A new building recently popped up between the Lod Cook Alumni Center and the LSU Systems Building.
The Jack and Priscilla Andonie Museum, featuring LSU sports memorabilia, is set to open in late April.
Dr. Jack Andonie is a physician from New Orleans and on the University’s Board of Supervisors.
Andonie began collecting LSU sports memorabilia about 30 years ago after meeting LSU football coach Charlie McClendon.
“I always wanted to be involved in school athletics,” Andonie said. “After all LSU did for me, I felt grateful to the University.”
His collection includes about 10,000 pieces with everything from football programs and pictures to actual shoes and jerseys worn by LSU athletes, said Museum Director Tom Contine.
“Dr. Andonie donated his collection to the Alumni office about a year ago, and it has been stored in the hotel in the past year,” Contine said.
The LSU Athletic Department also is loaning part of its Hall of Fame collection to the museum, Contine said. Additional items were donated by University alumni.
“We wanted people at LSU to have it and be able to enjoy the collection,” Andonie said.
The primary purpose of the museum is to tell the story of LSU athletics and to serve the University and alumni in any way it can, Contine said.
Charlie Roberts is president of the LSU Alumni Association and is greatly responsible for the building of the Andonie Museum.
“Charlie Roberts’ accomplishment in building the Lod Cook Alumni Center, the Alumni Hotel and the Andonie Museum, constitutes a first-class miracle,” Contine said. “It is amazing that they were all paid with donations.”
The Andonie Museum will feature wall and floor displays, Contine said. Wall displays will be more permanent, and floor displays will change periodically, depending on what the museum is featuring.
Contine said the construction of the building, including the opening costs, are being paid for with funds donated by alumni and friends of LSU. Costs will be paid before the grand opening.
The total costs of construction and everything going into the museum, including framing and technology, are approximately $375,000, Contine said.