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New Orleans Saints staff accountant Linda Bourgeois was one of the very first employees hired by the club in 1967. Tomorrow, after 42 years of faithful service to the Saints, Bourgeois will leave her office in the Saints' training facility for one last time and sail into a well-earned retirement.

Bourgeois has filled a variety of different positions in the team's different administrations throughout her career with the team and owns the distinction of being the first person in team history to sell a season ticket package shortly after the team came into existence.

The New Orleanian has most recently proudly worked in the accounting department, handling the myriad of duties associated with keeping the team's business affairs on track and accurate. Bourgeois was a key figure in helping to organize and move the team's business operations to San Antonio on the fly in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and more importantly, played a role in helping the team get up and running soon after that season back at the team's headquarters in Metairie.

Following practice today Saints Owners Tom Benson and Rita Benson LeBlanc and Head Coach Sean Payton welcomed Bourgeois on the practice field. Payton then brought Bourgeois, a quiet and reserved sort, in front of the team and informed the squad of her dutiful service to the club and told the assembled players of her role within the organization for more than the last 40 years.

Bourgeois was greeted by the players with a round of applause and then was escorted to the team's dining facility where a lunch was prepared in her honor for the staff and the players.

On behalf of all of the players, coaches and staff at the New Orleans Saints, we wish Linda and her family a wonderful retirement!