROFITA dynamic running back at Monroe’s RichwoodHigh Schooland an All-American at Northeast Louisiana University,Profit was a first-round NFL Draft pick by the AtlantaFalcons and the seventh player selected in the 1970 draft.In 1967, he was the first black to play football for a predom-inantly white university in the state. At NLU, he became thecareer rushing leader in the old Gulf States Conferencewith 2,818 yards and was GSC Athlete of the Year in 1970-71. Despite a serious knee injury in his rookie year, Profitplayed six pro seasons with Atlanta, New Orleans and in theWorld Football League with Birmingham.

HARRY RABENHORSTRabenhorst, who had a 115-yard punt for Wake Forest in1919, coached at LSU for 32 years. During the Bob Pettitera at Tigertown, his basketball team had records of 17-7,24-3 and 21-5. He also coached LSU All-American SparkyWade. Rabenhorst coached all sports during his threedecades at LSU, and he also served as assistant athleticdirector and acting athletic director. At Wake Forest, heactually served as a player and assistant coach during hissophomore year.

GARY REASONSA 1995 inductee in the College Football Hall of Fame,Reasons was the first three-time All-American in NCAADivision I-AA. The 6-4, 235-pound linebacker setNorthwestern State records with 394 career tackles, 172 asa senior and 24 in one game. A fourth-round NFL Draft pick,he made the NFL All-Rookie Team and started on the NewYork Giants' two Super Bowl champion teams in 1986 and1991. He was the leading tackler for the Giants in the 1991Super Bowl win over Buffalo, making six stops. He is nowa college football analyst for ABC-TV.

WILLIS REEDReed was a standout at Grambling, scoring 2,235 pointswhile leading the school to an NAIA championship, but hewas best known for his career with the New York Knicks ofthe NBA. He was Rookie of the Year in 1964-65 and wasnamed to five straight NBA All-Star teams beginning in1966-67. He was Most Valuable Player in the league andMVP in the playoffs in 1969-70 in leading the Knicks to theworld championship and was also MVP in the 1973 playoffs.He averaged 18.7 points a game in his 10 year career.

BILL REIGELReigel, who played basketball for only two seasons atMcNeese, led the Cowboys to a 50-15 record during those1954 through 1956 campaigns. He was the nation’s topscorer as a senior with a 33.9 average. Reigel was namedNAIA Player of the Year and All-American in 1956 whenMcNeese won the national NAIA championship. In twoyears at McNeese, he scored 1,501 points for a 31.7 pergame average. He is a member of the McNeese, AAU,NAIA and Louisiana Basketball Coaches Association Hall ofFame.

DUTCH REINHARDTAssociated with USL athletics for more than a half-century,Reinhardt was head basketball coach for 27 years, compil-ing a career mark of 346-253. His number of all-time winsis the second highest among Louisiana coaches.Reinhardt, who retired as a coach in 1957, is a member ofthe Helms Foundation Hall of Fame, Sugar Bowl BasketballClassic Hall of Fame, USL Hall of Fame and the LouisianaAssociation of Coaches Hall of Fame. He also served atUSL as football coach, tennis coach and trainer.

NICK REVONA New Orleans native, he is a member of the MississippiSports Hall of Fame as the leading scorer in the history ofbasketball at the University of Southern Mississippi. Revonlater won nearly 500 games as a prep coach and won ninedistrict Coach of the Year honors. After scoring 2,136 pointsfrom 1950-54 at USM, Revon was a second-round NBADraft pick in 1955 but chose along with 50 other first-or -second round picks to join an industrial league. Before kneetrouble ended his career, he played for the USA in the PanAmerican Games.

J.R. RICHARDRichard, from Vienna, had a remarkable prep career atRuston’s Lincoln High that made him a first-round draft pickby the Houston Astros in 1969. He pitched for 15 seasonsas a pro. His major league record of 107-71 included a 20-15 mark in 1976 and 18 wins in each of three consecutiveseasons after that. Richard struck out 1,489 batters in1,606 innings and had a career earned run average of 3.15.He led the league in strikeouts in 1978 with 303 and in ERAin 1979 with a 2.71 mark.

HAM RICHARDSONTwice National Collegiate Men’s Singles Tennis Championwhile competing for Tulane, Richardson was the nation’stop-ranked player in 1956 and again in 1958 after leavingTulane and was a member of the Davis Cup team in 1958.He competed for years at Forest Hill, Wimbledon and allother major tennis tournaments. Richardson won numer-ous awards, including the Johnston Trophy and theMarlboro Award. A Rhodes Scholar, he was a SoutheasternConference champion at Tulane.


Eddie Robinson is the winningest coach in college footballhistory, having compiled a 408-165-15 record in 57 years ofcoaching. He was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hallof Fame in 1985.

Connie Ryan spent 45 years in professional baseball as a player, coach, manager, and a scout and played in the 1948 and1957 World Series. He also earned a spot in the 1944 All-Star game.


85

WILLIAM ROAFThe mammoth 6-foot-5, 320-pound tackle was the first-round pick of the Saints in 1993 (eighth pick overall and firstoffensive lineman) after a stellar career after developingfrom a diamond in the rough at Louisiana Tech. Roaf played13 NFL seasons, the first nine with the Saints and the finalfour with the Kansas City Chiefs. As one of the top tacklesin the game, he was a three-time AP All-Pro first-team pick(1994-95 with the Saints and 2004 with the Chiefs) and sixtimes earned second-team honors. He was chosen to playin 11 Pro Bowls, including a club-record seven with theSaints. Is considered by many to be the greatest player inSaints' history. A three-year starter at Tech, he made numer-ous All-American teams and was a finalist for the OutlandTrophy as the nation's best lineman as a senior when heallowed just one sack. played in the Hula Bowl and East-West Shrine games before becoming the eighth selectionin the 1993 NFL Draft.

ISIAH ROBERTSONA New Orleans native, Robertson starred at SouthernUniversity, then became a six-time Pro Bowl linebacker in ahard-hitting 12-year NFL career. Southern's first CollegeDivision All-America pick in 1970, Robertson was the LosAngeles Rams' first-round draft pick and won the NFLDefensive Rookie of the Year honor in 1971. He made hisfirst Pro Bowl appearance that year, then from 1973-77. Hestarted all but two games in his first seven pro seasons,then started 51 straight games after being traded to Buffaloin 1979. He had 25 career interceptions, and three touch-downs.

JOHNNY “RED” ROBERTSONThis Northwestern State graduate coached Ferriday HighSchool to an undefeated football streak of 56 games andfour state titles in the mid 1950s. The unbeaten streak wasa state record until the 2000 season. The four straight titlesis also still a record, tied by Haynesville in the mid 1990sand Evangel and John Curtis in 1999. The winning streakbegan after the opening game of 1953 and ended with adefeat in the 1957 season opener and included two ties,both in 1956. Robertson ended his coaching career afterseven years with a 78-9-3 record, becoming a school prin-cipal.SCOTTY ROBERTSONRobertson spent more than two decades in the NBA after10 years as head coach at his alma mater, Louisiana Tech.Head coach of three NBA teams, including the first coach ofthe New Orleans Jazz, he currently serves with the MiamiHeat. He was 163-91 as a prep coach in Louisiana for 12seasons. Robertson, 165-86 as Tech's coach, led theBulldogs to No. 1 in the national college division rankings inthe early 1970s and developed Louisiana Sports Hall ofFamer Mike Green. After launching the Jazz into the NBA,he became head coach in the pros with Chicago andDetroit.

EDDIE ROBINSONRobinson, whose entire 57-season coaching career wasspent at Grambling, is the winningest coach in Division Icollege football history with 408 victories (408-165-15). Hesurpassed Bear Bryant as college football's most success-ful coach. Robinson is also noted for sending more than200 players to the pros including four Pro Football Hall ofFamers. A native of Baker, Robinson is a former presidentof the American Football Coaches Association. As recentlyas 1994 he was Southwestern Athletic Conference coachof the year, and he led the Tigers to 17 SWAC titles since1960. He retired in 1997 and passed away in 2007.

JOHNNY ROBINSONRobinson played halfback opposite Billy Cannon on thegreat LSU football teams of the late 1950’s. He was an All-Conference selection in 1958 when the Tigers won thenational championship. Robinson gained his greatest famein pro football. He joined the Dallas Texans out of LSU andstayed with the team through the move to Kansas City for

12 years. He was All-Pro five straight seasons—1966through 1970—and is in the Chief record book with 57career interceptions and 10 interceptions in a season. Heappeared in two Super Bowls.

RICK ROBEYA New Orleans (Brother Martin HS) native, Robey playedon teams that won NBA, NCAA, NIT and Louisiana ClassAAAA titles. The 6-10 Robey was an All-American center atKentucky who played eight NBA seasons with Indiana(1978-79), Boston (1979-83) and Phoenix (1983-86). Thethird player chosen in the 1978 NBA Draft, Robey was trad-ed to the Celtics for Dennis Johnson and helped Boston winthe 1981 NBA Championship. In 500 NBA games, hescored 3,762 points (7.5 ppg) and grabbed 2,292 rebounds(4.6 pg). At Kentucky, he helped lead the Wildcats to the1976 NIT title and the 1978 NCAA crown, wrapping up hiscareer as the all-time school leader with a .581 shootingpercentage. At Brother Martin, he was an All-American cen-ter.

RANDY ROMEROA highly-regarded jockey, Romero had 4,294 career winson 26,091 mounts (16.5 win %) and earned $75,264,198 inpurses. Romero, an Erath native, won riding titles at everyLouisiana track (Delta Downs, Evangeline Downs, FairGrounds, Jefferson Downs, Louisiana Downs). He won fourriding titles at the Fair Grounds in six seasons from 1979-80to 1984-85. His 181 wins in 1983-84 remains a FG record.He holds the single-meet record for wins at EvangelineDowns (136). In the mid-80s, he shifted his tack to NewYork and became the regular rider of Hall of Fame horsesGo For Wand and Personal Ensign, who retired 13-0, theonly horse in the last 50 years to retire unbeaten in as manystarts. Included in that record was a dramatic win in the1988 Breeders Cup Distaff, one of three Breeders Cup winsfor Romero.

ROLLAND ROMERORomero was twice a member of the U.S. Olympic trackteam, being selected for the 1932 team at the age of 17 andrepeating in 1936. Romero placed the highest of any U.S.triple jumper in the two Olympic Games. He went to Loyola

from Welsh High School, and at Loyola, Romero estab-lished a number of Amateur Athletic Union track and fieldrecords. Romero was a charter member of the LoyolaSports Hall of Fame, honored for his Olympic performancein Los Angeles and Berlin.

CONNIE RYANA native of New Orleans, Connie Ryan spent 45 years inprofessional baseball, making two trips to the World Series(1948, 1957) and earning a spot in the 1944 All-Star Game.In 12 years as an infielder with the New York Giants, BostonBraves, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and ChicagoWhite Sox, he carried a career .248 batting average with asingle-season best of .295 in 1944. He spent the last 30years of his baseball career as a scout, coach and manag-er with Atlanta, Texas, Milwaukee, Houston and KansasCity, briefly serving as manager of Atlanta (1975) and Texas(1977).

MICHAEL SANDERSTwice the Louisiana Prep Player of the Year and a thirdteam All-American at DeRidder High School, Sanders wasa UCLA co-captain for two years as a 6-6 center. He wastwo-time All-Pac 10 player who played 11 NBA seasons withfour teams, averaging in double figures for three years(1984-87) with Phoenix. At DeRidder, he was a three-timeAll-State pick, averaging 27.3 ppg, 17.2 rebounds, shooting68% from the field and 76% on free throws as a senior. AtUCLA, he finished 15th in career scoring (1,210 points) and17th in career rebounds (577).

LEO SANFORDA native of Shreveport, Sanford starred at Fair Park Highand Louisiana Tech before beginning a standout NFL careerin 1951 with the Chicago Cardinals. He was defensive cap-tain and played in Pro Bowls for the Baltimore Colts in 1957and 1958. At Tech, Sanford was a 1950 All-American line-backer and was a two-time All Gulf States Conference cen-ter and linebacker. When the All-Louisiana First 100 Yearsof Football mythical team was picked in the 1970’s, Sanfordwas chosen for a linebacking spot.


Members of the 2005 Hall of Fame induction class. (L-R) Hoyle Granger, Mark Duper, Tom Hinton, Rudy Macklin, JaniceLawrence Braxton, Albert Belle.




TONY SARDISCOThe first Tulane guard ever to make a major All-Americateam (Look Magazine, alongside stars like Paul Hornung in1955, Sardisco won All-AFL honors with the Boston Patriotsin 1961. A 6-foot-2, 210-pounder in college (240 in thepros), the Shreveport native doubled as an offensive guardand linebacker. He captained the Greenies two years andwas the Patriots’ first captain. Following his senior seasonat Tulane, he played in the Blue-Gray, Senior Bowl andCollege All-Star game in Chicago, being named outstandinglineman in the Blue-Gray after making 14 unassisted tack-les. After a year in the NFL, Sardisco spent two years in theAir Force, then played a year in Canada before helpinglaunch the AFL with the Patriots from 1960-63.

GLYNN SAULTERSThe first collegiate player in Louisiana to make a U.S.Olympic basketball team, Saulters starred at NortheastLouisiana University for four years. Named to the all-timeAll-Louisiana team in 1970, Saulters was the Gulf StatesConference Athlete of the Year in 1968. He was All- GSCthree times, All-America twice and Player of the Year in theconference in 1968. He was the league’s all-time leadingscorer with a career average 23.5 points a game. In hissenior season, Saulters had a 31.3 point scoring average.

RAGS SCHEUERMANNConsidered the patriarch of modern-day baseball in NewOrleans, Scheuermann won well over 1,000 games ascoach at Delgado Community College, Loyola Universityand All-America Amateur Baseball Association teams. Hisclubs won eight national championships. Before retiring ashead coach at Delgado in 1990 at the age of 67,Scheuermann won 80 percent of his games and guided his1985 team to the Junior College World Series. He was 242-82 as coach at Loyola.

CLARK SHAUGHNESSYShaughnessy coached football for 31 years after his gradu-ation from the University of Minnesota in 1914. Helaunched his head coaching career at Tulane, coaching theGreenies for 11 years before taking over at Loyola of NewOrleans for six years. The father of the T-Formation,Shaughnessy also coached at the University of Chicago,Stanford, Maryland and Pittsburgh before joining the procoaching ranks. His 1940 Stanford team was unbeaten andwon the Rose Bowl.

JAMES SILAS Silas, a Tallulah native, became a pro basketball All-Starwith San Antonio. He was the first Spurs player to have hisjersey retired after averaging 16.1 points (11,038 total) in685 games during 10 seasons, eight with San Antonio andtwo with Cleveland. An ABA All-Star in 1975 and 1976, Silasaveraged 15.7 points in 41 career playoff games. He wascalled "Captain Late" for his knack of making clutch playslate in games. After a great career at McCall High School,Silas was an NAIA All-American star at Stephen F. Austin,where his jersey was retired. He set 14 school records andaveraged 18.7 points in his career.

MONK SIMONSOne of the South’s greatest running backs in the early1930’s, Simons played in his hometown for the TulaneGreen Wave. He was an All-American halfback in 1934,leading Tulane to a 9-1 record. It was Simons who scoredon an 85-yard kickoff return to ignite Tulane’s comebackvictory in the 1935 Sugar Bowl over Pop Warner’s TempleOwls. Simons later became a successful businessman andserved as president of the Sugar Bowl. He coached atTulane from 1942 through 1948 and is a national Hall ofFame member.

JACKIE SMITHSmith, elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994, isa native of Kentwood and a former Northwestern footballand track star. He became the NFL’s all-time leading tightend with 480 career receptions for 7,918 yards. A five-timePro Bowler, Smith played 121 consecutive games for theCardinals and 198 altogether. Smith holds the Cardinalrecord for the most yards receiving in a season with 1,205in 1967. After “retiring” in 1977, Smith was lured back for afinal season with the Dallas Cowboys and played in theSuper Bowl after the ’78 season.

LEE SMITHBorn in Shreveport, Smith is a lifelong resident of Castorwho became Major League Baseball's career saves leaderwith 478. Smith still holds the MLB record for consecutiveerrorless games (546) by a pitcher. A seven-time All-Star,Smith was named the National League Fireman of the Yearin 1991 and shared the award in 1983 and 1992. He wonthe American League award in 1994 and holds the Cubsand Cardinals club records for saves. (then pick up the sen-tence. He pitched 18 seasons (1980-97) for eight clubs(Cubs, Red Sox, Cardinals, Yankees, Orioles, Angels, Redsand Expos). A hard-throwing 6-6 right-hander, Smithappeared in 1,022 games and had a career record of 71-92and 3.03 ERA, with 486 walks and 1,251 strikeouts. Herecorded 30 or more saves 10 times in his career. Smith ledthe National League in saves in 1983, '91 and '92 and theAmerican League in 1994. His best seasons were from1991-93 when he had 47, 43 and 46 saves. Smith holds theCubs and Cardinals club records for saves.

NEIL SMITHA six-time Pro Bowl selection, Smith is a product ofMcDonogh 35 High School in New Orleans who went on tostar at Nebraska and in the NFL with the Kansas CityChiefs, Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers during a13-year career as a defensive end. The second overall pickin the 1988 draft, Smith was a fierce pass rusher for theChiefs from 1988-1996. He made the AP All-Pro team in1993 when he led the NFL with 15 sacks and was a five-time Pro Bowl selection (1992-96) for Kansas City. He alsotied for the Chiefs team lead in sacks with 14 1/2 in 1992and had 11 1/2 and 12, respectively in 1994 and ’95. His 86sacks with the Chiefs (he had 18 1/2 with the Broncos andChargers) ranks him second in club history behind the 1261/2 recorded by Derrick Thomas. At Nebraska, Smith was afirst-team All-America pick by The Sporting News and asecond-team choice by the AP and Football News as a sen-ior, and was the defensive MVP of the Ricoh Japan Bowl.

BOBBY SPELLSelected as a member of the National Amateur SoftballAssociation Hall of Fame, Spell was considered the world’sgreatest softball pitcher during the period from 1956 to1960. During that time, he pitched on three world champi-onship teams and was All-World three times. Spell, whoseriser fastball was clocked at 126 miles per hour, pitched 205innings in world tournament competition, allowing only eightruns, and he hurled over 200 no-hitters during his incompa-rable softball career.

FREDDIE SPENCERKnown to motorcycle racing fans as "Fast Freddie,"Spencer will go down in history as one of the greatest roadracers that America has ever produced. The Shreveportnative is a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame andthe Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. In addition to win-ning three world championships, he was the only rider everto win the 250cc and 500cc Grand Prix WorldChampionships in the same season (1985). He was theonly rider to win three major races during Bike Week atDaytona International Speedway (Superbike, Formula Oneand International Lightweight races in 1985), the youngestto win the 500cc Grand Prix World Championship (21) andthe youngest ever to win an AMA Superbike race in 1979(18). He is the first motorsports inductee in the LouisianaSports Hall of Fame.

RUSTY STAUBA New Orleans native, Staub played for 23 seasons in themajor leagues, finishing with a career batting averge of.279. A first baseman outfielder, he established records inthe twilight of his career for most appearances in games asa pinch hitter and most at bats as a pinch hitter. During hiscareer, which started at Houston and included stays withMontreal and New York of the National League and Texasand Detroit of the American, Staub hit 292 home runs and499 doubles. He had a fielding average of .980 in themajors.

JERRY STOVALLA consensus All-American running back for LSU in 1962and runner-up in the Heisman Trophy balloting that year,Stovall was an All-Southeastern Conference selection threetimes. He was the St. Louis Cardinals’ first-round draftchoice in 1963 and became an All-Pro defensive back.Stovall played in two Pro Bowls during his nine-year careerwith the Cards. In addition to his play in the defensive sec-ondary, Stovall handled punting chores and still holds theSt. Louis record for single game punting average.


Pat Swilling had a stellar NFL career, mostly with the NewOrleans Saints (1986-92), where he was a five-time ProBowl pick.

Charles “Red” Thomas was an All-American basketballplayer at Northwestern State was was named MVP of theNAIA Tournament in 1941.



GEORGE “BO” STRICKLANDA big league shortstop for 10 seasons and a coach, manag-er and scout for 11 more, the New Orleans native managedthe Cleveland Indians in the 1964 and 1966 seasons. Hewas the starting shortstop for the Indians when they won the1954 World Series. Regarded as a slick fielding defensivespecialist, he led American League shortstops in doubleplays in 1953 and in fielding in 1955. He shares the majorleague record for shortstops involved in double plays in agame (5) in 1952. He had a career fielding average of .965and was in on 558 double plays. In 1955, he led all bigleague shortstops with a .976 fielding percentage. He bat-ted .224 with 36 homers and 284 RBI. As a manager he hada 33-39 interim record replacing Birdie Tebbetts. Stricklandis a member of the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall ofFame.

PAT STUDSTILLA Shreveport native and Byrd High School product, PatStudstill played 12 seasons in the National Football Leagueand made three straight Pro Bowl appearances from 1965-67 as a wide receiver and punter for Detroit, also playingfor the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots.He led the NFL in punt returns in 1962, averaging 15.8yards, and topped the league in receiving yards in 1966 with1,266 on 67 receptions, second in the NFL. The Lions votedhim their MVP that season. Studstill set an NFL record witha 99-yard TD reception against Baltimore. He rankedamong the NFL's top punters for more than 10 years. Hefirst gained notice as one of the nation's fastest prep sprint-ers, with a 9.9 100-yard dash to his credit.

DAVE STYRONAn internationally-renowned sprinter at Northeast LouisianaUniversity from 1959 through 1962, Dave once held the jun-ior world record in the 100-yard dash at 9.4. He tied theworld indoor records in the 60 and 70-yard dashes and tiedthe world outdoor 100-yard dash record of 9.3. He also tiedthe American record in the 100 meters of 10.1. Dave alsocompeted in the 220 dash, broad jump and high jump whileteaming with twin brother Don to give Northeast one of thenation's best track teams.

DON STYRONA hurdler, Don helped lead Northeast Louisiana to unbeat-en seasons of 14-0 in 1960 and 9-0 in 1962. Don still holdsthe world record for the 220-yard low hurdles at 21.9 and atone time he shared the 60-yard low and high hurdle world

records. Don was twice selected as the world’s best hurdlerby Track and Field News. Don and twin brother Dave werechosen Athletes of the Year in the old Gulf StatesConference in 1959, 1960 and 1962, becoming the onlyathletes to win the prestigious honor three times.

HAL SUTTONHal Sutton has reached the pinnacle in amateur, profes-sional and world golf, and is believed to be the only playerwho has outdueled both Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods inthe final holes of major golf tournaments. The Shreveportnative. who played collegiately in his hometown atCentenary, was named by Golf Magazine as the 1980College Player of the Year after winning the U.S. Amateur,North and South Amateur, Western Amateur and NortheastAmateur titles. He also was a member of two U.S. WalkerCup-winning teams in 1979 and '81. After that, heembarked on a PGA Tour career that would net him 14 winsand more than $15 million in career earnings between 1982and 2006. His biggest win on Tour came in the 1983 PGAChampionship when the 25-year-old Sutton opened withscores of 65 and 66 and went on to win his only major titleby one stroke over a late-charging Nicklaus. Sutton's bestyears came in the late 1990s when he claimed the title atThe Tour Championship in 1998 and in 2000 beat Woods towin The Players Championship, which is often consideredto be the fifth major. Sutton was a standout on four U.S.Ryder Cup teams (1985, 1987, 1999, 2002) and was thenon-playing captain of the 2004 team.

PAT SWILLINGAn outside linebacker with the Saints who played with theclub from 1986-92, he was a five-time Pro Bowl pick (fourwith the Saints) during a 12-year NFL career. He was amember of the famed Dome Patrol (with fellow linebackersRickey Jackson, Sam Mills and Vaughan Johnson) whomade league history in 1992 when, for the first time, fourlinebackers from the same team were voted to the ProBowl. He is third on the club’s all-time list with 76.5 sacksand trails only Rickey Jackson (115) and Wayne Martin(82.5). Swilling was the AP’s Defensive Player of the Year in1991 when he led the NFL with 17 sacks and recorded 60tackles while forcing six fumbles. He was traded to Detroitand played for the Lions (1993-94) before moving on to theOakland Raiders (1995-96, 1998). He finished his NFLcareer playing in 185 games and had 106.5 sacks and sixinterceptions. He later served 2 1/2 years in the Louisianalegislature as a representative from New Orleans East.

EDNA TARBUTTONEdna Tarbutton, elected tothe National High SchoolHall of Fame, posted anunparalleled successrecord as the girls’ basket-ball coach at Baskin HighSchool. In 33 years, herteams won nine statechampionships, includingeight in a row (1948-55)with a combined record of654-263-2. Her teams puttogether 218 straight victo-ries from 1947-53; in eightyears, they lost only twice in313 games. Nicknamed“Tiny,” the Northwesterngraduate was a strict disci-plinarian and fierce com-petitor, but was one of themost popular teachers atBaskin High.

JIMMY TAYLORAn All-American fullback atLouisiana State University,Taylor led the Tigers inrushing in 1956 and 1957.He became an all-timegreat in the NFL with the

Green Bay Packers, gaining more than 1,000 yards rushingfor five straight years beginning in 1960. He had a 10-yeartotal of 8,597 yards in the pros and was considered one ofthe league’s best blocking backs. When Taylor was tradedto New Orleans after the 1966 season, he ranked third onthe all-time rushing list in the NFL.

ROSEY TAYLORA New Orleans native, Taylor starred as a defensive back ina 14-year NFL career with the Chicago Bears, San Diego,San Francisco and Washington, winning six Pro Bowl selec-tions. He played twice in NFL title games, winning with the1963 Bears and losing with the "Over the Hill Gang"Redskins in the 1973 Super Bowl. A Grambling Collegeproduct, Taylor led the NFL with nine interceptions in that1963 championship season with Chicago, coached byGeorge Halas. Taylor is best remembered for a 96-yardinterception return for a TD in 1968 against Philadelphia.

CHARLES “RED” THOMASThomas, from Texarkana, was an All-American basketballplayer at Northwestern despite the fact he was only 5-6. Hescored in double figures for the Northwestern team, led inassists and steals and was a good playmaker. In 1941,Thomas was selected as the Most Valuable Player in theprestigious NAIA Tournament. He returned to Northwesternas basketball coach in 1950 and won 129 games while los-ing 76. His teams also won three Gulf States Conferencechampionships. He is a former Vice-President ofNorthwestern.

SHEILA THOMPSON-JOHNSONA great player (1977-81) and coach (1985-89) at LouisianaCollege, who led the Lady Wildcats to national prominencein both roles. A two-time All-American (AIAW Division II),she led LC to a national AIAW Division II fourth-place finishin her junior season. She is LC’s career scoring leader,male or female, with 2,659 points, a total which ranksamong the state’s all-time top five women’s totals. Her per-formance led LC into the national semifinals in only thefourth year of the program’s existence. In her four years ashead coach, after a successful high school coaching stint atPitkin, she was 75-43. In her first season, she guided theLady Wildcats to third place in the NAIA NationalTournament. She was an all-state player -- and is believedto be the first prep All-American in state history -- at PitkinHigh School. She made the 20-member LSWA’s All-CenturyTeam for college hoops in 1999.


Both Dave and Don Styron held world records while at ULM. Dave held World Indoor recordsin both 60 and 70 yard dash while Don the World Record in 220 yard low hurdles.

Everson Walls played 13 years in the NFL and is the onlyplayer in NFL history to lead the league in interceptions forthree seasons (1981, 1982, 1985).



GAYNELL “GUS” TINSLEYA native of Claiborne Parish, Gus was LSU’s first All-American football player, winning the honor in 1935 and1936 as one of the nation’s outstanding ends. He was run-ner-up for college football’s MVP award in 1936 after lead-ing all ends in the country in scoring. An All-Pro with theChicago Cardinals for two years, Tinsley returned to LSU toserve as head football coach from 1948 through 1954.Football great Bronco Nagurski picked Tinsley on his all-time football team.

Y.A. TITTLETittle played at LSU from 1944 through 1947 and estab-lished a handful of records, including most plays, totaloffense, most touchdowns accounted for, most passesattempted, yardage gained and touchdown passes. Hebegan his brilliant professional career at Baltimore and laterplayed for San Francisco and the New York Giants, leadingthe Giants to three straight titles and winning the NationalFootball League Player of the Year Award in 1961 and1963.

CHARLIE “TANK” TOLAROne of the most popular figures in the early days of theAmerican Football League, the 5-6, 210-pounder haddozens of nicknames, including "the Human Bowling Ball,"and was named to AFL All-Star Teams in 1961-63. Tolarhelped Houston win 1960-61 AFL titles and finish as runner-ups in 1962, when he was the team's Offensive MVP with1,012 yards and a league record 244 carries. he wasnamed to the Oilers' 30th Anniversary Dream Team chosenby fans in 1989. At Northwestern, Tolar was twice GulfStates Conference MVP and still holds a pair of schoolrecords.

ANDREW TONEYAndrew Toney starred at USL from 1976-80, leading theRagin' Cajuns into the NIT second round as a senior.Chosen eighth in the 1980 NBA Draft, Toney averaged 15.9points per game in an eight-year career with thePhiladelphia 76ers, shooting 50 percent in 488 NBA games.He averaged 17.4 in six postseason trips, including a 1982-83 World Championship. He twice played in the NBA All-Star Game (1983, 1984), scoring 13 points in 1984. Hegraduated ahead of his class at USL, had a 23.6 average in107 games (2,526 points), and set nine school records.

EMMETT TOPPINOA world class sprinter for Loyola of New Orleans in the1930’s, Toppino ran a leg on the U.S. Olympic gold-medalwinning 400-meter relay team in 1932. The time was aworld record 40.0. Toppino also equalled the world mark of6.2 in the 60-yard dash six times in his career and tied theworld record of 10.4 in the 100-meter dash in 1932. Knownas the “Human Bullet,” Toppino was a charter member ofthe Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame and is amember of the Loyola University Hall of Fame.

JACK TORRANCETorrance won the NCAA shot put championship in 1933 and1934 while performing for the LSU track and field team. Hewas also the National AAU shot put champion in 1933, 1934and 1935. He set a world shot put record of 55 feet, 1-1/2inches in 1934 and broke it twice with heaves of 55-5 and57-1. He finished fifth in the 1936 Olympics at Berlin.When Torrance broke the world record of 57-1, coachesvoted it the most perfect record on the books and predictedit would never be broken.

HARRY TURPINTurpin was head coach at Northwestern from 1934 until1956. In his 23 years as head coach, he compiled a recordof 101 victories, 83 losses and 11 ties. His 1939 team post-ed a record of 11-0 and held eight of its opponents score-less. The other three teams had a combined total of only 18points. Turpin was also an outstanding athlete at Tulaneand later at Northwestern. At Tulane, he scored on a 65-yard play which stood for years as the longest pass comple-tion in college football.

STEVE VAN BURENVan Buren, an LSU All-American, was football’s greatestrunning back from 1944 through 1951 with the PhiladelphiaEagles. Born in British Honduras, Van Buren played highschool football at Warren Easton of New Orleans. He wasoutstanding at LSU but enjoyed his greatest success in theprofessional ranks. In 1949, he chalked up 1,146 yardsrushing and guided the Eagles to their second straight worldchampionship. He led the NFL in rushing in only his secondyear with 832 yards.

MIKE VININGOne of only four men to win 400 or more basketball gamesat a Louisiana college (401-302 record), Vining is the all-time coaching leader in the Southland Conference and ledLouisiana-Monroe to seven NCAA Tournament appear-ances. He posted six 20-win seasons. He coached ULM toseven Southland titles, most of any coach in the history ofthe conference. He won another championship in his firstULM season, when the Indians won the Trans AmericaConference tournament title in 1982 and represented theleague in the NCAA Tournament. Vining won SLC Coach ofthe Year honors in 1986, 1990, 1993 and 1996.

MALCOLM “SPARKY” WADEA native of Jena, Wade is considered the greatest dribblerand backcourt guardian in LSU basketball history. Standingonly 5-9, Wade played from 1932 until 1935, winning All-American honors both as a junior and a senior. Beforemoving to LSU, he was named to the Louisiana All-StateTeam three times from 1928-1930. In his senior year, whenJena lost by four points in the National high school champi-

onship playoffs, Wade was selected as the Most ValuablePlayer in the national tournament.

JOYCE WALKEROne of the great scorers in women's basketball history,Walker still ranks fifth all-time in NCAA history with 2,906points at LSU from 1981-84. Her 24.8 average ranks sixthall-time and her 1,259 career field goals is an NCAA record.Twice a Kodak Coaches' All-American, the 5-8 guard was athree-time All-Southeastern Conference pick. She shot aremarkable 56.2 percent from the field and also ranks in theLSU career top 10 in scoring, rebounding, assists, stealsand blocked shots. An alternate for the 1984 USA OlympicTeam that won a gold medal, Walker later played with thefamous Harlem Globetrotters.

EVERSON WALLSOne of the greatest ball-hawking defensive backs in profootball history, Everson Walls defied the odds as a walk-onplayer at Grambling and a free-agent NFL rookie. He played13 pro seasons, finishing with 57 career interceptions to tiefor ninth place on the all-time NFL list with fellow LouisianaSports Hall of Fame members Mel Blount and JohnnyRobinson. Walls is the only player to lead the NFL in inter-ceptions three times (1981, 1982, 1985). His 11 intercep-tions as a rookie with Dallas in 1981 are the most in a sea-son by an NFL player in the last 17 years. He later playedfor the New York Giants and led them in interceptions in1991, when they won the Super Bowl. At Grambling, he ledall collegians with 11 interceptions in his senior year.

RALPH WARDWard, born in Jena and raised in Natchitoches, is one ofonly two Louisiana men's basketball coaches to win anational championship, leading McNeese State to the 1956NAIA title. Coach at McNeese for 19 seasons, until 1971,Ward won 59 percent of his games (282-194) and wasnamed Gulf States Conference Coach of the Year six times.He earned national acclaim for his teams' tough defenseand disciplined offense.

TERESA WEATHERSPOON“Spoon” sparked Louisiana Tech to the 1988 NCAAwomen's basketball national championship, was the nation-al player of the year and helped Team USA win Olympicgold later that year before launching a great WNBA career.She retired from the pro ranks in 2004 after having beenchosen an honorable mention member of the WNBA All-


Y.A. Tittle starred at LSU from 1944 to 1947and during hisNFL career, he set what was then a NFL record in 1963 bythrowing 36 touchdown passes.

Earl Wilson played 11 seasons in the Major Leagues withBoston, Detroit, and San Diego.


Time squad after starting 220 straight games in her firstseven years in the league. The Wade Trophy recipient atLouisiana Tech in 1988, Weatherspoon helped rally theLeon Barmore-coached Lady Techsters from a 14-pointhalftime deficit to defeat Auburn for the NCAA title. It wasthe second straight national championship game appear-ance for the Techsters, who went 118-14 as Weatherspoonstarted all but one of her 132 career games. The all-timeleader for Tech in assists (958) and steals (411), she alsoscored 1,087 points while earning All-America honors twiceand being named Louisiana's player of the year in 1988.

BARBARA FAY WHITEA Shreveport product, she was one of America's top ama-teur players in the 1960s - a three-time Curtis Cup selectionand a two-time member of the U.S. team in the WorldAmateur. She never lost a match (3-0-1 in singles, 4-0-0 infoursomes) in two Curtis Cup appearances and had to with-draw from a third because of pregnancy. She was second inthe World Amateur individually in 1966 and helped lead theU.S. team to the Women's World Amateur Championship.She was the medalist in the State Amateur six times. Shewas the Western Amateur champion in 1964 and 1966. Sheplayed on the LPGA tour in 1973-74 and won $3,500 in1973 (including one second-place finish) and $4,000 in1974.

SAMMY WHITEWhite, a sensational football and basketball star atMonroe's Richwood High School, won All-America honorsas a wingback at Grambling and starred in the NFL for 11seasons as a receiver with Minnesota. He is the Vikings'club record-holder with 6,400 receiving yards and 50 touch-down catches, and his 393 receptions ranks No. 2 in teamhistory. He was the NFL "Rookie of the Year" in 1976,played in the Pro Bowl twice, and was named toMinnesota's 25th Anniversary All-Star Team in fan voting. AtGrambling, White scored 43 TDs. In his senior year, he wasnamed Black College Offensive Player of the Year.

AENEAS WILLIAMSA third-round draft pick of out of Southern University in1991, after walking on to the Jaguars team out of FortierHigh School, Williams earned a reputation as one of theNFL's top cornerbacks during a sparkling 14-year NFLcareer with the Arizona Cardinals (1991-2000) and St. LouisRams (2001-04). He was an eight-time Pro Bowl selectionand four-time All-Pro pick in becoming one of the league'stop shutdown corners before moving to safety late in hiscareer. He played in 211 regular-season games with 206starts, seeing action in 183 consecutive games with 180straight starts before a broken fibula in 2002 ended thosestreaks.

DOUG WILLIAMSMVP in Super Bowl XXII, Doug Williams set records foryards passing (340), yards passing in one quarter (228),touchdown passes (4) and longest completion (80 yards).The Zachary native and Grambling All-American playednine seasons in the NFL (1978-82, 1986-89) for Tampa Bayand Washington. He threw for more than 25,000 yards and147 touchdowns, and ran for 19 more touchdowns, as apro. At Grambling as a senior (1977), he was a first-teamAP All-American, won Louisiana’s College Athlete of theYear award, was fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting andwas MVP of the East-West Shrine Game.

EARL WILSONA Ponchatoula native, Wilson had an 11-year major leaguebaseball career with Boston, Detroit and San Diego. Theright-hander was 121-109 lifetime with 1,452 strikeouts in2,051 2/3 innings with a 3.69 earned run average. He madethe 1967 American League All-Star Team and led the AL inwins with a 22-11 record for Detroit. He started the thirdgame of the 1968 World Series and helped the Tigers winthe world title. Wilson, the first black player signed by theRed Sox, fired a no-hitter for Boston against the LosAngeles Angels in 1962. He clubbed 35 career homers.

LARRY WILSONA three-time NCAA Division II All-American at NichollsState, Wilson established 42 school and Gulf SouthConference records from 1975-79. His school-record 2,569career points ranks ninth in state history. He was only the18th player in NCAA history below the Division I level toscore 2,500 career points and also own a 25-point careeraverage (25.7 ppg). The Central Lafourche product, twiceAll-State in Class 4A (largest classification) and All-StateMVP as a senior, was a consensus prep All-American afteraveraging 33.5 points per game. He was ranked one of thenation's top 10 prospects by the BC Scouting Service. AtNicholls, he twice led the Don Landry-coached Colonels toGSC titles and a pair of NCAA Division II Tournamentappearances. He was named conference Player of the Yearin 1977 and 1979.

ROY "MOONIE" WINSTONA Baton Rouge native, Winston was a prep (Istrouma) andcollege (LSU) All-American who played 15 seasons (1962-76) with the Minnesota Vikings as a standout linebacker. Heplayed in four Super Bowls (IV, VII, IX and XI), was theVikings' Most Valuable Defensive Player in 1972, and wasnamed to the Vikings' Silver Anniversary Team in 1985. Hehad 835 career tackles and 649 career solo stops. Teamcaptain of LSU's 1961 SEC Champions, Winston was anAll-SEC and All-America offensive guard as a senior. Heplayed left field for the LSU baseball team that won the1961 SEC baseball title.

ORLANDO WOOLRIDGEA sharp-shooting Mansfield native who starred collegiatelyat Notre Dame, Woolridge posted a career 16-point scoringaverage over 13 seasons in the NBA. A first-round (sixthoverall) 1981 draft pick of the Chicago Bulls, the 6-foot-9,215-pound forward played with seven NBA teams --Chicago, New Jersey, L.A. Lakers, Denver, Detroit,Milwaukee and Philadelphia. He saw action in 851 games

with 485 starts, averaging 16.0 points and 4.3 rebounds injust 28.3 minutes a game. Woolridge scored 13,623 pointsand had 3,696 rebounds in his NBA career before retiring in1994. He shot 51.3 percent from the field and 73.7 percentfrom the free throw line and also recorded 553 steals and569 blocked shots. Woolridge averaged 11.9 points and 3.6rebounds in 36 post.eason games.TANK YOUNGERYounger set a modern intercollegiate scoring record while atGrambling College from 1945 through 1948 with 60 touch-downs. He was the first of a long string of Grambling All-Americans, and in 1947 he led the nation in total offense.He was a black pioneer in pro football, joining the LosAngeles Rams in 1949 and gaining immediate stardom.Younger, who also played linebacker, was the last player inthe NFL to earn All-Pro honors on both offense anddefense. He spent 10 years in the NFL. He was the firstblack person inducted in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

DON ZIMMERMANZimmerman set nine football records at Tulane from 1930through 1932, some that stood for five decades. A consen-sus All-American in 1932, he led the 1931 Tulane team tothe Rose Bowl and passed for a touchdown in the bowlgame. A passer, runner and punter, Zimmerman was in on569 plays on total offense that were good for 3,293 yards inhis career. He averaged 5.8 yards a play and was respon-sible for 219 points. In his three years at Tulane,Zimmerman helped lead the team to a 25-4-1 record inTulane’s most successful era.



Doug Williams led his Washington Redskins to the SuperBowl XXII championship, and in return, was named MVP.

Tank Younger played at Grambling from 1945 through 1948and set a modern day intercollegiate scoring record with 60touchdowns.


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2011 louisiana sports hall of fame program

Documents

hall of fame artists

hall of fame selection

pm page

nsu president

downtown natchitoches

city of natchitoches

distinguished service

years class of inductees