Longtime Southland Conference commissioner Tom Burnett, a Louisiana Tech alumnus who also was a Sun Belt Conference administrator, is the 2024 winner of the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award presented by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
Two versatile and acclaimed sports writers, Opelousas’ Bobby Ardoin and Ron Higgins of Baton Rouge, have been selected for the 2024 Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
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Doug Tatum is the vice president of digital media for the New Orleans Pelicans and Saints. Tatum joined the organization in June 2013 after having served 13 years, first as deputy then as lead sports editor, for Louisiana’s largest newspaper, The Times-Picayune, part of a 20-year career in newspaper journalism. Tatum oversees the websites, mobile apps and all social media platforms for the Pelicans and Saints. He is a Louisville native and a graduate of Western Kentucky University.
Raymond Partsch III has two decades of local and statewide experience in multimedia sports journalism.
The longtime Louisiana resident began his career in Central Illinois, earning an Associate’s Degree from Lake College in Radio and Television Broadcasting. A few years later, Partsch moved into print journalism, hired by The Town Talk in Alexandria, Louisiana as a Page Designer/Copy Editor while also serving as movie critic and concert reviewer. After three very successful years, he made the transition into the Sports Department, becoming the Northwestern State University beat writer, lead high school writer and eventually Sports Editor.
Partsch left The Town Talk, joining the Beaumont Enterprise as Sports Editor and Lamar University Football beat writer. Partsch returned to Louisiana working as a freelancer for The Acadiana Advocate, covering the Ragin’ Cajuns, and Managing Editor at The Ville Platte Gazette. Partsch then moved on to serve as the Managing Editor and LSU Tigers beat writer for The Daily Iberian.
In April of 2019, Partsch joined 103.7 The Game (KLWB) as the station’s brand manager, while also hosting a weekday morning show RP3 & Company (6-9).
Partsch has won numerous awards for his work from both the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and Louisiana Press Association. He has been twice named LSWA Writer of the Year, three times the LSWA Prep Writer of the Year and Beat Writer of the Year.
In 2016 Partsch was recognized with the LPA’s Sam Hanna Award for column writing. He is currently the President for the LSWA and is on the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame voting committee.
Partsch and his wife Tina have one child, a seven-year-old daughter named Hattie Alise Partsch. The family resides in Sunset, Louisiana.
Will Wilton is the grandson of 2011 LSHOF inductee Thomas “Skipper” Heard, the innovative LSU athletic director who instituted night football in Tiger Stadium and came up with the idea of putting dormitory rooms in the stadium, among his visionary leadership from 1933-54. Will, an LSU graduate, has been in facility management as his vocation, notably serving as the director of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (1981-96), the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the Riverside Centroplex in Baton Rouge before his retirement. For the past eight years, until his recent resignation, he served as the LSHOF representative on the Louisiana State Museum board, fulfilling some key roles including oversight of the Irby Trust. Will lives in Baton Rouge.
Stan Wiltz, a National Football League Players Association Certified Contract Advisor, possesses a unique blend of experience and knowledge shared by few in the sports industry. Stan, a skilled contract negotiator since 2009, has a first-hand understanding of the rigors of being a professional athlete, as both he and his brother enjoyed careers in professional sports. Stan is a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, where he received a Doctorate of Pharmacy. Prior to Xavier, Stan attended the University of Louisiana-Monroe, where he was one of the top collegiate baseball players in the nation. Following his junior season, Stan was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft. Prior to receiving a scholarship to continue his baseball career in college, Stan attended Jesuit High School in New Orleans from 1984 to 1989 where he was star athlete and honor student. Stan is a native of New Orleans and is married to Pam Bordenave, a marketing professional. Stan is the proud father of a son and two daughters. In 2019, Stan’s son, Stan IV, was the star shortstop for Louisiana’s Little League World Series World Championship team.
Greg is a lifelong resident of Louisiana. He graduated from Holy Savior Menard in 1970 and earned a Bachelor of Art degree from Southeastern Louisiana University shortly after. Greg was able to open his own State Farm agency in the year 1986. Greg is very active in the Cenla community as he sponsors local schools, non-profit groups, and sports events. He is a member of the Cenla Restaurant Association, NAIFA, Ducks Unlimited, and the Coastal Conservation Association. Greg is proud to serve the Alexandria, Pineville, and surrounding areas in Louisiana. He is also licensed in Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi as well.
Heinz graduated from LSU in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems and Decision Sciences. He joined Centura Advisors in 2004. Matt is licensed with the Series 7 (General Securities), Life, Health and Variable Annuity Insurance Licenses along with a Louisiana Mortgage Originator License since 2005. Matt is a Registered Representative with Kestra Investment Services, LLC and an Investment Advisor Representative with Kestra Advisory Services, LLC.
Matt is a Deacon at The Chapel on the Campus and serves on the CARE team, which helps families and individuals who are going through a challenging time in life. He is the president of the Board of Directors for MCWA and serves as Treasurer and a Board of Directors member for the National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana.
Cheramie received a B.A. in Economics from Nicholls State University in 1974, where he also competed on the golf team. Brian has been owner and chairman of several offshore marine transportation companies supporting the oil and gas exploration industry. He has been involved with New Orleans PGA TOUR and charities since 1980. He served as the 2000 Chairman of the PGA Compaq Classic of New Orleans.
Brian is currently serving on the board of directors for the Bayou District Foundation of New Orleans which oversees development of Columbia Park & City Park golf course and the Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF) of which he previously served on the Executive Committee. He was elected Chairman of the TAF Board of Directors for 2017-18 after previously serving as treasurer.
Boudreaux, who officiated in five NCAA Final Four basketball tournaments and worked four championship games (1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003) in a 20-year career as a nationally-renowned referee before taking over as the Southeastern Conference Coordinator of Officials from 2006-2013. Gerald is one of only three officials to work four Final Fours in a five-year span since the NCAA Tournament took its current format. In 2000, Gerald was honored as the Naismith College Men’s Basketball Official of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club and in May of 2008 was named “Mr. Louisiana Basketball”, the top award given by the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches for someone who has made a significant long-term contribution to basketball in Louisiana. Gerald is a Lafayette native and has worked extensively in youth, adult, and therapeutic programs through his position as director of Lafayette Parks and Recreation, as a member of the state recreation and parks commission, and as a LHSAA official in football, basketball, and baseball. Gerald became the eighth recipient of the Dave Dixon Sports Leadership Award in 2010. Gerald has a wife, Carlos, and three daughters, Brittney, Whittney and Hallie Boudreaux.
Dustin is a graduate of Baylor University in Waco Texas, with a degree in Financial Services and Planning. After graduation he worked for Fidelity Investments in Dallas Texas, as a Retirement Specialist. Dustin then returned to Natchitoches to take a position as a Financial Advisor with A. G. Edwards before becoming Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Cross Financial Group LLC. He is a past Chairman for the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce and past President of the Natchitoches Jaycees and treasurer for the Old Courthouse Museum. Dustin and his family are members of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. In his spare time, Dustin enjoys playing golf and tennis, hunting, fishing, and cooking for his family and friends.
Sharon Turcan Gahagan holds a Master’s Degree plus 30 hours in education and is a licensed speech/pathologist, reading specialist and educational consultant. Her professional experience includes the creation and development of NSU/Natchitoches Parish Deaf-Oral Program. Sharon serves on numerous local and state boards but is especially involved in her roles as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Louisiana School for Math, Sciences and the Arts and as the Master Plan Chairman of the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission. She was named Woman of the Year by the Natchitoches Parish Chamber of Commerce and Outstanding Woman in Louisiana by the Louisiana Jaycees.
Charles was born in Natchez, MS, in 1961 and graduated from Trinity Episcopal High School in 1979. Charles was named to the Babe McCarthy Tip-Off Club All-State Team that year. Charles played on the University of Louisiana at Monroe basketball team from 1979-1983 and earned his BBA from University of Louisiana at Monroe in 1983. He was privileged to play for LA Sports Hall of Fame coach Mike Vining on the first ULM basketball team to participate in the NCAA postseason basketball tournament in 1981. Charles received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi Law School in 1985. Charles was admitted to the Louisiana state bar in 1986 and he has practiced law with Hudson, Potts & Bernstein,LLP, one of the oldest and most prestigious law firms in Louisiana, since that time. Charles became a partner in the firm in 1991 and he practices in Louisiana state court, federal district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Charles is a member of the ULM Athletic Foundation and past board member. He is a past member of the ULM Faculty Athletic Committee and he currently serves on the board of Neville Tiger Baseball Boosters, Inc. He is a former, licensed NFLPA Sports agent. Charles is an elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church and is an avid sportsman and outdoorsman. Charles is married to Susan Wolff Herold and they have three children, Michelle Herold McIntyre and her husband Andy McIntyre, Patricia Anatolize Herold and Charles W. Herold, IV.
Ted Lewis is a 2010 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductee as a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism. Lewis, whose career with the New Orleans Times-Picayune is ending this fall, has five decades as a sports writer and editor in the state. Lewis has been a dynamic member of the Hall of Fame selection committee since its formal inception in 1983.
Doug Ireland is a native of Jonesboro and is an assistant athletic director/sports information director at Northwestern State University where he has worked since 1989. Prior to that time, Doug became the first assistant SID at Southwestern Louisiana from 1982-85. He was subsequently recruited to become an award winning sportswriter for the Alexandria Town Talk where he was covering LSU Athletics when his alma mater came calling. Doug has served as chairman of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame since April 1991 and a member of the LSWA since 1982. Doug is a journalism graduate of NSU with his graduate studies occurring at NLU.
Kent Lowe has been a member of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association for over 25 years having served in many positions to include President from 2006-2008 and currently as treasurer. He has been a member of the LSU Sports Information Staff since August 1988 serving as the primary contact for men’s basketball and women’s golf. Lowe is a member of CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America), which voted his 2010 men’s basketball guide “Best in the Nation”. He also serves as a member of CoSIDA’s prestigious Academic All American Committee. Kent is a native of Shreveport with an undergraduate degree from LSUS and his graduate degree in journalism from LSU.
Malcolm Meyer is a graduate of LSU where he played basketball. Always having an interest in politics, Malcolm worked his way up the ranks from an entry level position in the legislature to becoming the Executive Assistant and State Director for revered Congressman John Breaux. Malcolm received the 40 under 40 Award from the Baton Rouge Chamber not only for his career achievements but for his devotion to public service. His current position as Section Chief of Capitol Operations/Government Relations for Louisiana Attorney General, Buddy Caldwell seems ideal as it allows him to combine his political savvy and public service as he frequently serves as a spokesperson for Caldwell on programs that promote health and safety for our youth.
Tag Rome is a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University where he received a Master’s degree and finished as NLU’s All Time Leading Receiver, an All-Conference honoree for three years, an All American Honorable Mention for 2 years all as a walk-on. Tag continued his football career in the Canadian Football League and with the San Diego Chargers. Tag left football to join State Farm Insurance where he has achieved numerous honors. Tag currently serves on multiple community boards to include the Bossier Chamber of Commerce and Independence Bowl Foundation.
A radio and marketing veteran with over 24 years in the business, Gordy Rush currently serves as the Vice-President/Market Manager for Guaranty Broadcasting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was named The Louisiana Association of Broadcasters “Broadcaster of the Year” (Broadcasting Executive) in 2013 and “The Golden Mike” Award (On-Air) in 2009 making him the first person to receive both prestigious awards. Gordy is the sideline reporter for radio broadcasts of Tiger football games on the LSU Sports Radio Network. Rush, who also serves as the host for Inside LSU Football with Les Miles, played for the Tigers from 1988-90.
Gordy’s community service includes involvement includes serving on the Executive Board of Directors for Tiger Athletic Foundation, past Vice-President National L Club – LSU Lettermen’s Club and Board of Directors for Fore! Kids Foundation/Zurich Classic of New Orleans PGA and Baton Rouge Sports Foundation.
Bart received a BS and a MBA from Louisiana State University and is employed as a registered representative of Financial Solutions Group in Alexandria, LA. He is a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Alexandria, president of Cenla Tiger Booster Club, past president and board member of Rapides Coliseum Authority, past board member-Alexandria/Pineville Convention and Visitors Bureau, past board member-Alexandria Dixie Girls and past president – Centre Court Lions Club. Bart hosts a weekly radio call in show devoted to LSU sports from 4-6 pm every Monday. He is married with two children and a new grandchild.
Ben Taylor is a LSU graduate where he was a SAE. He serves as the Lake Charles Housing Authority Executive Director where he manages 70 employees which generates an average of $6.3 million in revenue annually (this information taken from an online news article), Vice President of Community Revitalization and Development Committee for the Louisiana Housing Council. He also serves on the Southwest Louisiana Task Force (formerly Rita Task Force) which was re-established in spring 2008 to tackle issues affecting southwest Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita, including: economic development, workforce development, fisheries, coastal restoration, housing, education and non-profit organizations.
The New Orleans Saints first round draft choice out of Ole Miss in 1971, Archie Manning played for the Saints until he was traded in 1982 to the Oilers. Archie was Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the National Football Conference in 1978. Manning had three consecutive 3,000 yard plus passing seasons from 1978-1980 and 12 straight games with at least one TD pass in 1978-79. Manning serves in public relations and consulting capacities for local, regional and national companies to include Gatorade and Reebok. He is the father to three sons of which two are NFL starting quarterbacks. Archie is a member of the Louisiana and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and is currently the Chairman of the National Football Foundation. He is a co-director of the Manning Passing Academy with his sons. Archie received the Silver Buffalo Award by the Boy Scouts which is the highest award given for service to youth on a national basis. He is married to his college sweetheart, Olivia, and they are spending as much time as possible with their grandchildren.
Buddy Wood is a State Farm Insurance agent based in Many at C R wood Insurance Agency. He also serves on the Northwestern State University College of Business & Technology’s Advisory Council as a proud alumnus.
Waynette Stinson Ballengee is a dedicated volunteer known for setting the bar high in the quality and funds raised for every event she chairs. Christmas in Sky, a bi-annual event benefiting the Shreveport Arts Council (SRAC), has been one of the primary benefactors of her efforts netting $500,000 for a single night event. She was recognized as the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2009 and continues to be active in the fundraising through her active role on multiple boards in the Shreveport area to include the Feist Weiller Cancer Center, Gingerbread House, and SRAC. Waynette is a graduate of Louisiana Tech with BA in psychology and a MA in Human Relations and Supervision.
A native of central Louisiana, Greg O’Quin attended and graduated in accounting from Northwestern State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola University. He has been in the investment and financial planning business for 33 years and currently is a senior partner with Financial Solutions Group. In 2004, he was inducted into “The Long Purple Line” and is currently serving on the Northwestern Foundation Board of Directors. Greg served as the first chairman of the Rapides Foundation Board, a community foundation. He has competed in the Boston Marathon and New York Marathon and is presently training to run in the New York Marathon in November 2011. He works from Colorado 3 months of the year where he is an avid hiker and snow skier.
Randy Hayden is president of Creative Communications, Inc. and one of the most experienced and respected public relations practitioners in Louisiana. His background and record of devising and implementing winning communications strategies has made him one of the most sought after professionals in the state. He has an excellent relationship with key members of the news media including the powerful Capitol Press Corps as well as the respect of many of the state’s most influential business and civic leaders. Randy earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Louisiana State University. He is a registered lobbyist and former delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business. Randy has won numerous industry awards, including A.P. and U.P.I. awards for broadcast journalism, an ADDY award for Advertising and two American Chamber of Commerce Executives Awards for public relations. He currently serves as Chairman of the Up Alliance Board of Directors and Louisiana Clean Fuels. He is also Co-Chair of the Manship School of Mass Communications Hall of Fame Committee. Randy is also Executive Director of the Louisiana Propane Gas Association.
Senior Vice President and General Manager for Pinnacle Entertainment with more than 20 years of gaming industry experience, Parenton is a life-long Louisiana resident and a graduate of Jesuit High School in New Orleans, La. and Northeast Louisiana University, now University of Louisiana at Monroe, where he was also a highly accomplished member of the school’s baseball team. He is very active in the community and holds civic leadership positions with the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, Payton’s Play it Forward Foundation, Fore!Kids, March of Dimes, Our Lady of the Lake Foundation and Visit Baton Rouge. Parenton recently served as the 2014 Chair of Baton Rouge’s March for Babies. Parenton currently serves an advisory board member for both the Louisiana Business Technology Center and the Better Than Ezra Foundation.
Rachael Goff is a resident of Prairieville where she lives with husband Steven and three kids Matthew, Laura and Adam. She is a graduate of Woodlawn High School and Louisiana Technical College. As a nurse of over 18 years she has worked in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. Rachael is currently a Community Nurse Liaison for Pinnacle Hospice in Baton Rouge. There she educates patients and families of terminally ill patients on their hospice benefits. Rachael was a founding board member of the Palliative Care Foundation of Louisiana and served 4 years. Working with Louisiana Kidney Foundation for over 10 years, Rachael had the privilege of working on both the walk and golf tournament committees. Hobbies include reading, crocheting and watching her kids play sports.
The Southeastern Louisiana University alumnus is an owner and project manager at M.R. Pittman Group, LLC General Contractors.
A 1996 graduate of Northwestern State in speech and communications, Liles is the owner of Blue Galaxy Entertainment, a Louisiana-based record label and recording company.
After serving 39 years in the coroner’s office in Avoyelles Parish — 11 as chief assistant coroner and 28 as the parish’s head medical officer — Mayeux retired in 2019. He was born and raised in Moreauville and is a graduate of Moreauville High (now known as consolidated Avoyelles High School). He received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from LSU and graduated from LSU Medical School in 1977. After working at Earl K. Long Hospital in Baton Rouge for three years, Mayeux returned to Avoyelles Parish to open his private practice.
Widely-acclaimed Pineville broadcaster Lyn Rollins was selected as a 2018 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, making him one of the 11-person Class of 2018 inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. A 1973 Northwestern State graduate, Rollins, a four-time Louisiana Sportscaster of the Year, has bee involved in sports broadcasting in Louisiana for five decades. He is believed to have called more televised college baseball games than anyone in the country, beginning as the primary play-by-play man for Jumbo Sports Network’s groundbreaking telecasts of LSU baseball in 1994, and has done a wide array of college sports including football, basketball, baseball, softball, gymnastics, soccer and volleyball, and many high school football radio broadcasts.
Tristan Manthey is a Member of Heller, Draper, Patrick, Horn & Manthey, L.L.C. His concentration is in Chapter 11 reorganizations, business work-outs, debt structure negotiations, insolvency litigation, corporate bankruptcy and creditor’s rights since 1998. He is experienced in complex financial and legal matters involving private equity and hedge funds, utilities and rate disputes, oil and gas companies, gaming companies, medical facilities, public television broadcast companies, real estate ventures, hotels, casinos, quick service fast food franchisees, retailers and environmental and/or mass tort issues.
Lenny was involved in college athletics in the early 1980s, when he began working Tulane University sporting events while still attending Archbishop Rummel High School. He continued that relationship as a student at Loyola University, where he graduated in 1987. For the next 11 years, Vangilder worked in the sports information offices at Southwestern Louisiana (now UL-Lafayette) and Tulane. Lenny also served for 11 years on the management team at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. He has won 10 national and more than 20 state awards for his publications and writing. Vangilder currently coordinates sales efforts for Crescent City Sports Enterprises while providing written contributions and broadcast production skills. He lives in Kenner with his wife Kristi and son Jacob.
Joe Tumminello was born and raised in New Orleans and is a graduate of University of New Orleans with a Masters in accounting and holds a CPA certification. Joe received the second highest grade in Louisiana when he took the CPA examination. He served three years in the U.S. Army receiving an honorable discharge. Joe has over 20 years in varying levels of accounting to include serving as treasury manager for Ochsner Health Plan. Currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Hospitality Enterprises/New Orleans Hotel Consultants.
Barbara Gresham Hammerman is a native of Natchitoches and a graduate of Northwestern University where she received her bachelor’ degree in communication prior to receiving a law degree from Western State University College of Law in California. Barbara has over 25 years in professional experience in financial resource development, and is noted for assisting non-profit organizations in integrating planned giving and endowment with annual and capital fundraising. Ms. Hammerman is a sought after speaker for and co-author of the book Endowment Right From the Start. Her volunteer commitments include The Luther Allison Endowment Fund and as a board member of the Shakespeare Guild and the The National Blues Museum.
