Gayle Benson | |
|---|---|
 Benson in 2018 | |
| Born | Gayle Marie LaJaunie (1947-01-26)January 26, 1947 (age 78) New Orleans,Louisiana, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Businesswoman andsports franchise owner |
| Known for | Principal owner,New Orleans Saints andNew Orleans Pelicans |
| Spouse(s) | |
Gayle Marie LaJaunie Bird Benson (born January 26, 1947) is an American businesswoman who is the owner of theNew Orleans Saints of theNational Football League (NFL) and theNew Orleans Pelicans of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). She became the principal owner of the Saints and Pelicans following the death of her husband,Tom Benson, in 2018.[3][4][5]
She was born Gayle Marie LaJaunie, the daughter of Francis J. LaJaunie (January 5, 1924 – July 18, 2010), and Marie Folse LaJaunie (1924 – May 30, 2010).[6][7]
She grew up inAlgiers, New Orleans, and attendedSt. Joseph, St. Anthony and Holy Name of Mary schools. She graduated from Martin Behrman High School in 1966.[8][9][10]
Benson began her career in receptionist and secretarial positions while doing interior design before buying and renovating businesses with her second husband, Thomas "T-Bird" Bird. Following their divorce, Benson continued an interior decorating business called Gayle Bird Interiors, Ltd.[8][11]
In the first ten years, Gayle and her then-husband Thomas Bird, renovated one hundred properties.[12][13]
Benson became the owner of both the Saints and Pelicans following the death of her husband Tom.[14]
Benson is one of ten female NFL owners, includingSheila Ford Hamp (Detroit Lions),Kim Pegula (Buffalo Bills),Carol Davis (Oakland Raiders),Denise DeBartolo York (San Francisco 49ers),Amy Adams Strunk (Tennessee Titans),Virginia Halas McCaskey (Chicago Bears),Janice McNair (Houston Texans),Jody Allen (Seattle Seahawks), andDee Haslam (Cleveland Browns).[15]
Benson and Allen (Portland Trail Blazers) are two of five female owners in the NBA, along withJeanie Buss (Los Angeles Lakers),Miriam Adelson (Dallas Mavericks) andAnn Walton Kroenke (Denver Nuggets).
Tom Benson had planned onbequeathing the voting stock shares of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans to his daughter Renee Benson, grandson Ryan Benson LeBlanc, and granddaughterRita Benson LeBlanc.[5][16]
On December 27, 2014, Tom Benson wrote an e-mail to his daughter and two grandchildren stating he wanted "no further contact with any of you." Gayle Benson was named his heir.[17][18]
Tom Benson's daughter and grandchildren filed lawsuits challenging his decision to name Gayle his heir, questioning his mental competency.[19][20][21]
Tom Benson was determined to be mentally competent and was allowed to change his will to leave ownership of the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans to his wife.[22][23][24]
Rodney Henry, former personal assistant to Tom Benson, filed a lawsuit accusing the New Orleans Saints and Gayle Benson of racism and violations of federal labor laws. The lawsuit claimed that Gayle Benson had treated him with disrespect because of his race.[25][26][27] An NFL arbitrator ruled in favor of Henry and against theSaints on the labor complaint, awarding him overtime pay, a contractual payout for his dismissal, and attorney's fees; however, the same arbitrator ruled against Henry on the claims of racism.[28][29][30]
According toThe New York Times, under Benson's leadership "the Saints and thearchdiocese (began) working together to temper the fallout from a flood of sexual abuse accusations made against priests and church employees. The abuse accusations, which span decades, have led to dozens of civil lawsuits and out-of-court settlements, more than 600 claims of abuse in the archdiocese’s ongoing bankruptcy case and a handful of criminal convictions, and are part of an international reckoning for the church."
The efforts included "working closely with the archdiocese in attempting to solicit positive media coverage of the church and burnish the image ofArchbishop Aymond, even writing talking points for him.[31]
In July 2017, it was announced that Tom and Gayle Benson had finalized an agreement to buy amajority share ofDixie Brewing Co.[32] The company'sbrewery plant had been damaged and closed afterHurricane Katrina.[33][32] On August 7, 2018, Benson announced, with New Orleans MayorLaToya Cantrell, that Dixie Brewery would open a distribution center at the old MacFrugal's Distribution Center in New Orleans East.[34][35][36]
G M B Racing is the thoroughbred racing stable of Gayle Benson, who owned2016 Kentucky Derby starters Mo Tom and Tom's Ready and owned 2018 contender Lone Sailor. Tom's Ready was a fine sprinter in mid-2016, winning both the Grade 2Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont Park and theAck Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs.[37]
Benson has been married three times. Her first marriage was to Nace Anthony Salomone, on April 8, 1967, which ended in a divorce and annulment in 1972.[1][8] Her second marriage was to Thomas "T-Bird" Bird, on February 14, 1977, inSouth Pass,Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, which ended in a divorce on June 25, 1987.[2]
Gayle's third marriage was to Tom Benson, on October 29, 2004, inSan Antonio, Texas. They met atSt. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans at a mass. They were married until his death in 2018.[38][39][40][41][42][43]
On October 22, 2014, Gayle Benson and her husband commemorated their tenth anniversary by renewing theirwedding vows at St. Louis Cathedral.[44][45][46]
While married, Gayle and Tom Benson funded the construction of theGayle and Tom Benson Stadium at theUniversity of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, which opened on campus on September 1, 2008.[47][48]
In January 2012, Benson and her husband were awarded thePro Ecclesia et Pontifice for their service to Catholic Church byPope Benedict XVI.[49][50]
In November 2012, Gayle Benson and her husband, Tom, donated $7.5 million towards the construction ofTulane University'sYulman Stadium.[51] The playing surface is known as Benson Field.[52][53]
In 2015, the Benson family gave $20 million for cancer care and research.[54][55]
In February 2019, the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Trust donated $5 million to Jesuit High School.[56]
In March 2019, the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Trust donated $3.5 million to Second Harvest[57]
In September 2019, the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Trust donated $1 million to the campaign of Children's of Mississippi to build a playground at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.[58]
In December 2023, Ochsner Health System announced it would be constructing a new, standalone children's hospital with a significant donation from Gayle Benson. The 343,000-square-feet facility will be named The Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children's Hospital.[59]
Benson's lawyers also said for the first time this week that the entirety of the teams do not reside in those trusts. Attorney Paul Cordes said the various trusts contain 95 percent of the shares of Benson Basketball, the holding company for the Pelicans of the NBA. The trusts also contain 60 percent of the shares of Benson Football, the holding company for the NFL's Saints. The remaining shares are held by Tom Benson, who controls all of the voting shares in both companies. Holders of nonvoting shares typically have little or no voice on corporate matters. Such shares are usually granted to individuals who are willing to invest in the company's profitability and success without receiving voting rights in the company's direction.
Marie LaJaunie, the mother-in-law of New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, died Sunday at herNew Orleans home. She was 85. Her daughter Gayle, who married Benson in October 2004, said Mrs. LaJaunie was "dedicated to children and children's causes." "She had a passion for life," Tom Benson said. "She lived a full life, and she will be sorely missed by us all." A lifelong New Orleanian who grew up inAlgiers, Mrs. LaJaunie met Francis LaJaunie, the man she would marry, when they attendedAdolph Meyer Elementary School. She had to withdraw before high school because her mother had died and she had to raise her younger brother and sister. When her daughter Gayle had an interior-design firm, Mrs. LaJaunie helped her run the business side of the enterprise, and she assisted in designing and scheduling. Survivors include her husband, Francis LaJaunie; a son, Wayne LaJaunie; two daughters, Gayle Benson and Brenda LaJaunie; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The funeral and burial will be private.
Marie Folse LaJaunie passed away on Sunday, May 30, 2010 under the care of hospice at Chateau Living Center in Kenner, LA at the age of 85. She is survived by her husband Francis LaJaunie; three children; Gayle Benson, Wayne LaJaunie, and Brenda (Bee) LaJaunie Ernst; four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Marie was a devout Catholic with a special devotion to theBlessed Mother. Marie was an auxiliary member of theLegion of Mary for eight years. She was a parishioner of Divine Mercy in Kenner, LA. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Memorial Mass at LAKE LAWN METAIRIE FUNERAL HOME, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. (in Metairie Cemetery) on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 12:00 PM. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM. until service time. Inurnment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations to a hospice of your choice or masses preferred. To sign and view the Family Guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.
In the beginning was the word, and the word was from the Book of Acts, and it was read by a soft-spoken brunette at an early Mass in April in St. Louis Cathedral. In the congregation was the recently widowed Tom Benson, who asked to be introduced to Gayle Bird after the 7:30 a.m. service. They spoke, and Benson invited her, through his assistant, to join him at a VooDoo game -- he owns the arena football franchise -- on Mother's Day. ... Margarita Bergen, the French Quarter gallery owner, not only wore Saints colors -- gold top, long black skirt -- but also had dusted her eyelids and cheeks with gold. 'It's gold, gold everywhere,' she said, gesturing broadly as she air-kissed her way through the crowd. ... Bird, who describes herself as a native of Algiers 'before it was fashionable,' graduated from Martin Behrman High School. She has built a successful business, Gayle Bird Creations, designing interiors not only for homes but also offices and hotels, as well as exquisitely coordinated Christmas trees.
HILL: Your life took a magnificent turn -- almost nine years ago when -- you met Tom. And we want to hear all about this sort of fairy tale life I think we envisioned for you but before that I think people would be very interested to know. That you're. You grew up on the West Bank and your you're a Marrero girl. BENSON: Algiers. HILL: Algiers. Excuse me. BENSON: Before it was fashionable. HILL: Oh I see. [Hill and Benson start to laugh] HILL: Talk to us about growing up.
'We have renovated over 100 properties and in the past 10 years we lived in five houses.' interior designer Gayle Bird said. 'We will sell this one too when it's finished,' she added referring to her 1819 Victorian home at 1702 Valance St. in Uptown New Orleans. It was gutted and renovated in the past year, by Bird and her husband, Thomas Bird.
Bird and her husband have bought, renovated, decorated and sold about 100 houses in Uptown New Orleans. Among her interior design clients are broadcastersAngela Hill andGarland Robinette and P.M. Magazine host Lee Sinclair. 'When anyone calls me to redo a room, the first question I ask is how much she's got to spend,' says Bird. 'That way we don't have to waste time looking at $50-a yard fabric when she wants to spend $20.'
Benson has maintained complete control of the Saints and Pelicans franchises by keeping all the voting shares and moving only non-voting shares into family trusts. He has 40 percent of the Saints, while his heirs' trusts contain 60 percent. The trusts own 95 percent of the Pelicans, with Benson owning only 5 percent -- though his portion constitutes all the Pelicans' voting shares. The lawsuit lays out what Tom Benson is seeking to remove from the trusts: All shares in a group of companies known as the Zelia entities, which hold interests in Benson Tower, Champions Square, Jefferson Parish real estate for Benson auto dealerships, a surface parking lot at Claiborne Avenue and Poydras Street, and other assets in Texas. All shares in Benson Football, Benson Basketball, which are the holding companies for the Saints and Pelicans. All shares in Bensco, a holding company for interests in Benson's San Antonio area dealerships and other assets. According to the lawsuit, Benson is swapping those $556 million in assets for: Real estate in Blanco County, Texas, of unspecified value. Canceled debt the trusts owe Benson totaling $94.5 million. More than $450 million in promissory notes.
During the over 80 years of my life, I have built a rather large estate which was intended to mainly be for you all as my family. Suddenly after I remarried you all became offensive and did not act in an appropriate manner and even had arguments among yourselves which created a very unpleasant family situation which I will not stand for. It made me very unhappy and uncomfortable. This situation cannot continue at my age. Because of the facts set out above and the heart break you have caused me I want no further contact with any of you and you will not be allowed to enter the Saint's facilities or games, the Basketball facilities or Pelicans games, the Benson Towers, the T.V. facilities or the automotive facilities in New Orleans and will have no right to give directions, orders or hire or fire any of the personnel.
Dixie Brewing Co. survived but owners Joe and Kendra Bruno told Modern Brewery Age 'it will be a while before the brewery is turning out beer.' The Brunos are considering offers from other brewers to produce Dixie beer. 'Dixie will rise again,' Kendra says.
Benson's lawyers also said for the first time this week that the entirety of the teams do not reside in those trusts. Attorney Paul Cordes said the various trusts contain 95 percent of the shares of Benson Basketball, the holding company for thePelicans of theNBA. The trusts also contain 60 percent of the shares of Benson Football, the holding company for theNFL'sSaints. The remaining shares are held byTom Benson, who controls all of the voting shares in both companies. Holders of nonvoting shares typically have little or no voice on corporate matters. Such shares are usually granted to individuals who are willing to invest in the company's profitability and success without receiving voting rights in the company's direction.
By last year, Tom Benson owned 40 percent of the Saints, all in voting shares, while the trusts for his heirs owned about 60 percent, all in non-voting shares, Cordes said. For the Pelicans, Benson owned 5 percent, all voting shares, and the trusts for his heirs held 95 percent, all nonvoting shares.
Tom Benson has maintained all of the power over the Saints and Pelicans franchises by owning all of the voting shares and moving only non-voting shares into family trusts. Benson owns 40 percent of the Saints, while his heirs' trusts own 60 percent. The trusts own 95 percent of the Pelicans, with Benson owning only 5 percent -- though his portion constitutes all the Pelicans' voting shares.
Benson owns 40 percent of the Saints, while his heirs' trusts own 60 percent. The trusts own 95 percent of the Pelicans, with Benson owning only 5 percent -- though his portion constitutes all the Pelicans' voting shares.
Schonekas, though, argued aLouisiana court doesn't necessarily have jurisdiction because assets are located in the state. As an example, he argued, if assets in the trusts were replaced with property inMontana, it wouldn't mean aMontana court has jurisdiction over Rosenthal. Meanwhile, he said, Benson was listed as a resident ofTexas until he declared himself aLouisiana resident in January, as the litigation was getting underway.Benson's lawyers have said federal court is appropriate becauseBenson is aLouisiana resident and Rosenthal is aTexas resident, making it a federal case. Meanwhile, they argue, the question overBenson's rights to exchange assets is centered on federal tax law. ***Tom Benson has maintained all of the power over theSaints andPelicans franchises by owning all of the voting shares and moving only non-voting shares into family trusts.Benson owns 40 percent of theSaints, while his heirs' trusts own 60 percent. The trusts own 95 percent of thePelicans, withBenson owning only 5 percent — though his portion constitutes all thePelicans' voting shares.
Benson wants to remove nonvoting shares of theSaints andPelicans from their trusts; he's allowed to do that if he replaces them with equally valuable assets, but the 'mostly promissory notes' he has offered thus far are being challenged as an 'insufficient exchange' that would short-change the trustees. The trusts hold 60 percent of the Saints and 95 percent of Pelicans, all of which is non-voting stock, with Benson maintaining sole control of the teams by owning all voting stock.
The trusts involve include 60 percent of theSaints ownership and 95 percent of thePelicans ownership. His grandchildren have blocked removal of the ownership shares in exchange for promissory notes because they didn't feel the stipulation of replacement for equal value was good enough.
Earlier, court documents indicated that Benson said in a deposition that he removed his heirs because they tried to kill him. In the documents from the deposition, Benson said about his heirs: "You know, by picking on my wife and when I wasn't feeling very good, they were very hostile." *** The heirs' trust funds hold 95 percent of thePelicans and 60 percent of theSaints.
The litigation involves only non-controlling stock in the franchises, meaning the shares didn't give the heirs any authority over the teams, only a financial interest. Tom Benson has remained in charge of the teams by owning all of the controlling shares. The heirs' trust funds hold 95 percent of the Pelicans and 60 percent of the Saints.
The suit attempts to paint Gayle Benson as agold digger who is trying to take advantage of the Saints owner's health.
The suit portrays Gayle Benson, 67, as agold-diggingopportunist who has taken advantage of her husband's unfit state of health and ostracized family members in grasping for power and riches. *** Meanwhile, a Texas judge ordered a temporary freeze on the money and assets in a trust controlled by Tom Benson, an order requested by his daughter, Renee Benson. The temporary restraining order, signed by Judge Thomas Rickhoff of Bexar County on Wednesday, prevents Benson from withdrawing, transferring or otherwise diminishing the value of the Shirley L. Benson Testamentary Trust. Shirley L. Benson was Benson's first wife. Gayle, Benson's third wife, was preceded by Grace. The 27-page petition reveals a series of incidents Renee, Rita and Ryan claim illustrate Tom Benson's deteriorating mental and physical health. Among them: He has been heavily medicated in the past year and has 'acknowledged on occasions that he does not know his age, where he is, what day of the week it is, nor what the date is.' His mental acuity and memory have declined so much that 'on at least one occasion (he) failed to recognize his daughter, Renee,' and 'failed to remember or commemorate her birthday.' Further, it claims he recently was asked to name the current president of the United States and replied Ronald Reagan, then guessed Harry Truman on his second attempt. His diet has diminished to the point that he rarely consumes full meals and subsists mainly on 'candy, ice cream, sodas and red wine.'
The suit attempts to paint Gayle Benson as agold digger who is trying to take advantage of the Saints owner's health. It asks the court to appoint Renee Benson as executor of Tom Benson's sports and business empire with Rita Leblanc taking a secondary position.
But we do we begin this half hour with a family inheritance battle now gone public. At stake is the ownership of both an NFL and an NBA team. This, after the current owner announced his plans to pass the team down to his current wife rather than on to his family as he'd originally planned. NBC's Janet Shamlian has more. *** It's a family feud with ownership of theNew Orleans Saints hanging in the balance. *** Family members of eighty-seven-year-old current owner Tom Benson say he is incompetent. The claim coming in a lawsuit filed one day after Benson unexpectedly announced a change in the Saints' future ownership. Now saying the team will go to his third wife, Gayle Benson instead of his family. They released this statement: 'Sadly, the Benson family was forced to take this action in the best interest of Tom Benson and his legacy...and the multitude of Pelicans and Saints fans.' Benson also owns the NBA Pelicans team. The suit portrays sixty-seven-year-old Gayle Benson as a manipulativegold digger, capitalizing on her husband's failing health, claiming she keeps him heavily medicated, away from his family and has been feeding him a bizarre diet of candy, ice cream, sodas and red wine.
Gayle Benson, as wife No. 3, is cast in the stereotypical role ofgold digger out to alienate the aging father from his children and seize the riches for herself.
Renee Benson and her children filed a lawsuit seeking to declare Tom Benson incompetent to make his own decisions, and to put Renee Benson in charge of the family's fortune. Among their arguments painting Gayle Benson as agold digger who is manipulating the family patriarch, the lawsuit notes, briefly, that when Tom Benson married the former Gayle Marie LaJaunie Bird in 2004, the couple signed the prenuptial agreement.
Is Mr. Benson feeble or frail? Is Gayle Benson agold digger or his protector? Are his daughter and grandchildren spoiled or spurned?
