Sports Magnate. He was the owner of both the National Football League's New Orleans Saints and the National Basketball Association's New Orleans Pelicans. He served in the United States Navy and then attended Loyola University of New Orleans after leaving the military. He graduated from Loyola with a degree in accounting in 1948 and later, went to work as a car salesman in New Orleans. In 1956, he moved to San Antonio, Texas to try to revive a poorly-run auto dealership. He was eventually granted a 25% interest in the dealership for his efforts and in 1962, took over full ownership. He would go on to own several auto dealerships in both New Orleans and San Antonio. He later invested the profits of his auto dealerships in local banks and eventually purchased several small Southern banks. He went on to found Benson Financial, a company he later sold. In 1985, he purchased the NFL's New Orleans Saints after hearing that they were about to be purchased by a group interested in moving the team to Jacksonville, Florida. He started the floundering team's turn-around by bringing in both general manager Jim Finks and head coach Jim Mora, who led the team to both their first winning season and first playoff appearance. During his tenure as owner of the Saints, the team had some "ups and downs" before finally reaching the Super Bowl in 2010 and winning it. His ownership of the Saints also was marked by the 2012 "Bountygate" scandal and by rumors that he did not want to bring the team back to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina's devastation in 2005. In 2012, he purchased the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA and renamed them the New Orleans Pelicans. He was very philanthropic during his lifetime, donating to various charities and organizations. He passed away from complications of the flu.
Sports Magnate. He was the owner of both the National Football League's New Orleans Saints and the National Basketball Association's New Orleans Pelicans. He served in the United States Navy and then attended Loyola University of New Orleans after leaving the military. He graduated from Loyola with a degree in accounting in 1948 and later, went to work as a car salesman in New Orleans. In 1956, he moved to San Antonio, Texas to try to revive a poorly-run auto dealership. He was eventually granted a 25% interest in the dealership for his efforts and in 1962, took over full ownership. He would go on to own several auto dealerships in both New Orleans and San Antonio. He later invested the profits of his auto dealerships in local banks and eventually purchased several small Southern banks. He went on to found Benson Financial, a company he later sold. In 1985, he purchased the NFL's New Orleans Saints after hearing that they were about to be purchased by a group interested in moving the team to Jacksonville, Florida. He started the floundering team's turn-around by bringing in both general manager Jim Finks and head coach Jim Mora, who led the team to both their first winning season and first playoff appearance. During his tenure as owner of the Saints, the team had some "ups and downs" before finally reaching the Super Bowl in 2010 and winning it. His ownership of the Saints also was marked by the 2012 "Bountygate" scandal and by rumors that he did not want to bring the team back to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina's devastation in 2005. In 2012, he purchased the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA and renamed them the New Orleans Pelicans. He was very philanthropic during his lifetime, donating to various charities and organizations. He passed away from complications of the flu.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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