Growing up sports played a pivotal role in my life. It was the time that I got to spent with my dad and just talk. We would debate team, and players; it was our bonding time. I continue that tradition by sharing my love of sports with my family and friends. At times I am sure they would like me to be quiet, but they always respect my opinions.

When I first heard about the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame; I was intrigued and wanted to learn more about the organization. The Louisiana Hall of Fame is located in Natchitoches, LA. The museum combines two previous Natchitoches museums, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the Old Courthouse Museum. The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame celebrates accomplishments by Louisiana athletes, coaches and sports stars, while the Northwest Louisiana History Museum celebrates the region’s culture and history, all in a dazzling museum complex in historic downtown Natchitoches.

The Hall of Fame’s exhibits and interactive media trace the history of Louisiana sports and highlight the importance of sports to life in Louisiana. High-definition videos capture in-game drama and excitement, and touch-screens reveal sports stars’ life stories, career stats and colorful quotes.

Trahan Architects of Baton Rouge designed the museum’s unique structure. The louvered copper exterior is reminiscent of the shutters of plantation homes, and the linear, earth-colored cladding is inspired by plowed fields. The interior is designed to resemble the flow of Cane River Lake, with curved walls echoing the natural cut of a river.

The museum was named the Top Architecture Project in the World in 2013 by Azure magazine, beating other major projects in London and Paris, and has won a number of other architectural accolades.

I knew that I wanted to visit this museum and learn more about Louisiana athletes. When I heard that this year’s induction class would include Former LSU head coach Les Miles and two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Peyton Manning; I knew I had to be there.

Thanks to Hall of Fame Chairman, Doug Ireland, I got to attend the three day fun event.  It was one of the most memorable events that  have ever had the privilege to be part of.  The LSHOF Class of 2019 included; Five-time NFL Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning and former LSU football coach Les Miles, who won 77 percent of his games and a national championship in 11 seasons with the Tigers,  five-time USA Olympic volleyball standout Danielle Scott.  championship coaches Roger Cador (Southern University baseball) and Charles Smith (Alexandria-Peabody Magnet high school basketball), Louisiana Tech quarterback and Canadian Football League Hall of Fame member Matt Dunigan, along with LSU football great Max Fugler, an All-American on the Tigers’ 1958 national championship team, and T. B. “T. Berry” Porter , a member of the Rodeo Hall of Fame.

During the first night induction ceremony we got a chance to meet the nine of the inductees.

The firs person to speak was Dave Dixon Award winner Marie Gagnard who is a professional tennis official. I had probably seen Gagnard during my time working the U.S. Open, but it was such a pleasure to get the chance to hear her story.  She will  work her 30th U.S. Open later this year. After becoming the first woman to receive a tennis scholarship to Louisiana College, Gagnard found a way to stay involved with the game she had to give up six years ago after a spinal issue.Her lifelong love affair with her sport started with a simple letter from her mother, who was looking for summer activities for Gagnard and her sister.

That led to a connection with Richard Cavanaugh, who mentored Gagnard and gave her a “15-minute crash course” in officiating before a 1982 exhibition between No. 1 Bjorn Borg and No. 2 Jimmy Connors in Baton Rouge.

That lit a fire in Gagnard, one that burns to this day.

“We didn’t need officials then, because it was such a gentleman’s sport,” she said. “We called our own lines. Dr. Cavanaugh asked us to be the linesmen (for the exhibition). He gave us a 15-minute crash course. When it was over, I wanted more.”

When Gargnard was asked who is the tennis player that she loves to watch, she said “Roger Federer, he moves like he has air under his feet.”  Sitting in the audience, my eyes lit up like a child at Christmas. She would later tell me that she saw my smile and knew that I was a fan of his. We had a wonderful conversation about his longevity in the sport.

One of the greatest about this year’s class is its diversity. Also part of the class was volleyball participant, Danielle Scott. It also included  T.B. ‘T. Berry’ Porter, our first-ever rodeo cowboy, 91 years old, still living, first won a world championship in 1949 at Madison Square Garden.  When T.B got the call he was on his tractor.

The came the former LSU coach Les Miles, who has now taken over the position at Kansas. The famous grass-eating Miles, who spoke about his former coaches. Miles talked about great coaches don’t win without great players and he had some of the greatest with him. It was an honor to hear him speak about coaching and get a glimpse into how his great mind works.

Friday night’s press conference was dedicated to Peyton Manning. What an honor it was to listen to the 2-Super Bowl Champ speak about his life and career.

The New Orleans native made a reference to his father, former Saints quarterback Archie Manning, who went to his younger brother Eli’s baseball game the day after being inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.

Manning used the word “humbling” to describe the first of his two Hall of Fame inductions in June. He will be inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.  His delivery Friday was as flawless as so many of his passes. Manning acknowledged the importance of being only third father-son duo in Louisiana’s hall.

I had two old teammates, Brandon Stokley and Reggie Wayne inducted last year, and I know how proud they were,” Manning said. Manning also fielded a wide range of questions about being recruited by Miles to attend Michigan. There was one about his nephew Arch, who is already attracting attention before his freshman year at Peyton’s alma mater, Newman.

Never one to miss a chance to poke a little fun at himself. Manning talked about missing his high school reunion earlier this year because of a family vacation.

“They asked you to send a little email bio about what you’ve been up to the last 25 years,” Manning said. “I’m reading all my classmates bios … you’re talking some impressive résumés. A lot of them kept using the word field. ‘I’m in the medical field’ or ‘I’m in the law field.’

“I started thinking what field was I in and what field am I in now? I really spent a lot of time thinking about it. I said, ‘After graduating college, I spent a lengthy career in the physical education field.’ It sounded good. And I said, ‘Now I’m in the insurance field and I recently joined a band with Brad Paisley.’ ”

It was a great weekend, filled with laughs and fun. I can’t wait until next year.