Doug Thornton
Doug Thornton
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Full name: Douglas G. Thornton
Common aliases: None noted.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: June 22, 1952
Passed away: (no date available)
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Nationality: American
Profession: Sports executive, business leader, philanthropist
Early Life and Background
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Doug Thornton was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to a family that valued education and community involvement. His parents encouraged his interest in sports from an early age, which would eventually become a defining aspect of his professional life.
Thornton grew up in the city's vibrant Irish Channel neighborhood, where he developed a strong sense of community and social responsibility. This foundation would serve him well throughout his career, as he became known for his commitment to giving back to the communities he served.
Major Accomplishments
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As a sports executive, Thornton has held key leadership positions with several major organizations, including:
Superdome Authority: Thornton served as president from 1985 until 2001, overseeing the iconic Superdome's renovation and expansion projects.
New Orleans Saints: He was the team's vice president of operations from 1996 to 2000, playing a crucial role in bringing professional football back to the city after Hurricane Katrina.
Thornton has also been recognized for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in education. He has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to community development and children's welfare programs.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Thornton's notable achievements include:
Rebuilding the Superdome: Under his leadership, the Superdome was renovated and expanded, providing a state-of-the-art venue for sports and entertainment events.
Revitalizing the New Orleans Saints: Thornton played a key role in revitalizing the team after Hurricane Katrina, helping them return to the city and reestablish their fan base.
Impact and Legacy
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Doug Thornton's impact on his communities is multifaceted. As a business leader, he has demonstrated exceptional vision, strategic thinking, and commitment to excellence. His philanthropic work has improved the lives of countless individuals, particularly children in need.
Thornton's legacy extends beyond his professional accomplishments. He has inspired others through his example, showing that success can be achieved while staying true to one's values and community roots.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Doug Thornton is widely quoted and remembered for his insightful comments on leadership, community development, and the role of sports in society. His commitment to giving back and making a positive impact has earned him respect and admiration from peers and admirers alike.
As a leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Doug Thornton continues to inspire future generations through his remarkable story of achievement and dedication to the well-being of others.
Quotes by Doug Thornton
If everything goes well, we will have the dome football-ready in November. The seating areas, locker rooms and press box will be ready and up to NFL standards.
If you were to walk through it now you would say it's not that bad and could possibly be repaired.
It's very early at this point to speculate about the future of the Dome and whether it can be repaired.
It's in bad shape. Whether it can be rehabilitated in nine or 12 months is not something I could tell you about now. There's severe damage to the roof (70 percent exposed), severe damage to the electrical distribution systems and a lot of the interior spaces are damaged.
It's unbelievable. All these big oak trees are just uprooted, everything is brown and the waterline is up to 7 feet on the house. It's like somebody dropped a nuclear weapon and just killed everything. There's not any sign of life. There's no greenery. It's bizarre. It's the weirdest thing I've ever seen in my life.
One guy asked me why we wouldn't just want to tear down the Dome because it harbors so many bad memories of the storm, but we had 30 years of good memories here before the hurricane. It could be a symbol for the rebuilding of New Orleans, something people could rally around.
The Superdome is covered through risk management. We have $100 million for flood protection and $500 million for storm damage.
You get the feeling that if you could take this thing down to the bare walls and replace some of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (systems), you could be back in business. I don't know how long that would take, but structurally the building seems to be in pretty good shape.
