When New Orleans was awarded its NFL franchise in 1966, the first person to own the team was John MecomJr. – a 26-year-old Houstonianwhose father made a fortune in the oil industry. An avid sports fan, John helped shape the team’s identity: he picked out their colors and logos, and even helped move them to the Superdome.
But he was often criticized for his involvement with the team. Throughout his 18 seasons of ownership, John had an adversarial relationship with the league, press and fans.
In the spring of 1985, John MecomJr. sold the Saints to current owner Tom Benson. He still follows the Saints from his home in Houston.