Lou Gehrig Burnett Receives Manship Award

The longtime journalist and political aide Lou Gehrig Burnett has been installed in the (LSU) Manship School of Mass Communication Hall of Fame at the annual Gala in Baton Rouge. Members include the likes of campaign strategist/political commentator James Carville, the late political writer John Maginnis, and Louisiana Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne.

Burnett says he is humbled and grateful for the honor among so many other illustrious people inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame.

Burnett’s interest in journalism began in college at Nicholls and LSU, where he was editor and sports editor, respectively, of the school’s newspaper.

(Burnett is a huge LSU sports fan.) He then became press secretary for United States Rep. F. Edward Hebert of New Orleans. That started a 27-year career on Capitol Hill, which included working as chief-of-staff for U.S. Rep. Jerry Huckaby.

After retiring from the federal government, Burnett moved to Shreveport, where he was the executive assistant for Mayor “Bo” Williams, as well as a political columnist and analyst for various publications and television stations.

He continues that work today, writing for The Forum and publishing a political newsletter, Fax-Net Update.