The Allstate Sugar Bowl Chapter of the National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame will hold its 2014 Awards Luncheon in the Napoleon Room of the Hilton Riverside on Wednesday at 11:45 a.m.
The event will honor 32 local high school football players for their achievements in the classroom and on the football field. Four of the student-athletes being honored will be selected to receive Allstate Sugar Bowl Scholarships for $10,000 each. In addition, two honorees will be recognized for their contributions to the community and the sport of football.
Dennis Lauscha, who has served as president of the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans since 2012, will receive this year's Distinguished American Award. Lauscha oversees the clubs' financial operations and government affairs as well as its marketing, ticket and suite sales, legal, stadium, community affairs, human resources, information technology and facilities departments. He has been part of the Saints organization for 16 years. Lauscha is a key member of the team that actively pursues future Super Bowls for the City of New Orleans and was instrumental in landing Super Bowl XLVII, which was played on Feb. 3, 2013 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. He was also part of the Saints' contingent that negotiated the agreement with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal on a partnership that continues the club's commitment to the state through 2025.
Jim Henderson, a longtime New Orleans sportscaster, will be presented with the Contribution to Amateur Football Award. Since taking over as the voice of the New Orleans Saints in the 1980s, Henderson has become the city's most beloved announcer. Faced with the challenge of taking over for the legendary Hap Glaudi on WWL-TV in 1978, Henderson won over fans with his unflappable style, wit and literary prowess to become a broadcasting legend in his own right. Henderson has covered just about every major sport and sporting event in the United States. While few could match his broadcasting talent, his role as the voice of the Saints has cemented Henderson with local sports fans forever. Since joining the Saints radio broadcast team, he has become synonymous with Saints football.
Archie Manning, the national chairman of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, will recognize each of the 32 student-athletes at the event. The winners were chosen from a nominated group of talented scholar athletes from the New Orleans area.
