McNeese public address announcer Bruce Merchant named 2021 Louis Bonnette Sports Media Award winner

FRISCO, Texas – Longtime Lake Charles, La., radio personality and McNeese public address announcer Bruce Merchant has been selected as the recipient of the Southland Conference’s 2021 Louis Bonnette Sports Media Award. Southland Conference Commissioner Tom Burnett will present Merchant with the award during McNeese’s home football game Saturday against Nicholls.

The award is named after longtime McNeese sports information director and Southland Hall of Honor member Louis Bonnette. The award is presented annually to an individual that has made outstanding contributions in the field of sports information, print journalism, broadcasting or other media focused on the Southland Conference and/or its member institutions. The Southland’s sports information directors, athletic directors and other university personnel, and outside media executives nominate individuals for the award, and the sports information directors make the final selection.

Merchant has been a fixture around McNeese and the Southland Conference for 35 years serving as both radio personality and public address announcer for various Cowboy and Cowgirl sports including football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball. He also served on the Southland Conference broadcast team for postseason baseball and softball tournaments.

“Bruce is a true broadcasting professional and one of the most recognizable voices within the Southland Conference,” Burnett said. “His efforts to promote McNeese and the Southland, and the respect he has built among his media peers, make him an outstanding and deserving recipient of this award. We are very pleased to add Bruce’s name to this prestigious group of Bonnette Award honorees.”

“Bruce will go the extra mile to help not only promote McNeese Athletics but also the Southland Conference is second to none,” McNeese Associate AD Matthew Bonnette said. “There are no barriers to hurdle or red tape to cut when it comes to extra coverage.”

Merchant is the 10th recipient of the award. Previous winners include: Former television talent and Southland football sideline reporter Carley McCord (2020); former Abilene Christian Sports Information Director Lance Fleming (2019); former sports editor and columnist for the Log Cabin Democrat newspaper (Conway, Ark.) David MCollum (2018); former Lamar play-by-play voice and TV personality Dave Hofferth (2017); Northwestern State Assistant Athletic Director and Sports Information Director Doug Ireland (2016); former Daily Sentinel (Nacogdoches, Texas) Sports Editor Kevin Gore (2015); retired Sam Houston State Sports Information Director Paul Ridings (2014); and southeast Texas sports journalist and retired Lamar Sports Information Director Rush Wood (2013).

Louis Bonnette, who will also be present at Saturday’s in-game recognition, was the first honoree in 2012. Bonnette enjoyed a storied career as the first McNeese SID, holding the position for 46 years. As SID, he boasted a national record of 516 consecutive Cowboy football games worked. He was inducted into the Southland Conference Hall of Honor in 2007 and the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame in 2009.