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Mr. Bobby Banna (Deceased)

Home:
117 Orangewood Dr.
Lafayette, La 70503

Work:

Home Phone: 337-254-7378
Work Phone: --
Fax: --
Email: robert.banna@lusfiber.net

Head Baseball Coach at UL, 1968-71 coaching the 1969, 1970 and 1971 teams, while establishing a 59-47 record.
Assistant Football Coach at UL, 1968-1974, on the Faulkinberry staff for the 1968-1973 seasons.

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Please click on any news story in the news box, then the archives link in the upper left which appears on the new page. Click on the July & 2018 format on the Archives Page, then click on his story once that page appears for the obituary, including any photos and footnotes which may have been included.

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Obituary: Robert Lee Banna, Former Coach – 1968-74 – July 28, 2018

Obituary for Robert Lee Banna

March 14, 1934 – July 28, 2018
Robert Lee Banna

Robert Lee Banna was born in Birmingham, Alabama on March 14, 1934 and died in Lafayette on July28, 2018. Bobby Banna was the product of Catholic school education. Our Lady of Sorrows Elementary School and John Carroll High School provided the educational and ethical foundation that would be a part of his coaching philosophy.

He received his Bachelor’s Degree from McNeese State University. In 1959, he became the assistant football coach at Catholic High in New Iberia, Louisiana. While there, he was part of the first State Championship team of the Catholic High Panthers’ program.

In 1968, he took a job at USL as offensive line coach and head baseball coach. During his tenure as offensive line coach, USL received its first post-game invitation to participate in the Grantland Rice Bowl. As the head baseball coach, his team tied for the Gulf States Conference championship, and he received the Coach of the Year honor in 1970.
He left USL in 1974 and became head football coach at Fatima High School. He continued his coaching career in the public schools of Lafayette. He served as an assistant coach at Acadiana High and as head football coach at Comeaux High. He retired in 1997 after thirty-five years of coaching.

In retirement, he pursued a late interest in golf. When the opportunity presented itself, he became a marshal at the Wetlands. His daughters were delighted that he had gotten his whistle back. Coach Banna was married to Charlene Vines for fifty-five years. He is also survived by three daughters, Kay Aillet and her husband Larry, Elizabeth Dunn, and her husband Gary, and Carol Whitehurst and her husband, Jeff. He was also the proud grandparents of Lauren and Catherine Aillet, Patrick and Caroline Dunn, and Gus and Elizabeth Whitehurst.
When asked about his coaching philosophy, Coach Banna said that in dealing with his players, he always demanded that they dedicate themselves to hard work and discipline. He stressed that these traits would see them through the difficult times they would encounter on the playing field. He hoped that they would also see the value of this preparation in their daily lives. He also STRONGLY encouraged them never to be quitters but always to give their best to reach their goals.
Services will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Wednesday, August 1 with visitation from 11 am to time of mass at 1pm. Mass will be celebrated by Father Howard Blessing and Co-celebrated by Father Chester Arceneaux. A reception celebrating his life will be held in the Calais Center. Pallbearers will be Larry Aillet, Gary Dunn, Jeff Whitehurst, Patrick Dunn, Gus Whitehurst, and Rob Vines. Honorary pallbearers will be all the fine men he coached throughout his career. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made in Coach’s name to Cathedral-Carmel School.

Personal condolences may be sent to the Banna family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.

Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Dr, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Robert Lee Banna please visit our Sympathy Store.

Athletic Network Footnote by Dr. Ed Dugas.

Click here for the Athletic Network Tribute to Coach Banna. It includes living memorials from his former players.

Click here for Coach Banna at the reunion of his baseball players in 2017.

Click here for Coach Banna at the 2010 reunion of the 1970 championship football team.

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A Tribute has been posted for Coach Bobby Banna. Please click the Tribute to Louisiana Coaches banner on the right side of the News Box, then click on his name. Many of his former players have sent Living Memorials to be part of his tribute.

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Bobby Banna is the product of Catholic school education. Our Lady of Sorrows Elementary School and John Carroll High School in Birmingham, Alabama provided the educational and ethical foundation that would be a part of his coaching philosophy. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from McNeese State University. In 1959, he became the assistant football coach at Catholic High in New Iberia, Louisiana. While there, he was part of the only State Championship team of the Catholic High Panthers’ program. In 1968, he took a job at then USL as offensive line coach and head baseball coach. During his tenure as offensive line coach, USL received its first post-game invitation to participate in the Grantland Rice Bowl. As the head baseball coach, his team tied for the Gulf States Conference championship, and he received the Coach of the Year honor in 1970.

He left USL in 1974 and continued his coaching career in the parochial and public schools of Lafayette. He served as an assistant coach at Acadiana High and as head football coach at Comeaux High. He retired in 1997 after thirty-five years of coaching. In retirement, he pursued a late interest in golf. His foursome included Jack Lane, Al Dee and retired USL basketball coach, Beryl Shipley. When the opportunity presented itself, Banna became a marshal at the Wetlands. His daughters were delighted that he had gotten his whistle back. Coach Banna has been married to Charlene Vines ( SLI ’59) for fifty-three years. They have three daughters, Kay Aillet and her husband Larry, Elizabeth Dunn, and her husband Gary, and Carol Whitehurst and her husband, Jeff. They are the proud grandparents of Lauren and Catherine Aillet, Patrick and Caroline Dunn, and Gus and Elizabeth Whitehurst.

When asked about his coaching philosophy, Coach Banna said that in dealing with his players, he always demanded that they dedicate themselves to hard work and discipline. He stressed that these traits would see them through the difficult times they would encounter on the playing field. He hoped that they would also see the value of this preparation in their daily lives. He also STRONGLY encouraged them never to be quitters but always to give their best to reach their goals.

Coach Banna said that in all of his years of coaching, he encountered many outstanding young men who impacted his life in a very positive way. He further stated that he was very proud of all of them and grateful to have been a part of these amazing men’s lives. He was humbled by any acknowledgement that they felt the need to say “thank you” for the small part that he played in their success.

Submitted by Bobby and Charlene Vines Banna (USL ’59) on 3/7/2017.

Updated March 31, 2017.