Edward Hilton Daniels, III passed away peacefully on August 16, 2024 surrounded by family. He was 67. Daniels was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Hilton Daniels, Jr. and Ursula Grey Daniels, both of New Orleans. A Kenner resident, Daniels is survived by his devoted, loving wife of 21 years, Robin, and their children Erin Lagarde (Daniel), Ryne Daniels, Stephanie Henne (Jonathan), Christopher Riera and Jonathan Riera, and grandchildren Otis Lagarde, August Lagarde, Elsie Lagarde, Marigny Lagarde and Kate Henne.
Ed is a New Orleans native, born at Baptist Hospital. He graduated in 1975 from Archbishop Rummel High School and earned a bachelor of arts in communications from Loyola University New Orleans in 1979. His favorite day of the year was Endymion Saturday. He enjoyed riding with his friends and seeing his family on the route. Of all his accomplishments, his proudest achievement was being called “Pops” and “Popsiboo.” He loved to travel with his wife and spend time at their vacation home in Florida. His sports career spanned 47 years, beginning in 1977 on television as a sports intern at WVUE Channel 8, followed by sports reporting at KPLC TV in Lake Charles where he became sports director in 1980. Ed was hired as a sports reporter at WDSU TV in 1982, and, in 1983, promoted to weekend sports anchor. He joined WGNO TV in 1991, became sports director in 1992 and, for a short time, was primary news anchor.
Ed appeared on the original, weekly Prep Football Report Show and Friday Night Football on 106.1 FM radio and was co-host and producer of Friday Night Fastball, presented by Delgado Community College. He provided color commentary for University of New Orleans’ basketball games (1989-91), New Orleans Night Arena Football games (1991), the New Orleans Saints preseason games (1995-99) and did television play-by-play for the New Orleans Zephyrs on WGNO (1994-1996). He was an original columnist of NewOrleans.com (rebranded in 2017 as CrescentCitySports.com) since its inception in 2008 and continued in that role under LeSEA Broadcasting in 2011 as SportsNola.com. He was a sports columnist for the Clarion Herald since June 2005 Ed created Friday Night Football in 1991 (the first high school football show in New Orleans airing weekly on WGNO and WNOL), hosted Sports Zone on WNOL, helped create and co-host “The Three Tailgaters Show” for 30 years and WGNO’s N.O. It Alls Game Show (1993-96), created by NBC executive Brandon Tartikoff.
Respected by his colleagues, Ed was named Louisiana Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association in 1997, 2014 and 2018, awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Press Club of New Orleans in 2014 and honored by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association in 2011 with the Prep Sports Journalism award. He was inducted into the Archbishop Rummel Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013 and honored with membership in the De La Salle High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
He co-directed the Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic basketball tournament, the WGNO baseball classic, a 7-on7 football competition and planned to host a regional volleyball tournament this fall. Daniels was a supporter and contributor to the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club, was a voter on the Heisman Trophy and Wooden Awards selection committees and served on the Allstate Sugar Bowl Media Selection Committee for over four decades – emceeing many Sugar Bowl events.
Daniels is an original member of the Saints Hall of Fame Media Selection Committee since its inception in 1988, something he was most proud of since he and his father attended the Saints’ first game at Tulane Stadium in 1967, watching John Gilliam return the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams. He considered it a blessing and honor to cover the Saints and local high school and college sports where he fostered relationships with coaches and players alike.
Ed was a parishioner of St. Philip Neri Church in Metairie, where he sang in the choir. He is home now with the Lord.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation and Memorial Mass at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 6500 Kawanee Ave., Metairie, LA 70003 on Thursday, August 22, 2024. Visitation at the church will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. followed by a Memorial Mass at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, Masses preferred. The burial will be private. Please join us in a Celebration of Life, hosted by the generosity of John Blancher, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Rock N’ Bowl, 3016 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118.
Arrangements by L. A. Muhleisen & Son Funeral Home. Please share your favorite stories about Ed to StoriesofEdDaniels@gmail.com or to post memories and offer condolences to the family on his memorial page, please visit www.muhleisen.com
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Edward Hilton Daniels, III please visit our Sympathy Store.
