Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism

The most prestigious honor offered to sports media personnel in Louisiana by their peers is the Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism.

The Louisiana Sports Writers Association presents the award each year during the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame ceremonies.

Recipients are chosen by the 30-member Hall of Fame selection committee each year after the annual winter meeting.

Nominees are drawn from the ranks of the LSWA based on their professional accomplishments and impact in local, state, regional and even national arenas. Candidates must be 60 years old, or have three decades of Journalism credentials, reflecting a lifetime of service in the profession.

Names of the Distinguished Service Award winners have been displayed in the Hall of Fame. There will be a “writer and broadcasters wing” of the Hall of Fame Museum, much as there is in the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown.

AWARD HISTORY

1982

Bill Keefe, New Orleans Time Picayune

Paul Martin, Monroe News-Star

Bud Montet, Baton Rouge Morning Advocate

Truman Stacy, Lake Charles American Press

1983

Jack Fiser, The Shreveport Times

1984

John Ferguson, LSU and New Orleans Saints radio

1985

Dan Hardesty, Baton Rouge State Times

1986

Paul Manasseh, LSU Sports Information

1987

Ted Castillo, Baton Rouge Advocate

1988

Bill Carter, Alexandria Daily Town Talk

1989

Peter Finney, New Orleans Times-Picayune

Bob Roesler, New Orleans Times-Picayune

1990

Collie Nicholson, Grambling State Sports Information

Hap Glaudi; WWL-Radio/TV, New Orleans Item

1991

Fred Digby; New Orleans Item, Sugar Bowl Classic

Bill McIntyre, The Shreveport Times

1992

Connie Kaplan, The Kaplan Herald

Mike Cook, Baton Rouge Advocate

1993

M. L. Lagarde, Tulane University Sports Information

Austin Wilson, Associated Press

1994

Bob Anderson, Northeast Louisiana University Sports information

Bernell Ballard, Baton Rouge Advocate

1995

Jim McLain, The Shreveport Times

1996

Jerry Byrd; Bossier Press-Tribune, Shreveport Journal

Joe Planas; The Catholic Commentator, Baton Rouge Advocate

1997

Roger Brandt, Oplepusas Daily World

1998

Hal Ledet, L’Observerteur

1999

Bob Hendreson, University of Southwestern La. Sports Information

Al Nassif, Alexandria Town Talk

2000

Sam King, Baton Rouge Advocate/State-Times

Jerry Pierce, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame/Northwestern State

Gerry Robichaux, The Shreveport Times

2001

Bud Johnson, SLU/LSU/Tulane

2002

Louis Bonnette, McNeese State Sports Information

George Sweeney, New Orleans Times Picayune

2003

Bill Curl, Tulane/The Louisiana Superdome

2004

Keith Prince, Louisiana Tech/Monroe News-Star

2005

Buddy Diliberto, WWL-Radio

2006

Jim Wynn; McNeese State, Abbeville Meridional, Alexandria Town Talk, LSWA President

Marty Mule’, New Orleans Times-Picayune

2007

Pete Dosher; Louisiana Tech, Grambling

Arthur Schott; New Orleans Time-Picayune, States-Item

2008

Ed McHale, Associated Press

R. L. Stockard; Southern, SWAC, New Orleans

2009

O. K. "Buddy" Davis; Ruston Daily Leader

Bob Griffin; Shreveport sportscaster and writer

2010

Norm Fletcher; Natchitoches Broadcast Legend

Ted Lewis; Times-Picayune

2011

Ron Brocato; States-Item, Times-Picayune

Larry Hymel; Southeastern La. Sports Information

2012

Bill Bumgarner; States-Item, Times-Picayune

Butch Muir; Baton Rouge Advocate