METAIRIE -- Gayle Benson now takes over ownership of the Saints and Pelicans.
Some of the people who know her best, believe she will move Tom Benson's legacy forward.
"She's fantastic. She's so genuine. She's caring and giving and I mean, we love her around here at the organization," said Joy Romig, the Administrative Director of the New Orleans Saints.
"Always, always a lady first," said long-time friend John Jay. "Has magnificent taste, I think that's obvious, great style, but she's so well mannered and she's so polite and she's so caring."
"Gayle Benson is a warm and loving and kind, extremely thoughtful and generous woman, who is dedicated to her faith. She was dedicated to her husband," said Julie Miller Hart who has worked with Gayle on charity fundraisers.
She and Tom Benson had their first date to a VooDoo arena football game, where they sat on the sideline. Friends say the former successful business owner is hard working and was at Tom's side running the Saints.
"I suppose more well prepared than people would think she is. She's got a lot of experience. Been in business a long time," added John Jay.
"She has the savvy and the intelligence and a way with people that will make her extremely successful in leading the Saints and the Pelicans," Hart said.
"Gayle has always been an impressive person to me and you can always tell that she had what it took to run an NFL team. She is gracious and lovely, but she also has a great business acumen," said New Orleans' First Lady Cheryl Landrieu. "I don't think anybody's going to outwork Gayle. Gayle can come and work with the rest of them, just like Mr. Benson did. She kind of gets right in there and makes it happen. I have every confidence she going to do a really wonderful job."
"She was here everyday with Mr. Benson. She sat in on meetings," Romig said.
"She's fully capable. She's smart. She's wicked funny and she's very tough. The other thing is, she's completely committed to the city of New Orleans. Over time, Gayle will ascend to be one of the great leaders in the NFL as well," said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
Now the city, and the leagues, will soon find out.
And the mayor's wife added that Gayle and Tom Benson watched all the parades on Carnival Day at Gallier Hall and would get into catching beads and doubloons just like everyone else.