Origin Bank Pavilion at RHS dedicated to Graham

Gantt Graham’s legacy was honored once again as the former Bearcat’s namesake was dedicated to the Origin Bank Pavilion overlooking James Stadium at Ruston High School – and the team he loved – Thursday afternoon.

Graham, who passed away on Dec. 29, 2020, at the age of 30, spent most of his life as an avid fan of Ruston High athletics and his alma mater Louisiana Tech, working as a student equipment manager for Tech football from 200913 while he was an undergraduate student. He returned to Tech as the Bulldogs’ head of equipment operations for from 2017-19. Now, Graham’s legacy will forever be tied to the home of the Bearcats.

“Gantt had a unique presence about him, and he could draw you in and I thank his mom for that. He had a lot of her characteristics, a lot of her passion and easy- goingness,” said Randy Graham, Gantt’s father. “There wasn’t a room Gantt couldn’t go into or a person he couldn’t get to carry a conversation. He’s who he was because of all you. This program, this school, what this school means to our community and the lives of so many people here and it’s had a tremendous effect on my family.

“We can’t thank you all enough. There are no words. There are absolutely no words that we can say to describe how much we appreciate everything that y’all have done,” he continued.

Graham’s legacy has extended beyond RHS since his passing, with his family working with Louisiana Tech to create the Gantt Graham Endowed Scholarship in July 2021, given annually to a student at Tech with preference given to students from Ruston High School and Lincoln Parish.

“I knew Gantt very well. I had Gantt in class and formed a relationship with him then and even after he got out of high school, we’d still text back and forth quite a bit and see each other around town,” said Ruston High Principal Dan Gressett. “Just a special person. If you didn’t know Gantt, just an unbelievable personality. He had a personality that could draw anybody in. It’s just a special day for Ruston High School. We appreciate the Graham family, we appreciate Origin.”

Graham, the son of Randy and Sally and brother of Matthew, Thomas and Lindsey, had a passion for local sports, especially football. Gantt and the Graham family have served Ruston and Tech. Both Matthew and Thomas Graham were deep snappers for the Bulldogs.

Drake Mills, President and CEO of Origin Bank, spoke before the official unveiling of Gantt’s plaque on the Graham family’s legacy and the love within the Bearcat family.

“He knew everyone, even if you were a stranger,” Mills said of Gantt. “ The name ‘ governor’ came out to be just perfect. But we all loved Gantt Graham. He brought special things to each one of us and we’re so proud to be part of dedicating him today in memory of Gantt Graham, and what a special day his birthday that we can all sit here and remember all the smiles that he brought to all of us.”