Former New Orleans Saints stars and New Orleans natives Tyrone Hughes and Michael Lewis were inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame, while SMG Senior Vice President Doug Thornton received the Joe Gemelli Fleur De Lis award on Friday, Oct. 30 at Chateau Country Club. 

New Orleans Saints President Dennis Lauscha gave opening remarks for the 27th annual Saints Hall of Fame Induction luncheon.

Former Saints player J.J. McCleskey presented the video tribute to Tyrone Hughes.

"Tyrone was just so electrifying we had a song we always sung with Tyrone, 'just give the ball to Tyrone Hughes,' McCleskey said introducing Hughes, "he was always prepared."

"I was lucky enough to get drafted by the New Orleans Saints, my home team.  I remember the call, I was at home on the second day of the draft.  I'm watching the bottom line on ESPN and I see the line goes by saying 'The New Orleans Saints select Tyrone Hughes. I get a call saying 'Congratulations, you're a New Orleans Saint,' Hughes said about playing for the Saints, "Obviously it was great to be and play at home."

Aaron Brooks, a former Saints quarterback and 2014 Hall of Fame inductee, presented the video tribute to Michael Lewis.

 "To know Michael is to know New Orleans and to know New Orleans is to know Michael, because Michael is New Orleans," Brooks said introducing Lewis, "I consider him as family and when I left the Saints, Michael said 'I'm your friend to the end, I'm going to always be in your corner.'"

"I called my agent after my first football game, because I thought it was going to be my first and probably last ever playing in the NFL, I was in Philly playing Cleveland and I told him 'they can cut me today, I can come home, drive trucks, whatever, I'm happy, I did what I wanted to do,'" Lewis said about signing with the Saints, "When I got the phone call from the Saints, they told me exactly what they were going to do, it was crazy for the Saints to stick their neck out on the line and give me the opportunity."

Hughes and Lewis were presented with their portraits that will hang in the Saints Hall of Fame at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.