Fleur de Lis Award recipient Peter Finney ’’45 acknowledges the crowd’s applause.

Journalist Peter Finney ’45 has been recognized by the New Orleans Saints for his contributions to the organization. At the Saints’ Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on November 15, 2013, Finney received the Joe Gemelli Fleur de Lis Award for his contributions to the betterment of the club.

During his time at Carrollton and Banks, Finney was the student sports editor of The Blue Jay newspaper following in the footsteps of another Blue Jay sports editor Hap Glaudi ’36 and preceding his good friend Buddy Diliberto ’48.

Following Jesuit and while attending Loyola, Finney immediately began his career as a sports journalist at the New Orleans daily newspapers. A big part of his career was spent covering the Saints. When John Gilliam ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the Saints’ very first game, Pete Finney told us about it. When Tom Dempsey kicked his record 63 yard field goal, Pete Finney told us about it. And when the Saints won the Super Bowl after the 2009 season, Pete Finney told us about it.

At the awards ceremony, another Blue Jay, Saints President Dennis Lauscha ’87 said of Peter Finney, “He is a true icon in sports journalism.”

All Finney could say upon receiving the award was “Thank, thank you, thank you. I don’t know what else to say?”

On the dais with Finney were his son Peter Finney, Jr. ’74 and his grandson Rev. Peter Finney III, who delivered the invocation and the benediction. Finney is also the father of Timothy Finney ’77 and Michael Finney ’85 and the grandfather of Ryan Finney ’04, Jonathan Finney ’06, Matthew Finney ’06, Erik Finney ’19, and John Haas.

Barra Birrcher ’56, another Jesuit alumnus, received the Fleur de Lis Award in 2008.

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The Family Finney: Peter Finney, Jr. ’74, Peter Finney, Sr. ’46, and Rev. Peter Finney III ’02	Three sports editors from The Blue Jay newspaper: Peter Finney, Jr. ’74, Jerry Spencer (’15), and Peter Finney, Sr. ’45
The “Jesuit” table at the Saints Hall of Fame induction ceremony: Dominic Massa ’94, Kevin Heigle ’69, Ian Blanchard ’03, junior Jerry Spencer (’15), Mat Grau ’68, Frank Misuraca, and Don Ford ’46