Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame honors legendary athletes in 2025

LOUISIANA (KTAL/KMSS) — Legends from across the state are being honored as the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (LSHOF) Class of 2025.

This year’s induction ceremony is brought to you live for the first time by Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, live from Natchitoches.

Currently an analyst for NFL games on Amazon, Andrew Whitworth found success at every level. A Monroe native, “Big Whit” won two championships in high school at West Monroe High School, a championship at LSU, and started in a Super Bowl LVI win for the Los Angeles Rams.

New Orleans-born Danny Granger attended Grace King High School. From there, he played collegiately at Bradley and New Mexico before embarking on a ten-year NBA career. A first-round draft pick of the Indiana Pacers, Granger was an NBA All-Star Game starter in 2009 and played on the FIBA World Championships gold medal team in 2010.

Two-time WNBA All-Star Vickie Johnson of Coushatta was one of the anchors for Louisiana Tech when the Lady Techsters were a dominant program. For her part, Johnson was chosen to the 1994 NCAA All-Final Four Team, was Sun Belt Conference MVP in 1995 and ’96, and 1996 Louisiana Player of the Year.

 Former LSU gymnast and Harlingen, Texas native April Burkholder was a 14-time All-American and won 108 individual titles, a school record. As a Tiger, Burkholder was the 2003 SEC Freshman of the Year and the 2004 and 2005 SEC Gymnast of the Year, and she recorded eight perfect 10 scores.

Ville Platte native George “Bobby” Soileau won his first boxing state title at 90 pounds in 1950 in the eighth grade and would only continue to succeed. 1951 brought the 100-pound title, he earned 110-pound glory in 1952, then won at 125 pounds in 1954. In five years in prep boxing, Soileau compiled a 96-2-1 record. A boxing scholarship led him to LSU and the 1956 NCAA national title in the 125-pound division. He was also part of the inaugural Louisiana High School Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013.

Under head coach Nick Saban, LSU football experienced a rejuvenation. Saban elevated the Tigers to a national championship in just his fifth year at the school. With Saban at the helm, LSU won the SEC West Division from 2001 to 2003 and went 4-1 in bowl games. Coach Saban will also be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December 2025.

Other inductees include football and weightlifting coach Dale Weiner, basketball coach Danny Broussard, baseball coach Joe Scheuermann, administrator Herb Vincent, broadcaster Ed Daniels, and writer and editor Glenn Guilbeau.

The LPB special will feature exclusive sit-down interviews and profiles. LPB President and CEO Clarence “C.C.” Copeland said, “Louisiana athletes have always played an integral role in the history of organized sports. Our state’s outsized contributions across the athletic spectrum are recognized throughout the sports world. We’re proud to bring this event live for the first time, so viewers everywhere can share in the celebration.”

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame: 2025 Celebration is Saturday, June 28, at 7 p.m. The “Purple Carpet” pre-ceremony streams online on www.lpb.org and YouTube beginning at 6 p.m.