The American Press lost an incredible sport writer last week. The living world lost a sweet happy soul who was always quick to smile.  Even though I did not have the opportunity to work with Brian Guilbeau for long, his positive spirit helped make my first months at the American Press more bright. For this I am eternally grateful.  May you rest in peace, Brian.

This photo was taken when Brian and I  patrolled around Lake Charles to cover the damage from Hurrican Ike. I would have been lost without him.

Here’s the obit we ran this past Saturday in the American Press:

Brian Guilbeau, an award winning sportswriter, columnist and page editor for the American Press, died Friday. He was 38.

He had battled cystic fibrosis, undergoing a pair of lung-transplant surgeries.

Guilbeau was the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s 2005 Columnist of the Year. He covered high school and McNeese sports for the American Press over the years, with assignments ranging from LSU’s national championship game to a high school basketball matchup played behind closed doors because a fight marred the teams’ previous meeting.

He won awards from The Associated Press, Louisiana Press Association and LSWA for game coverage, columns and headline writing.

Guilbeau also served as editor of the Health & Fitness page and was a page designer on the nighttime news desk.

His wife, Cassondra, and daughter, Lilly, are among those who survive him.