View source for Gayle Benson

{{Short description|American businesswoman (born 1947)}}
{{For|the British model|Gale Benson}}
{{use American English|date=September 2018}}
{{use mdy dates|date=September 2018}}

{{Infobox person
| name         = Gayle Benson
| image        = File:Benson-headshot.jpg
| alt          = Benson in 2018
| caption      = Benson in 2018
| birth_name   = Gayle Marie LaJaunie
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1947|1|26}}
| birth_place  = [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], U.S.
| death_date   =
| death_place  =
| education    =
| occupation   = Businesswoman and [[Professional sports league organization|sports franchise]] owner
| known_for    = Principal owner, [[New Orleans Saints]] and [[New Orleans Pelicans]]
| spouse       = {{Plainlist| 
{{marriage |Nace Solomone
 |1967-04-08 |1972-02-11 |end=divorced }}<ref name="salomone">{{cite court |litigants=Nace Anthony Solomone v. Gayle La Jaunie Solomone |vol= |reporter=Case No. 129-740, Division "A" |opinion= |pinpoint= |court=La. 24th J.D.C. |date=March 16, 1972 | quote=On or about August 11, 1970, defendant, Gayle LaJaunie oSalomone, abandoned petitioner by moving out of the matrimonial domicile without lawful cause and since that date has constantly refused to return and/or live with petitioner.}}</ref><br/>
{{marriage |Thomas Bird |1977-02-14 |1987-06-25 |end=divorced }}<ref Name="birddivorce">{{ cite court |litigants=Gayle LaJauine Bird v. Thomas Sinnott Bird, Sr. |vol= |reporter=Case No. 86-16643, Section "K," Division "2" |opinion= |pinpoint= |court=Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans |date=June 25, 1987 }}</ref><br/>
{{marriage|[[Tom Benson]]|2004|2018|end=died}} }}
| parents      =
| website      = 
}}

'''Gayle Marie LaJaunie Bird Benson''' (born January 26, 1947) is an American businesswoman who is the owner of the [[New Orleans Saints]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and the [[New Orleans Pelicans]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA). She became the principal owner of the Saints and Pelicans following the death of her husband, [[Tom Benson]], in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sunherald.com/sports/nfl/new-orleans-saints/brian-allee-walsh/article212398934.html |title=First Lady of Sports in New Orleans making her presence felt early and often |last=Allee-Walsh |first=Brian |date=June 1, 2018 |website=sunherald.com |publisher=Sun Herald |access-date=June 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gayle Benson becomes Saints, Pelicans owner |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/03/15/gayle-benson-becomes-saints-pelicans-owner/ |work=ProFootballTalk - NBC Sports |date=March 15, 2018 |access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref><ref name="White1">{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/article_db121a4e-389d-5623-ae30-f3432f020fbb.html|title=Tom Benson ups ante in proposal to take Saints, Pelicans out of estranged heirs' trust|last1=White|first1=Jaquetta|last2=Vargas|first2=Ramon Antonio|date=February 3, 2015|website=theadvocate.com|publisher=[[The Advocate (Louisiana)|The New Orleans Advocate]]|access-date=February 3, 2015|quote=Benson's lawyers also said for the first time this week that the entirety of the teams do not reside in those trusts. Attorney Paul Cordes said the various trusts contain 95 percent of the shares of Benson Basketball, the holding company for the Pelicans of the NBA. The trusts also contain 60 percent of the shares of Benson Football, the holding company for the NFL's Saints. The remaining shares are held by Tom Benson, who controls all of the voting shares in both companies. Holders of nonvoting shares typically have little or no voice on corporate matters. Such shares are usually granted to individuals who are willing to invest in the company's profitability and success without receiving voting rights in the company's direction.}}</ref>

==Early life==
She was born Gayle Marie LaJaunie, the daughter of Francis J. LaJaunie (January 5, 1924 – July 18, 2010), and Marie Folse LaJaunie (1924 – May 30, 2010).<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=June 1, 2010 |title=Marie LaJaunie, Benson's mom-in-law |quote=Marie LaJaunie, the mother-in-law of New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, died Sunday at her [[New Orleans]] home. She was 85. Her daughter Gayle, who married Benson in October 2004, said Mrs. LaJaunie was "dedicated to children and children's causes." "She had a passion for life," Tom Benson said. "She lived a full life, and she will be sorely missed by us all." A lifelong New Orleanian who grew up in [[Algiers, New Orleans|Algiers]], Mrs. LaJaunie met Francis LaJaunie, the man she would marry, when they attended [[Adolph Meyer]] Elementary School. She had to withdraw before high school because her mother had died and she had to raise her younger brother and sister. When her daughter Gayle had an interior-design firm, Mrs. LaJaunie helped her run the business side of the enterprise, and she assisted in designing and scheduling. Survivors include her husband, Francis LaJaunie; a son, Wayne LaJaunie; two daughters, Gayle Benson and Brenda LaJaunie; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The funeral and burial will be private. |newspaper=The Times-Picayune |location=New Orleans |page=B3 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=June 4, 2010 |title=Funeral Notice - LaJaunie |quote=Marie Folse LaJaunie passed away on Sunday, May 30, 2010 under the care of hospice at Chateau Living Center in Kenner, LA at the age of 85. She is survived by her husband Francis LaJaunie; three children; Gayle Benson, Wayne LaJaunie, and Brenda (Bee) LaJaunie Ernst; four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Marie was a devout Catholic with a special devotion to the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Blessed Mother]]. Marie was an auxiliary member of the [[Legion of Mary]] for eight years. She was a parishioner of Divine Mercy in Kenner, LA. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Memorial Mass at LAKE LAWN METAIRIE FUNERAL HOME, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. (in Metairie Cemetery) on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 12:00 PM. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM. until service time. Inurnment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations to a hospice of your choice or masses preferred. To sign and view the Family Guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com. |newspaper=The Times-Picayune |location=New Orleans }}</ref>

She grew up in [[Algiers, New Orleans]], and attended [[St. Joseph Academy (New Orleans)|St. Joseph]], St. Anthony and Holy Name of Mary schools. She graduated from Martin Behrman High School in 1966.<ref name="Plan1" /><ref name="TP20041029">{{cite news|title=This time, the Benson boogie will be down a church aisle: A winning team|last=Pope|first=John|date=2004-10-29|work=The Times-Picayune|location=New Orleans|pages=A1, A13|quote=In the beginning was the word, and the word was from the Book of Acts, and it was read by a soft-spoken brunette at an early Mass in April in St. Louis Cathedral. In the congregation was the recently widowed Tom Benson, who asked to be introduced to Gayle Bird after the 7:30 a.m. service. They spoke, and Benson invited her, through his assistant, to join him at a VooDoo game -- he owns the arena football franchise -- on Mother's Day. ... Margarita Bergen, the French Quarter gallery owner, not only wore Saints colors -- gold top, long black skirt -- but also had dusted her eyelids and cheeks with gold. 'It's gold, gold everywhere,' she said, gesturing broadly as she air-kissed her way through the crowd. ... Bird, who describes herself as a native of Algiers 'before it was fashionable,' graduated from Martin Behrman High School. She has built a successful business, Gayle Bird Creations, designing interiors not only for homes but also offices and hotels, as well as exquisitely coordinated Christmas trees.}}</ref><ref>{{cite interview|last=Benson|first=Gayle|subject-link=Gayle Benson|interviewer=[[Angela Hill (journalist)|Angela Hill]]|title=Angela Hill One on One with Gayle Benson|url=http://media.wwl.com/a/81602851/10-2-3-10p-angela-hill-one-on-one-with-gayle-benson.htm|access-date=2013-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926002255/http://media.wwl.com/a/81602851/10-2-3-10p-angela-hill-one-on-one-with-gayle-benson.htm|archive-date=2018-09-26|url-status=dead|publisher=WWL-FM Radio|location=New Orleans|date=2013-10-02|quote=HILL: Your life took a magnificent turn -- almost nine years ago when -- you met Tom. And we want to hear all about this sort of fairy tale life I think we envisioned for you but before that I think people would be very interested to know. That you're. You grew up on the West Bank and your you're a Marrero girl. BENSON: Algiers. HILL: Algiers. Excuse me. BENSON: Before it was fashionable. HILL: Oh I see. [Hill and Benson start to laugh] HILL: Talk to us about growing up.}}</ref>

==Career==
===Early career===
Benson began her career in receptionist and secretarial positions while doing interior design before buying and renovating businesses with her second husband, Thomas "T-Bird" Bird. Following their divorce, Benson continued an interior decorating business called Gayle Bird Interiors, Ltd.<ref name="Plan1">{{cite news|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/sports/saints/article_c5f40552-17e7-11e8-adb9-a73ba21f7728.html|title=Plan is for Gayle Benson to succeed Tom Benson as Saints, Pelicans owner|last=Vargas|first=Ramon|date=2018-03-15|work=The New Orleans Advocate|access-date=March 15, 2018|location=New Orleans}}</ref><ref name="Wright1">{{cite news |last=Wright |first=Jasmine |date=2015-07-03 |title='When your family attacks you, it's kind of hard to take': Aging New Orleans Saint's owner and billionaire Tom Benson, 87, speaks out after cutting his family from $1.9 billion fortune |url=https://www.ethiogrio.com/news/world-news/19654-when-your-family-attacks-you-it-s-kind-of-hard-to-take-aging-new-orleans-saint-s-owner-and-billionaire-tom-benson-87-speaks-out-after-cutting-his-family-from-1-9-billion-fortune.html |work=ethiogrio.com |access-date=2018-01-26 |archive-date=August 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805021722/https://www.ethiogrio.com/news/world-news/19654-when-your-family-attacks-you-it-s-kind-of-hard-to-take-aging-new-orleans-saint-s-owner-and-billionaire-tom-benson-87-speaks-out-after-cutting-his-family-from-1-9-billion-fortune.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the first ten years, Gayle and her then-husband Thomas Bird, renovated one hundred properties.<ref>{{cite news |last=Roniger |first=Marjorie |date=1985-06-22 |title=Decorator lives in showcase, will see home after renovation |quote='We have renovated over 100 properties and in the past 10 years we lived in five houses.' interior designer Gayle Bird said. 'We will sell this one too when it's finished,' she added referring to her 1819 Victorian home at 1702 Valance St. in Uptown New Orleans. It was gutted and renovated in the past year, by Bird and her husband, Thomas Bird. |newspaper=The Times-Picayune/The States-Item |location=New Orleans |page=20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Stuary |first=Lettice |date=1982-05-09 |title=The Inside Story |work=Times-Picayune: Dixie Magazine |location=New Orleans |page=22 |quote=Bird and her husband have bought, renovated, decorated and sold about 100 houses in Uptown New Orleans. Among her interior design clients are broadcasters [[Angela Hill (journalist)|Angela Hill]] and [[Garland Robinette]] and P.M. Magazine host Lee Sinclair. 'When anyone calls me to redo a room, the first question I ask is how much she's got to spend,' says Bird. 'That way we don't have to waste time looking at $50-a yard fabric when she wants to spend $20.'}}</ref>

===New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans===
Benson became the owner of both the Saints and Pelicans following the death of her husband Tom.<ref name="Fan">{{cite news |last=Finney |first=Peter |date=2018-03-16 |title=New Orleans Saints' first lady Gayle Benson has come a long way as a fan |url=https://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2009/08/new_orleans_saints_first_lady.html |work=The Times-Picayune |location=New Orleans |access-date=2018-06-26 }}</ref>

Benson is one of ten female NFL owners, including [[Sheila Ford Hamp]] ([[Detroit Lions]]), [[Kim Pegula]] ([[Buffalo Bills]]), [[Carol Davis (American football)|Carol Davis]] ([[Oakland Raiders]]), [[Denise DeBartolo York]] ([[San Francisco 49ers]]), [[Amy Adams Strunk]] ([[Tennessee Titans]]), [[Virginia Halas McCaskey]] ([[Chicago Bears]]),  [[Janice McNair]] ([[Houston Texans]]), [[Jody Allen]] ([[Seattle Seahawks]]), and [[Dee Haslam]] ([[Cleveland Browns]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texans/article/Texans-owner-Janice-McNair-You-play-to-win-13726449.php|title = Texans owner Janice McNair: 'You play to win'|date = March 29, 2019}}</ref>

Benson and Allen ([[Portland Trail Blazers]]) are two of five female owners in the NBA, along with [[Jeanie Buss]] ([[Los Angeles Lakers]]), [[Miriam Adelson]] ([[Dallas Mavericks]]) and [[Ann Walton Kroenke]] ([[Denver Nuggets]]).

Tom Benson had planned on [[Bequest|bequeathing]] the voting stock shares of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans to his daughter Renee Benson, grandson Ryan Benson LeBlanc, and granddaughter [[Rita Benson LeBlanc]].<ref name="White1" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Benson hits back with new lawsuit - Stock in Saints, Pelicans would be stripped from trust funds |last1=Sayre |first1=Katherine |newspaper=The Times-Picayune |last2=Grimm |first2=Andy |location=New Orleans |date=2015-03-12 |page=A1 |quote=Benson has maintained complete control of the Saints and Pelicans franchises by keeping all the voting shares and moving only non-voting shares into family trusts. He has 40 percent of the Saints, while his heirs' trusts contain 60 percent. The trusts own 95 percent of the Pelicans, with Benson owning only 5 percent -- though his portion constitutes all the Pelicans' voting shares. The lawsuit lays out what Tom Benson is seeking to remove from the trusts: All shares in a group of companies known as the Zelia entities, which hold interests in Benson Tower, Champions Square, Jefferson Parish real estate for Benson auto dealerships, a surface parking lot at Claiborne Avenue and Poydras Street, and other assets in Texas. All shares in Benson Football, Benson Basketball, which are the holding companies for the Saints and Pelicans. All shares in Bensco, a holding company for interests in Benson's San Antonio area dealerships and other assets. According to the lawsuit, Benson is swapping those $556 million in assets for: Real estate in Blanco County, Texas, of unspecified value. Canceled debt the trusts owe Benson totaling $94.5 million. More than $450 million in promissory notes.}}</ref>

On December 27, 2014, Tom Benson wrote an e-mail to his daughter and two grandchildren stating he wanted "no further contact with any of you." Gayle Benson was named his heir.<ref name="NewYorkPost">{{cite news|url=https://nypost.com/2015/01/22/saints-owner-suddenly-spikes-grandchildren-hands-team-to-wife/|title=Saints owner suddenly spikes grandchildren, hands team to wife|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=2015-01-22|work=New York Post|access-date=2015-01-22}}</ref><ref name="Zurik">{{cite news|url=http://www.fox8live.com/story/27919760/benson-family-drama-told-in-letters-and-court-filings|title=Benson family drama, told in letters and court filings|last=Zurik|first=Lee|date=January 23, 2015|work=Fox Broadcasting Company WVUE|access-date=January 23, 2015|location=New Orleans|quote=During the over 80 years of my life, I have built a rather large estate which was intended to mainly be for you all as my family. Suddenly after I remarried you all became offensive and did not act in an appropriate manner and even had arguments among yourselves which created a very unpleasant family situation which I will not stand for. It made me very unhappy and uncomfortable. This situation cannot continue at my age. Because of the facts set out above and the heart break you have caused me I want no further contact with any of you and you will not be allowed to enter the Saint's facilities or games, the Basketball facilities or Pelicans games, the Benson Towers, the T.V. facilities or the automotive facilities in New Orleans and will have no right to give directions, orders or hire or fire any of the personnel.}}</ref>

Tom Benson's daughter and grandchildren filed lawsuits challenging his decision to name Gayle his heir, questioning his mental competency.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gatto |first=Matt |date=2016-06-29 |title=Gayle Benson testifies in husband's competency hearing |url=http://www.14news.com/story/29291936/gayle-benson-testifies-in-husbands-competency-hearing |work=NBC WFIE |location=Evansville, IN |access-date=2016-06-29 |archive-date=August 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805052356/http://www.14news.com/story/29291936/gayle-benson-testifies-in-husbands-competency-hearing |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Kin">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2015-06-02 |title=Tom Benson's kin testify in Saints and Pelicans owner's competency case |url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/13001447/heirs-new-orleans-saints-new-orleans-pelicans-owner-tom-benson-begin-testimony-competency-case |work=ESPN |access-date=2018-01-26 }}</ref><ref name="Update">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2015-01-23 |title=UPDATE: Judge Orders Tom Benson to Undergo Mental Evaluation |url=https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/update-judge-orders-tom-benson-to-undergo-mental-evaluation/153935837 |work=Fox News |access-date=2018-01-26 |archive-date=September 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926173749/https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/update-judge-orders-tom-benson-to-undergo-mental-evaluation/153935837 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Tom Benson was determined to be mentally competent and was allowed to change his will to leave ownership of the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans to his wife.<ref name="Vargas1">{{cite news|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/article_cb6957fe-91e9-11e8-98b8-d793ab5571ad.html|title=Outbursts in court, secret recordings, more: Inside look at Tom Benson family's legal battle|last=Vargas|first=Ramon|date=July 27, 2018|work=The Advocate|access-date=July 27, 2018|location=Baton Rouge}}</ref><ref name="Ley1">{{cite news|url=https://deadspin.com/suit-saints-owner-tom-benson-is-being-manipulated-by-h-1681345399|title=Suit: Saints Owner Tom Benson Is Being Manipulated By His Scheming Wife|last=Ley|first=Tom|date=January 23, 2015|work=deadspin.com|access-date=January 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name="WDSU2">{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjbqAzQ-MA8|title=Benson: Estranged heirs tried to kill me 'for one thing'|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=May 21, 2016|work=NBC WDSU|access-date=May 21, 2016|location=New Orleans}}</ref>

=== Labor complaints ===

Rodney Henry, former personal assistant to Tom Benson, filed a lawsuit accusing the New Orleans Saints and Gayle Benson of racism and violations of federal labor laws. The lawsuit claimed that Gayle Benson had treated him with disrespect because of his race.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/article_9716e143-261a-5ee2-892e-87d1efc89440.html|title=Lawsuit: Ex-Tom Benson assistant claims he was racially harassed by wife Gayle, treated 'with disdain and disrespect'|last=Vargas|first=Ramon Antonio|date=2016-01-22|work=The Advocate|access-date=2018-08-07}}</ref><ref name="Sterling">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2016-01-19 |title=NFL/NBA now have a Donald Sterling problem with Gayle Benson |url=https://saintsreport.com/threads/nfl-nba-now-have-a-donald-sterling-problem-with-gayle-benson.351824/page-5 |work=saintsreport.com |access-date=2018-01-26 }}</ref><ref name="Racist1">{{cite news |last=Putterman |first=Alex |date=2016-01-20 |title=Ex-assistant alleges racist comments by Saints owner's wife |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/ex-assistant-alleges-racist-comments-by-saints-owners-wife/ar-BBorN8Y |work=MSN |access-date=2018-01-26 }}</ref> An NFL arbitrator ruled in favor of Henry and against the [[New Orleans Saints|Saints]] on the labor complaint, awarding him overtime pay, a contractual payout for his dismissal, and attorney's fees; however, the same arbitrator ruled against Henry on the claims of racism.<ref name="SaintsPay">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2018-07-26 |title=Saints must pay $384K to fired assistant of late owner Tom Benson |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2018/07/26/fired-assistant-to-late-saints-owner-awarded-more-than-384k/37145315/ |work=USA Today |location=McLean, Virginia |access-date=2018-07-26 }}</ref><ref name="PersonalAide">{{cite news |last=Vargas |first=Ramon |date=2018-07-26 |title=New Orleans Saints ordered to cough up $400K in dispute with Tom Benson's former personal aide |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/courts/article_e11216be-9102-11e8-b3ab-8bd6cb1a1d82.html |work=The Advocate |location=Baton Rouge |access-date=2018-07-26 }}</ref><ref name="Triplett1">{{cite news |last=Triplett |first=Mike |date=2018-07-26 |title=Saints ordered to pay $400,000 to former assistant of Tom Benson |url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/24203451/new-orleans-saints-ordered-pay-tom-benson-former-personal-assistant-400000-unpaid-other-fees |work=ESPN |access-date=2018-07-26 }}</ref>

===Dixie Brewing Company, LLC===
In July 2017, it was announced that Tom and Gayle Benson had finalized an agreement to buy a [[Controlling interest|majority share]] of [[Dixie Brewing Company|Dixie Brewing Co.]]<ref name="Vargas">{{cite news |last=Vargas |first=Ramon |date=2017-07-27 |title=Tom, Gayle Benson finalize deal to buy majority of Dixie Brewing Co., build new brewery |newspaper=Sun Herald |location=Biloxi, Mississippi }}</ref> The company's [[brewery plant]] had been damaged and closed after [[Hurricane Katrina]].<ref>{{cite news|title=The National Scene|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|location=Orlando, Florida|date=2006-02-22|page=E3|quote=Dixie Brewing Co. survived but owners Joe and Kendra Bruno told Modern Brewery Age 'it will be a while before the brewery is turning out beer.' The Brunos are considering offers from other brewers to produce Dixie beer. 'Dixie will rise again,' Kendra says.}}</ref><ref name="Vargas"/> On August 7, 2018, Benson announced, with New Orleans Mayor [[LaToya Cantrell]], that Dixie Brewery would open a distribution center at the old MacFrugal's Distribution Center in New Orleans East.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2018-08-07 |title=Dixie beer is coming home: Brewery, pub planned for New Orleans East |url=https://wgno.com/2018/08/07/dixie-beer-is-coming-home-brewery-restaurant-planned-for-new-orleans-east/ |work=ABC WGNO |location=New Orleans |access-date=2018-08-07 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Monteverde |first=Danny |date=2017-07-27 |title=Benson buys Dixie Brewing Co., hopes to revive struggling brand: New brewery to be built in New Orleans |url=https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/benson-buys-dixie-brewing-co-hopes-to-revive-struggling-brand/459894679 |work=CBS WWL-TV |location=New Orleans |access-date=2017-07-27 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Thompson |first=Richard |date=August 7, 2018 |title=Dixie returns: New Orleans brewery to be built at site of former MacFrugal's building |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/article_64f2d5f6-9a52-11e8-891d-b76432004628.html |work=The Advocate |location=Baton Rouge |access-date=2018-08-07 }}</ref>

== Thoroughbred Racing ==

G M B Racing is the thoroughbred racing stable of Gayle Benson, who owned [[2016 Kentucky Derby]] starters Mo Tom and Tom's Ready and owned 2018 contender Lone Sailor. Tom's Ready was a fine sprinter in mid-2016, winning both the Grade 2 [[Woody Stephens Stakes]] at Belmont Park and the [[Ack Ack Stakes]] at Churchill Downs.<ref>{{cite web |title=G M B Racing |url=https://www.americasbestracing.net/owners/g-m-b-racing |publisher=TJC Media Ventures |access-date=23 July 2022}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Benson has been married three times. Her first marriage was to Nace Anthony Salomone, on April 8, 1967, which ended in a divorce and annulment in 1972.<ref name="salomone" /><ref name="Plan1" /> Her second marriage was to Thomas "T-Bird" Bird, on February 14, 1977, in [[Port Eads, Louisiana|South Pass]], [[Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana]], which ended in a divorce on June 25, 1987.<ref name="birddivorce" />

Gayle's third marriage was to Tom Benson, on October 29, 2004, in [[San Antonio]], Texas. They met at [[St. Louis Cathedral (New Orleans)|St. Louis Cathedral]] in New Orleans at a mass. They were married until his death in 2018.<ref>{{cite interview|last=Benson|first=Gayle|subject-link=Gayle Benson|interviewer=Angela Hill|title=Angela Hill One on One with Gayle Benson|url=http://media.wwl.com/a/81602851/10-2-3-10p-angela-hill-one-on-one-with-gayle-benson.htm|access-date=2013-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926002255/http://media.wwl.com/a/81602851/10-2-3-10p-angela-hill-one-on-one-with-gayle-benson.htm|archive-date=2018-09-26|url-status=dead|publisher=WWL-FM Radio|location=New Orleans|date=2013-10-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nola.com/homegarden/index.ssf/2014/10/at_home_with_tom_and_gayle_ben_1.html|title=At home with Tom and Gayle Benson: A historic mansion becomes a regal home for the New Orleans Saints owner|last=Langenhennig|first=Susan|date=2014-10-22|work=nola.com|access-date=2018-08-07|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Saints owner Benson's wife, Grace, dies|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|newspaper=The Baton Rouge Advocate|location=Baton Rouge|date=2003-11-19}}</ref><ref name="Arkansas1">{{cite news|title=Second Thoughts|last=Cooper|first=Tim|newspaper=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette|location=Little Rock, Arkansas|date=2004-10-28|page=24}}</ref><ref name="SportCheck">{{cite news|title=Sport Check|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|newspaper=Sun Herald|location=Biloxi, Mississippi|date=2004-10-22|page=D2}}</ref><ref name="Marriage1">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-feb-02-sp-patrep2-story.html|title=Champs Demand Respect|last=Farmer|first=Sam|date=2005-02-02|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2005-02-02|location=Los Angeles}}</ref>

On October 22, 2014, Gayle Benson and her husband commemorated their tenth anniversary by renewing their [[Marriage vows|wedding vows]] at St. Louis Cathedral.<ref name="Wing">{{cite news|url=https://wgno.com/2014/10/22/tom-and-gayle-benson-say-i-do-again/|title=Tom and Gayle Benson say, "I do" Again!|last=Wing|first=Tyler|date=2014-10-22|work=ABC WGNO|access-date=2014-10-22|location=New Orleans}}</ref><ref name="Strachan">{{cite news|url=https://www.nola.com/society/index.ssf/2014/10/gayle_and_tom_benson_renew_the.html|title=Gayle and Tom Benson renew their wedding vows in celebration of their 10th anniversary|last=Strachan|first=Sue|date=2014-10-23|work=The Times-Picayune|access-date=2014-10-23|location=New Orleans}}</ref><ref name="FoxSports">{{cite news|url=https://www.foxsports.com/southwest/story/ten-years-later-saints-owners-tom-and-gayle-benson-say-i-do-again-102314|title=Ten Years Later, Saints Owners Tom and Gayle Benson say "I Do" Again|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=2014-10-23|work=Fox Sports|access-date=2014-10-23}}</ref>

==Philanthropy==
While married, Gayle and Tom Benson funded the construction of the [[Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium]] at the [[University of the Incarnate Word]] in San Antonio, which opened on campus on September 1, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/article/Benson-made-his-mark-in-San-Antonio-12759379.php|title=Benson made his mark in San Antonio|last=Board|first=Express-News Editorial|date=2018-03-20|website=San Antonio Express-News|access-date=2019-07-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uiwcardinals.com/sports/2013/8/7/FB_0807130443.aspx|title=Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium|website=University of the Incarnate Word Athletics|language=en|access-date=2019-07-25}}</ref>

In January 2012, Benson and her husband were awarded the ''[[Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice]]'' for their service to Catholic Church by [[Pope Benedict XVI]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/religion/index.ssf/2012/01/tom_and_gayle_benson_receive_h.html|title=Tom and Gayle Benson receive highest papal honor for their generosity to Catholic Church|last=Pope|first=John|date=January 19, 2012|website=The Times-Picayune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806210813/https://www.nola.com/religion/index.ssf/2012/01/tom_and_gayle_benson_receive_h.html|archive-date=August 6, 2018}}</ref><ref name="NewYorkTimes1">{{cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |date=2018-03-15 |title=Tom Benson, Tycoon Who Danced With His Saints, Dies at 90 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/15/obituaries/tom-benson-dead.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2018-03-15 }}</ref>

In November 2012, Gayle Benson and her husband, Tom, donated $7.5 million towards the construction of [[Tulane University]]'s [[Yulman Stadium]].<ref name="NewWave">{{cite news |last=Strecker |first=Mike |date=2012-11-01 |title=Tulane names new football venue Yulman Stadium |url=http://www.ohr.tulane.edu/news/newwave/nw_110112stadium.cfm |work=Tulane University New Wave |access-date=2012-11-01 }}</ref> The playing surface is known as Benson Field.<ref>[http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/college_sports/college_football/article/Tulane-s-field-to-be-named-for-Benson-4002035.php Tulane's field to be named for Benson – San Antonio Express-News]. Mysanantonio.com (2012-11-02). Retrieved on 2013-07-29.</ref><ref name="TulaneStadium">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=January 27, 2013 |title=Tulane stadium, field, club seats to honor donors |url=https://www.wdsu.com/article/tulane-stadium-field-club-seats-to-honor-donors/3360771 |work=NBC WDSU |location=New Orleans |access-date=2013-01-27  }}</ref>

In 2015, the Benson family gave $20 million for cancer care and research.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/gayle-and-tom-benson-give-20-million-for-cancer-care-research|title=Gayle and Tom Benson Give $20 Million for Cancer Care, Research|first=Foundation|last=Center|website=philanthropynewsdigest.org|access-date=2018-04-10}}</ref><ref name="WGNO1">{{cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Michael |date=2015-11-10 |title=Benson family donates historic $20 million to Ochsner Cancer Institute |url=https://wgno.com/2015/11/10/benson-family-donates-historic-20-million-to-ochsner-cancer-institute/ |work=ABC WGNO |location=New Orleans |access-date=2015-11-10 }}</ref>

In February 2019, the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Trust donated $5 million to Jesuit High School.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/sports/pelicans/article_3d1ad3c6-33b0-509d-8475-2d406b008bee.html|title=Gayle Benson to donate $5 million to Jesuit High – the largest gift in school history|website=nola.com|date=February 21, 2019 |access-date=2019-02-21 }}</ref>

In March 2019, the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Trust donated $3.5 million to Second Harvest<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/gayle-benson-donates-35-million-to-second-harvest-food-bank/289-e83989bc-fae0-405d-83c9-a0e0e3862ce5|title=Gayle Benson donates $3.5 million to Second Harvest Food Bank|website=wwltv.com|date=March 15, 2019|access-date=2019-03-15 }}</ref>

In September 2019, the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Trust donated $1 million to the campaign of Children's of Mississippi to build a playground at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/gayle-tom-benson-charitable-foundation-makes-1-million-gift-to-children-s-of-mis|title=Gayle & Tom Benson Charitable Foundation makes $1 million gift to Children's of Mississippi|website=neworleansaints.com|access-date=2019-09-26 }}</ref>

In December 2023, Ochsner Health System announced it would be constructing a new, standalone children's hospital with a significant donation from Gayle Benson. The 343,000-square-feet facility will be named The Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children's Hospital. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodruff |first=Emily |date=2023-12-13 |title=Ochsner to build new children's hospital in New Orleans area thanks to Gayle Benson's big gift |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/ochsner-to-build-new-childrens-hospital-in-new-orleans-area-thanks-gayle-bensons-big-gift/article_3788bb6f-3a48-5c82-8517-6a0c9c777364.html |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=The Advocate |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==References Continued==
<ol class="references">
<li id="noteFoot10a" value="10">
'''[[#nbFoot10a|^]]''' {{cite web |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/article_db121a4e-389d-5623-ae30-f3432f020fbb.html |title=Tom Benson ups ante in proposal to take Saints, Pelicans out of estranged heirs' trust |last1=White |first1=Jaquetta |last2=Vargas |first2=Ramon Antonio |date=February 3, 2015 |website=theadvocate.com |publisher=[[The Advocate (Louisiana)|The New Orleans Advocate]] |access-date=February 3, 2015 |quote=[[Tom Benson|Benson's]] lawyers also said for the first time this week that the entirety of the teams do not reside in those trusts. Attorney Paul Cordes said the various trusts contain 95 percent of the shares of Benson Basketball, the holding company for the [[New Orleans Pelicans|Pelicans]] of the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]. The trusts also contain 60 percent of the shares of Benson Football, the holding company for the [[National Football League|NFL's]] [[New Orleans Saints|Saints]]. The remaining shares are held by [[Tom Benson]], who controls all of the voting shares in both companies. Holders of nonvoting shares typically have little or no voice on corporate matters. Such shares are usually granted to individuals who are willing to invest in the company's profitability and success without receiving voting rights in the company's direction.}}
* {{cite news |last=Sayre |first=Katherine |date=February 1, 2015 |title=Lawyers even dispute who owns Saints now - Asset swap on hold -- or a done deal |quote=By last year, Tom Benson owned 40 percent of the Saints, all in voting shares, while the trusts for his heirs owned about 60 percent, all in non-voting shares, Cordes said. For the Pelicans, Benson owned 5 percent, all voting shares, and the trusts for his heirs held 95 percent, all nonvoting shares. |newspaper=[[The Times-Picayune]] |location=[[New Orleans]] |page=A1 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2015/06/tom_benson_saints_pelicans_own.html |title=Judge considers Tom Benson trust change jurisdiction |last=Sayre |first= Katherine |date=June 16, 2015 |website=nola.com |publisher=[[The Times-Picayune]] |access-date=June 16, 2015 |quote=Tom Benson has maintained all of the power over the Saints and Pelicans franchises by owning all of the voting shares and moving only non-voting shares into family trusts. Benson owns 40 percent of the Saints, while his heirs' trusts own 60 percent. The trusts own 95 percent of the Pelicans, with Benson owning only 5 percent -- though his portion constitutes all the Pelicans' voting shares.}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2015/06/tom_benson_saints_pelicans_own.html |title=Tom Benson family feud: Saints, Pelicans ownership struggle focus of hearing |last=Sayre |first= Katherine |date=June 16, 2015 |website=nola.com |publisher=[[The Times-Picayune]] |access-date=June 16, 2015 |quote=Benson owns 40 percent of the Saints, while his heirs' trusts own 60 percent. The trusts own 95 percent of the Pelicans, with Benson owning only 5 percent -- though his portion constitutes all the Pelicans' voting shares.}}
* {{cite news |last=Sayre |first=Katherine |date=June 17, 2015 |title=Judge weighs moving trust fight - Lawyer: Holding companies weren't created in La. - Trustee says New Orleans court doesn't have jurisdiction |quote=Schonekas, though, argued a [[Louisiana]] court doesn't necessarily have jurisdiction because assets are located in the state. As an example, he argued, if assets in the trusts were replaced with property in [[Montana]], it wouldn’t mean a [[Montana]] court has jurisdiction over Rosenthal. Meanwhile, he said, Benson was listed as a resident of [[Texas]] until he declared himself a [[Louisiana]] resident in January, as the litigation was getting underway. [[Tom Benson|Benson's]] lawyers have said federal court is appropriate because [[Tom Benson|Benson]] is a [[Louisiana]] resident and Rosenthal is a [[Texas]] resident, making it a federal case. Meanwhile, they argue, the question over [[Tom Benson|Benson's]] rights to exchange assets is centered on federal tax law. *** [[Tom Benson]] has maintained all of the power over the [[New Orleans Saints|Saints]] and [[New Orleans Pelicans|Pelicans]] franchises by owning all of the voting shares and moving only non-voting shares into family trusts. [[Tom Benson|Benson]] owns 40 percent of the [[New Orleans Saints|Saints]], while his heirs' trusts own 60 percent. The trusts own 95 percent of the [[New Orleans Pelicans|Pelicans]], with [[Tom Benson|Benson]] owning only 5 percent — though his portion constitutes all the [[New Orleans Pelicans|Pelicans']] voting shares. |newspaper=[[The Times-Picayune]] |location=[[New Orleans]] |page=A1 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/in-court--pelicans-owner-claims-family-members--tried-to-kill--him-201138640.html |title=In court, Pelicans owner claims family members 'tried to kill' him |last=Devine |first=Dan |date=May 20, 2016 |website=sports.yahoo.com |publisher=[[Yahoo Sports|Yahoo! Sports]] |access-date=May 20, 2016 |quote=Benson wants to remove nonvoting shares of the [[New Orleans Saints|Saints]] and [[New Orleans Pelicans|Pelicans]] from their trusts; he's allowed to do that if he replaces them with equally valuable assets, but the 'mostly promissory notes' he has offered thus far are being challenged as an 'insufficient exchange' that would short-change the trustees. The trusts hold 60 percent of the Saints and 95 percent of Pelicans, all of which is non-voting stock, with Benson maintaining sole control of the teams by owning all voting stock.}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/trial-for-tom-bensons-saints-pelicans-ownership-dispute-moved-to-february/ |title=Trial for Tom Benson's Saints, Pelicans ownership dispute moved to February |last=Harper |first=Zach |date=September 1, 2016 |work=[[CBS Sports]] |access-date=September 1, 2016 |quote=The trusts involve include 60 percent of the [[New Orleans Saints|Saints]] ownership and 95 percent of the [[New Orleans Pelicans|Pelicans]] ownership. His grandchildren have blocked removal of the ownership shares in exchange for promissory notes because they didn't feel the stipulation of replacement for equal value was good enough.}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/pro-sports/article/Benson-and-his-heir-reach-settlement-in-8309906.php |title=Benson and his heirs reach settlement in contentious ownership battle |last=Griffin |first=Tim |date=June 17, 2016 |website=mysanantonio.com |publisher=[[San Antonio Express-News]] |access-date=June 17, 2016 |quote=Earlier, court documents indicated that Benson said in a deposition that he removed his heirs because they tried to kill him. In the documents from the deposition, Benson said about his heirs: "You know, by picking on my wife and when I wasn't feeling very good, they were very hostile." *** The heirs' trust funds hold 95 percent of the [[New Orleans Pelicans|Pelicans]] and 60 percent of the [[New Orleans Saints|Saints]].}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2016/06/saints_pelicans_ownership_sett.html |title=Tom Benson settles Saints, Pelicans ownership dispute |last=Sayre |first=Katherine |date=June 17, 2016 |website=nola.com |publisher=[[The Times-Picayune]] |access-date=June 17, 2016 |quote=The litigation involves only non-controlling stock in the franchises, meaning the shares didn't give the heirs any authority over the teams, only a financial interest. Tom Benson has remained in charge of the teams by owning all of the controlling shares. The heirs' trust funds hold 95 percent of the Pelicans and 60 percent of the Saints.}}
</li>
<li id="noteFoot18a" value="18">
'''[[#nbFoot18a|^]]''' {{cite news |last=Hiatt |first=Gabe |date=January 22, 2015 |title=Spurned daughter, grandchildren sue Saints owner for writing them out of will |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2015/01/22/spurned-daughter-grandchildren-sue-saints-owner-for-writing-them-out-of-will/?noredirect=on |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |access-date=January 22, 2015 }}
* {{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=January 22, 2015 |title=Report: TX judge freezes large chunk of Benson assets |quote=The suit attempts to paint Gayle Benson as a [[gold digger]] who is trying to take advantage of the Saints owner's health. |url=http://raycomgroup.worldnow.com/story/27918445/report-tx-judge-freezes-large-chunk-of-benson-assets |work=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] [[WVUE-DT|WVUE]] |location=[[New Orleans]] |access-date=January 22, 2015 }}
* {{cite news |last=Duncan |first=Jeff |date=January 23, 2015 |title=Lawsuit Claims Tom Is Confused, Gayle Is In Over Her Head |quote=The suit portrays Gayle Benson, 67, as a [[Gold digger|gold-digging]] [[Opportunism|opportunist]] who has taken advantage of her husband's unfit state of health and ostracized family members in grasping for power and riches. *** Meanwhile, a Texas judge ordered a temporary freeze on the money and assets in a trust controlled by Tom Benson, an order requested by his daughter, Renee Benson. The temporary restraining order, signed by Judge Thomas Rickhoff of Bexar County on Wednesday, prevents Benson from withdrawing, transferring or otherwise diminishing the value of the Shirley L. Benson Testamentary Trust. Shirley L. Benson was Benson's first wife. Gayle, Benson's third wife, was preceded by Grace. The 27-page petition reveals a series of incidents Renee, Rita and Ryan claim illustrate Tom Benson's deteriorating mental and physical health. Among them: He has been heavily medicated in the past year and has 'acknowledged on occasions that he does not know his age, where he is, what day of the week it is, nor what the date is.' His mental acuity and memory have declined so much that 'on at least one occasion (he) failed to recognize his daughter, Renee,' and 'failed to remember or commemorate her birthday.' Further, it claims he recently was asked to name the current president of the United States and replied Ronald Reagan, then guessed Harry Truman on his second attempt. His diet has diminished to the point that he rarely consumes full meals and subsists mainly on 'candy, ice cream, sodas and red wine.' |newspaper=[[The Times-Picayune]] |location=[[New Orleans]] |page=A1 }}
* {{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=January 23, 2015 |title=UPDATE: Judge Orders Tom Benson to Undergo Mental Evaluation |quote=The suit attempts to paint Gayle Benson as a [[gold digger]] who is trying to take advantage of the Saints owner's health. It asks the court to appoint Renee Benson as executor of Tom Benson's sports and business empire with Rita Leblanc taking a secondary position. |url=https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/update-judge-orders-tom-benson-to-undergo-mental-evaluation/153935837 |work=[[NBC]] [[KTVE]] |location=[[El Dorado, Arkansas]] |access-date=January 23, 2015 |archive-date=September 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926173749/https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/update-judge-orders-tom-benson-to-undergo-mental-evaluation/153935837 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite interview |title=But we do we begin this half hour with a family inheritance battle now gone public |quote=But we do we begin this half hour with a family inheritance battle now gone public. At stake is the ownership of both an NFL and an NBA team. This, after the current owner announced his plans to pass the team down to his current wife rather than on to his family as he'd originally planned. NBC's Janet Shamlian has more. *** It's a family feud with ownership of the [[New Orleans Saints]] hanging in the balance. *** Family members of eighty-seven-year-old current owner Tom Benson say he is incompetent. The claim coming in a lawsuit filed one day after Benson unexpectedly announced a change in the Saints' future ownership. Now saying the team will go to his third wife, Gayle Benson instead of his family. They released this statement: 'Sadly, the Benson family was forced to take this action in the best interest of Tom Benson and his legacy...and the multitude of Pelicans and Saints fans.' Benson also owns the NBA Pelicans team. The suit portrays sixty-seven-year-old Gayle Benson as a manipulative [[gold digger]], capitalizing on her husband's failing health, claiming she keeps him heavily medicated, away from his family and has been feeding him a bizarre diet of candy, ice cream, sodas and red wine. |publisher=NBC |location=New York City |date=January 24, 2015 |work=[[Today (U.S. TV program)|Today Show]] }}
* {{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=January 25, 2015 |title=Tom Benson deserves better than this squabble |quote=Gayle Benson, as wife No. 3, is cast in the stereotypical role of [[gold digger]] out to alienate the aging father from his children and seize the riches for herself. |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/opinion/2015/01/25/tom-benson-deserves-better-squabble/22325011/ |work=[[The Daily Advertiser (Lafayette)|The Daily Advertiser]] |location=[[Lafayette, Louisiana]] |access-date=January 25, 2015 }}
* {{cite news |last=Grimm |first=Andy |date=January 30, 2015 |title=Prenuptial agreement wouldn't keep Gayle Benson from taking over Saints, Pelicans, expert says |quote=Renee Benson and her children filed a lawsuit seeking to declare Tom Benson incompetent to make his own decisions, and to put Renee Benson in charge of the family's fortune. Among their arguments painting Gayle Benson as a [[gold digger]] who is manipulating the family patriarch, the lawsuit notes, briefly, that when Tom Benson married the former Gayle Marie LaJaunie Bird in 2004, the couple signed the prenuptial agreement. |url=https://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2015/01/prenuptial_agreement_wouldnt_k.html |work=[[The Times-Picayune]] |location=[[New Orleans]] |access-date=January 30, 2015 }}
* {{cite news |last=Belson |first=Ken |date=March 6, 2015 |title=Saints' Owner Marches Out of Step With His Heirs' Expectations |quote=Is Mr. Benson feeble or frail? Is Gayle Benson a [[gold digger]] or his protector? Are his daughter and grandchildren spoiled or spurned? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/07/sports/football/tom-benson-saints-owner-and-heirs-are-locked-in-an-inheritance-dispute.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |location=[[New York City|New York]] |access-date=March 6, 2015 }}

</li>

</ol>

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