Earl Thomas III honored with the 2015 The Record Newspapers' Person of the Year

A crowd gathered to honor Earl Thomas III, Orange native, former West Orange-Stark Mustang, former Texas Longhorn and a Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks as The Record Newspapers' 2015 Person of the Year on May 13 at Robert's Meat Market & Steakhouse. Earl couldn't make the event, so his mother, Deborah Thomas, accepted it on his behalf.

The Lunch Bunch is celebrating its 23rd anniversary this year.

Photo - Front (seated) left to right - Latitia McDonald, Evelyna Rhodes, Kaliegh Thomas, Debbie Thomas, Cedric Stout, Nova Dee Strickland, Joyce Dubose, Sandra Price, Judge Janice Menard, Judge Claude Wimberly and Coach Dan Hooks.

Second Row - Constable David Cagle, Joel Steirman, Sheriff Keith Merritt, Marlene Merritt, Donna Scales, Darlene Montagne, Christy Khoury, Shirley Zimmerman, Judge Rodney Price, Mark Wimberly, Judge Joe Parkhurst, Roy Dunn and Carrie, the waitress.

Back Row - Evelyn Brandon, Janelle Sehon, Dr. Mike Shahan, Commissioner Bobby Burton, Johnny Trahan, Chief Mike Stelly, Judge Derry Dunn, Keith Wallace, Judge Carl Thibodeaux, Coach Cornell Thompson, Debbie Britnell and John Dubose.

RECORD PHOTO: Lawrence Trimm