Bobby Soileau

Sport: Boxing

Induction Year: 2025

University: LSU

After making a name for himself as one of the most dominant boxers, which included claiming multiple high school championships and an individual NCAA title for LSU’s nationally-renowned program, the Ville Platte native became a championship-winning football coach at his alma mater — Sacred Heart High School.

George “Bobby” Soileau’s first boxing state title came in the eighth grade in the 90-pound weight class in 1950. He followed with the 100-pound crown in 1951, the 110-pound crown in 1952 and 125-pound crown in 1954. His lone defeat at state came his junior year in 1953 when he lost the 115-pound title match to Bruce Boudreaux, which is considered one of the greatest fights in state history.

Known for his powerful left jab, Soileau was awarded the Francis G. Brink Trophy as a senior which was given to the state’s best boxer. In his five-year prep boxing career, Soileau went 96-2-1 and was inducted into the inaugural Louisiana High School Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013.

As a sophomore at LSU, who signed him to a boxing scholarship, he helped the Tigers to a 7-1-1 dual-meet record and won the 1956 NCAA national title in the 125-pound (featherweight) division.

After his boxing career was shortened when LSU disbanded the program and he suffered a shoulder injury, Soileau became a high school football coach and returned to his alma mater in the mid-1960’s. In 30 seasons at Sacred Heart, he compiled a record of 159-100-9 in winning at least a share of nine district titles. He won the state Class B title in 1967 with a 13-1 record and was the state runner-up in Class 1A in 1971. A two-time LSWA Coach of the Year, he was inducted into the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1988. … Born 3-6-1936 in Ville Platte.