Roy Charles Winston

A native of Baton Rouge, LA, he attended Istrouma High School and graduated in 1958. He lettered in football, baseball and track. He played on three high school football State Championship teams. In his senior year, he was named football All State, All Southern, and All American. In baseball, he was named All State. He was inducted into the Istrouma High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 1964.

Moonie attended Louisiana State University and graduated with a B.S. in Education. He played football for the LSU Fighting Tigers in 1959, 1960, and 1961. He played in the 1960 Sugar Bowl and the 1962

Orange Bowl. In 1961, he was named unanimous “All American” and appeared on television on the Bob Hope Show. He was named the SEC’s “Outstanding Lineman” by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper, “Best Offensive Guard” in the SEC, and received the 1961 Atlanta Touchdown Club Trophy for the “Most Outstanding Player” in the SEC.

Moonie was named the 1961 LSU football team captain. In 1962, he played in the Hula Bowl in Honolulu, HI, the All Star Game in Buffalo, NY, and the College All Star Game in Chicago, IL. He played left field on the 1961 LSU SEC Championship baseball team. He was named Louisiana’s “Outstanding Amateur Athlete of the Year” in 1961.

Moonie was drafted in the fourth round by the Minnesota Vikings where he played his entire 15-year professional football career, 1962-1976. He played on eight central division championship teams and played in four Super Bowls, IV, VIII, IX and XI. He was one of 11 Vikings to have played on all four Super Bowl teams. He was the recipient of the Vikings “Most Valuable Defensive Player” in 1972. He received eight game balls awarded by teammates for outstanding performance in particular games.

Later, he was inducted into the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976, inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, and named to the LSU Centennial Team in 1993. In 2000, he was named a “Legend of the SEC.” He was named to the Vikings Silver Anniversary and 40th Anniversary teams. In 2010, he was named one of the “Fifty Greatest Vikings.”

After retiring from professional football in 1977, he owned a sporting goods store for five years and then entered the oilfield industry working in professional sales and consulting before retiring in 2002. He was an active volunteer in fund raising for charitable purposes, as a speaker for football and baseball service organizations, kids clinics, as well as civic and athletic associations. He was also a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Baton Rouge, LA; St. Anne Catholic Church, Napoleonville, LA; and St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, Birmingham, AL.

A life long native of Louisiana, he resided with wife Yvette and daughter Charlotte in Baton Rouge, later in Napoleonville, LA., and most recently in Birmingham, AL. He had a great passion for the outdoors, particularly hunting and fishing. He was a master bass fisherman entering and winning many tournaments. His favorite fishing spot was the Atchafalaya spillway, where there is a canal named after him, the “Moonie” Winston Canal.

Moonie was an avid hunter, crossing the country to hunt pheasant, turkey, duck, and deer. His favorite was quail hunting with his prized English Setter dogs, his brother “Tootsie,” and best friend Billy.

Moonie greatly cherished the many enduring friendships he made through football, baseball, fishing, hunting, and the oilfield. Friends and family describe him as our “hometown hero.”

Moonie is preceded in death by his parents, Jack L. Winston, Sr and Gretchen Kershaw Winston. He

is survived by his wife of 59 years, Yvette Bergeron Winston; son, Roy Winston, Jr. (Kevin, Ben); daughters Julie Winston Waters (Dan) and Charlotte Winston; brothers, Newton “Tootsie” Winston (Betty, deceased) and Jack Winston, Jr. (Diana); sister, Ann Winston Stegall (Butch); grandson, Jacob Winston; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held on Monday, March 14, 2022 at St. Anne Catholic Church in Napoleonville, LA., with visitation from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the Celebration of Life - Eulogy at 11:30 a.m., and the Mass of Christian Burial at 12 noon. Interment will follow in the church’s cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: St. Anne Catholic Church, P.O. Box 99, Napoleonville, LA 70390; Society of St. Vincent de Paul, P.O. Box 127, Baton Rouge, LA 70821; Big Oak Ranch, 250 Jake Mintz Road, Gadsden, AL 35905 (www.bigoak.org); or your favorite charity.