(Louisiana – Statewide) - For thirty-seven years, Friends of Louisiana Public Broadcasting has celebrated the state’s best and brightest as Louisiana Legends. The 2027 honorees have distinguished themselves across an exceptional range of fields, including diplomacy, medicine, music, technology, energy, entrepreneurship, and sports innovation. This year also marks a historic first for Friends of LPB with the recognition of a company and its visionary founders, honoring the impact of Louisiana leadership in our state and beyond while inspiring future generations of leaders and innovators.

The 2027 Louisiana Legends honorees:
Ambassador Cindy Courville
An Opelousas native, Ambassador Cindy Courville made history as the first U.S. Ambassador to the African Union. Throughout her distinguished career, she has held senior leadership roles with the National Security Council, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the U.S. Department of Defense, helping shape U.S. policy and strengthen diplomatic relations across Africa.
Monty Chicola
A visionary Alexandria entrepreneur and founder of Real Vision Software, an IBM Business Partner at the forefront of document-management solutions enhanced by artificial intelligence. His pioneering work continues to advance emerging technologies, inspire future innovators and shape the expanding role of AI in business and industry.
Dr. Cleve Francis
Jennings native Dr. Cleve Francis is a renowned cardiologist, country music artist, and trailblazer whose remarkable career spans medicine and music. The first Black cardiologist in the Inova Health System, he also gained national recognition as a recording artist and Grand Ole Opry performer, breaking barriers and championing greater representation in both fields.

Houston Energy L.P. and Founders Billy Harrison and Ron Neal
LSU alumni Billy Harrison and Ron Neal co-founded Houston Energy in 1988, transforming their entrepreneurial vision into one of the nation’s most respected independent oil and gas exploration companies. Through decades of leadership, innovation, and industry expertise, they have made a lasting impact on energy exploration along the Gulf Coast while remaining deeply committed to supporting LSU and strengthening opportunities for future generations. 
Jack Marucci
Jack Marucci is a nationally respected athletic trainer, sports performance innovator, and founder of Marucci Sports, one of baseball’s leading equipment brands. After serving 25 years as LSU’s Director of Athletic Training, he was named Director of Performance Innovation in 2021 and entered his 31st year with LSU Athletics in 2026–27.

These distinguished honorees join a prestigious group of 179 past Louisiana Legends, including Grammy and Academy Award winners, world-renowned chefs and artists, a Nobel Prize recipient, esteemed dignitaries, and legendary sports figures. Each year, the Louisiana Legends are selected by the Friends of LPB Louisiana Legends Board Committee, composed of volunteer representatives from across the state.

The 2027 Louisiana Legends Gala and Awards Ceremony will be held Thursday, April 29, at Louisiana’s Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge, and will feature a dinner, an auction featuring items donated by the honorees, music, and an awards ceremony that will be broadcast live on LPB. For more information visit lpb.org/legends.

Begun in 1990, the Louisiana Legends Gala is a fundraising and public awareness project that draws support and participation from citizens across the state who appreciate the quality educational and cultural programs offered by Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

For individual headshots of the Legends honorees for publication, e-mail cthompson@lpb.org.

Friends of Louisiana Public Broadcasting:
Friends of Louisiana Public Broadcasting, a nonprofit corporation operating to support the Foundation for Excellence in Louisiana Public Broadcasting (FELPB), provides funding for the educational and cultural enrichment of all citizens and assists in making public television programming available and accessible to all of Louisiana. For more information, visit lpb.org/friends.

Louisiana Public Broadcasting:
Since 1975, LPB has been the public television network for the state of Louisiana with stations in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, and Shreveport, and is also affiliated with WLAE in New Orleans. LPB’s mission is to improve the lives of all Louisianans with the highest quality programming that educates, enlightens and entertains and that showcases Louisiana’s unique history, people, places and events reaching audiences over-the-air, on the web, in the home and in the classroom. For more information, visit lpb.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Caitlyn Thompson
Digital Membership Representative
Friends of LPB
225.767.4243
cthompson@lpb.org