Rita Benson LeBlanc

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Rita M. LeBlanc
File:RitaLeblanc.jpg
LeBlanc, March 2010
Born (1977-01-07) January 7, 1977 (age 48)
Houma, Louisiana, United States
NationalityAmerican
Alma materTexas A&M University (B.S, Agribusiness, 2001)
OccupationNFL executive
Years activeca. 2002 -- 2015
Known forformer Vice Chairman of the Board of the New Orleans Saints
ParentRussell LeBlanc (father)
Renee Benson (mother)
WebsiteRita Benson LeBlanc on Twitter

Rita Mae LeBlanc, also known as Rita Benson LeBlanc (born January 11, 1977), is a former vice chairman of the board of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League.[1][2]

Early life and education

LeBlanc is the daughter of Russell LeBlanc and of Renee Benson, the daughter of the late Tom Benson, who owned the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans prior to his death.[3] Rita has a brother, Ryan LeBlanc.[4][5] Born in Houma, Louisiana[6] when her family lived in nearby Cut Off,[7] she was raised on a ranch near Johnson City, Texas, where she attended Lyndon B. Johnson High School[8] before receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in agribusiness at Texas A&M University in 2001.[9]

Career

LeBlanc began interning for the Saints and in various league offices while still in high school, and went to work for the Saints after college.[7][10] In 2003, she took over management of the New Orleans VooDoo, the Arena Football League team also owned by Benson, and was named the indoor league's top executive.[6] (The VooDoo ceased operations in 2008.)[11] In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, she began to take on a more public role and greater responsibilities in the management of the Saints.[10] She chairs the NFL Employee Benefits Committee,[1] and was previously identified as Benson's intended successor as principal owner of the team.[12][13] LeBlanc is on the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service.[14] In 2012, Tom Benson suspended LeBlanc from her jobs on account of her "sense of entitlement."[15][4][13]

Lawsuit against grandfather

It was announced on January 21, 2015, by then Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson that Leblanc was no longer in consideration for future ownership of either franchise.[2] She then sued him for control of his companies, claiming he was "incompetent." Tom Benson called the lawsuit meritless and false.[16]<ref>{{cite news

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 New Orleans Saints - Rita Benson LeBlanc Archived 2010-06-01 at the Wayback Machine at New Orleans Saints official website (accessed April 1, 2010).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jason La Canfora (January 21, 2015). "Rita Benson LeBlanc out as Saints owner/ vice chairman". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  3. ↑ Granddaughter of Saints’ Boss Is Getting Ready to Call the Plays - New York Times
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Brian Solomon (April 23, 2012). "Billionaire Tom Benson Benches Granddaughter, Presumed Heir, For Her "Sense Of Entitlement"". Forbes. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  5. ↑ Jeff Duncan (April 22, 2012). "Rita Benson LeBlanc's conspicuous absence at high-profile events leaves some wondering about her future with N.O.'s sports franchises". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Franz Lidz, "Rita's Hail Mary Pass", Portfolio, September 17, 2007. Archived May 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Sue Stachan, "Persona: Rita Benson LeBlanc", New Orleans Magazine, September 2007.
  8. ↑ Maria C. Montoya, "The Saints' heir apparent Rita Benson LeBlanc has a nose for books, a passion for her BlackBerry, and an admitted grumpy streak", Times-Picayune, July 26, 2009.
  9. ↑ Franz Lidz (September 17, 2007). "Rita's Hail Mary Pass". Upstart Business Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2015. In 2001, after graduating from Texas A&M with a degree in agribusiness, she started working for the Saints…
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Tom Orsborn, "LeBlanc works her way up Saints’ ladder"[dead link‍], San Antonio Express-News, February 6, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Arena Football League's VooDoo folding", Associated Press in USA Today, October 13, 2008.
  12. ↑ James O'Byrne, "Rita Benson LeBlanc is climbing to the top of the Saints roster with hard work, not just pedigree", Times-Picayune, July 26, 2009.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Jeff Duncan (April 22, 2012). "Rita Benson LeBlanc's conspicuous absence at high-profile events leaves some wondering about her future with N.O.'s sports franchises". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  14. ↑ "About - Jefferson Awards". Jefferson Awards. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  15. ↑ Jason La Canfora (January 21, 2015). "Rita Benson LeBlanc out as Saints owner/ vice chairman". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 24, 2015. Benson LeBlanc has had a tumultuous relationship with her grandfather and with many key figures within the team's hierarchy, and was suspended by Tom Benson for three months in 2012.
  16. ↑ Jeff Duncan (January 21, 2015). "New Orleans Saints, Pelicans ownership shocker: wife Gayle, not granddaughter Rita, will control empire after Tom Benson dies". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved January 24, 2015. Rita Benson LeBlanc, Renee LeBlanc and Ryan LeBlanc were removed from the Saints' staff directory Wednesday night; Rita also had the title of vice chairman of the board with both franchises.…. Renee and Ryan Benson also have been shut out from Benson's operations. Their offices at the team's facility on Airline Drive have been closed.

External links

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