Louis Bonnette

Sport: Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism

Induction Year: 2002

University: McNeese

Bonnette worked as a journalist and public relations person for 49 years. He began his career as a sports writer for the Beaumont (TX) Enterprise and after three years joined McNeese State as sports information director. During his 46 years as the university’s SID, he did not miss a Cowboy football game, working a national-record 527 consecutive games. He has been honored nationally and statewide for his media guides, programs, game notes and sports stories. He served two terms as president of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and has been the recipient of the LSWA’s prestigious Mac Russo Award (1995). He founded the McNeese Hall of Fame and served as its chairman until his retirement in 2012. He was inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 2009 and into the Southland Conference Hall of Honor in 2007. He was named a winner of the Scoop Hudgins outstanding SID award from the All-American Football Foundation in 2008. The Southland Conference named its sports media award the Louis Bonnette Sports Media Award and he was the first recipient in 2012. He continues to write a golf column for the Lake Charles American Press (since 1970) and also writes an outdoor column during his retirement. Sons Michael (LSU) and Matthew (McNeese State) have followed in his footsteps as sports information directors.