McNeese Conferred Two Honorary Doctorates at Commencement

McNeese State University conferred honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees to two McNeese alumni at commencement – the Honorable U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr. and ASM Global Executive Vice President Doug Thornton – during the 162nd commencement ceremonies May 10 at McNeese’s Legacy Center. 

“This is the highest honor that the university can bestow upon an individual,” said Dr. Daryl V. Burckel, McNeese president. “Judge Cain’s and Mr. Thornton’s substantial achievements, their passion for service, along with their ardent support for McNeese State University and the state of Louisiana, clearly warrant the granting of the honorary doctorates.” 

Cain attended McNeese on a basketball scholarship and received a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and finance in 1990 and a Juris Doctorate degree from Southern University Law Center in 1993. 

In 2019, Cain was nominated and confirmed as a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Prior to his judicial appointment, Cain was a founding member and partner at Loftin, Cain and LeBlanc. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Courts of the Eastern District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana and Middle District of Louisiana. 

He has more than 20 years in general civil litigation practice including trying more than 25 jury trials and numerous bench trials in state and federal courts in both Louisiana and Mississippi. 

Cain has served on the McNeese Alumni Association Board since 2014 including terms as treasurer, vice president and president-elect and is actively involved in local public service boards and activities. He is a founding board member for the Alliance for Positive Growth and a member of numerous professional organizations. 

Thornton attended McNeese on an athletic scholarship and received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from McNeese in 1980 and he was honored by his alma mater with the 2012 McNeese Distinguished Alumnus Award. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in petroleum land management from the University of Houston-Downtown. 

As executive vice president of ASM Global, one of the world’s largest private facility management firms, Thornton manages the North American Stadium, Arena and Theater Division. He is responsible for oversight of more than 100 facilities in the United States and Canada including seven NFL stadiums. 

During his 27-year tenure with ASM Global, Thornton has helped to attract, host and produce numerous major special events, while being involved with key aspects of the sports and entertainment business. 

He joined ASM as general manager of the Caesars Superdome and New Orleans Arena in 1997 and led the unprecedented $225 million renovation and re-opening of the Superdome in 2006 after it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The project was widely viewed by the industry as the largest stadium reconstruction project in American sports history and was credited for playing a significant role in the recovery of the city of New Orleans. 

Under Thornton’s leadership, the Caesars Superdome has undergone continued improvements over the years that have allowed the facility to remain competitive at a time when newer stadiums are being constructed at higher costs. The stadium is currently in the final stages of a multi-year, $535 million renovation and upgrade that are due to be complete in July 2024 in time for the 2025 NFL Super Bowl. 

He had an integral role in helping New Orleans to attract and host four NFL Super Bowls, four College Football championships, three NBA All-Star games, three NCAA Men’s Final Four and three NCAA Women’s Final Four championships and several NCAA Regional tournaments. He spearheaded the successful effort to relocate the NBA Pelicans (formerly the Hornets) from Charlotte, North Carolina, to New Orleans in 2002. 

Thornton is actively involved in local civic and tourism efforts and has received numerous honors and recognitions for his work and leadership in the sports and tourism industry.