Gayle Benson displays graciousness, class in helping Ed Daniels and his family

8/7/2024

Photo Provided By: CCS

Da Boot Sports
8/6/2024
Article Courtesy of: Crescent City Sports
By: Ken Trahan

Many people have asked about the latest condition of my closest friend, Ed Daniels.Ed has worked with us at Crescent City Sports since what eventually led to the founding of this site launched as the sports division of NewOrleans.com in 2008. Ed and I have worked in radio together since 1989, continuing a relationship which began for us together at Archbishop Rummel and Loyola University.

He has also served on our Saints Hall of Fame Media Selection Committee since its inception in 1988.
Based on the close relationship between Ed and myself and based on the wishes of his wonderful wife, Robin, a close family friend, we have remained silent on Ed’s specific condition, other than to mention the seriousness of his affliction on my radio shows on The Ticket, 106.1 FM and asked for continued prayer.
The outpouring of prayer has been amazing.

The display of affection, genuine love, has been sobering and emotional.

Given the circumstances of suffering his severe setback while in Los Angeles, the goal, from day one, was to have Ed return to his hometown.

That goal was accomplished Monday evening.

The enormous expense of a Medevac flight was a daunting obstacle to overcome.

My friend, Joe Scheuermann of Delgado Community College made a call to Gayle Benson.

Following that correspondence, I was able to contact New Orleans Saints and Pelicans President Dennis Lauscha.
With the process started, Saints Senior Vice President Greg Bensel got involved.
The end result was a genuine act of graciousness and class.
Mrs. Benson, who has been a source of benevolence and charitable contributions to so many wonderful causes, seized the day and helped another great cause, as she and her late husband Tom have, including with Rummel, Loyola and Delgado.
That cause is my closest friend.
Mrs. Benson and the Saints paid the way to return Ed to the New Orleans area.
“We are just trying to help someone in need whom we care about and we worked with Ochsner to facilitate it,” Bensel said.

Mrs. Benson, Lauscha and Bensel are all native New Orleanians.

So is Ed.

So am I.

There is a bond, a closeness, a love of our area and those entities we hold dear.

That includes the Saints and Pelicans.

That includes Ed and Robin Daniels and their children and grandchildren.

Per Robin’s request, I have served as a conduit, a spokesperson to handle all calls, e-mails, texts and social media messages about Ed. Those number in the thousands, at the very least. It is the least I can do. People care deeply about Ed.

While the final outcome is still to be determined, Ed’s future remains uncertain.

In the world of sports, it is all about the outcome, the final score.

That will come.

An enormously competitive person and consummate professional, Ed will play to the final whistle, until the clock expires, until the final out.

The hope remains that we will see and hear from my friend again. The prayers have been plentiful and loud. They have been heard.

Thanks to all who have been in that number.

Now, we wait impatiently and believe in a winning result as the family remains private about specific details for public consumption.

Whatever the outcome, Ed is a winner.

While we all hope the Saints and Pelicans are winners in 2024 and 2025, Benson, Lauscha and Bensel have displayed championship form.

Crescent City Sports, The Ticket 106.1 FM and the Saints Hall of Fame thank you all in most appreciative fashion.

John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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