Raymond Blanco Obituary

Raymond Blanco was an American academic administrator and football coach who served as First Gentleman of Louisiana from 2004 to 2008, during the governorship of his wife, Kathleen Blanco.

Blanco, Louisiana’s first First Gentleman, was also known as “First Coach” during his tenure in the position.

Raymond Blanco passed away on November 19, 2022 at the age of 87. Raymond Blanco was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and raised there. In 1958, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and political science from St. Benedict’s College (now part of Benedictine College) in Atchison, Kansas.

Between 1958 and 1962, Blanco was the Assistant Football Coach at Kirwin High School in Galveston, Texas, and the Head Football Coach at Catholic High School in New Iberia, Louisiana. He led the Catholic High team to the State Championship in 1962.

Blanco retired in 2009 after working as an administrator at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette since 1982.

He was Vice President for Student Affairs, in charge of coordinating various non-academic departments that directly affect UL Lafayette students. He was also a liaison between the student body and the university. On the UL Lafayette campus, he was known as “Coach.”