Ralph C. Cox Jr. ’64 Named Alumnus of the Year
Honored for pairing professional achievement with generous service, Cox will be recognized during Alumni Weekend Mass and Reception on November 6.
Ralph C. Cox Jr. ’64 has been named Jesuit High School’s 2026-27 Alumnus of the Year. This prestigious award is presented annually to an alumnus who embodies Jesuit’s mission through exceptional professional achievement, leadership, and dedicated service to Jesuit and the greater community. Cox will be honored during Alumni Weekend Mass and Reception on November 6 at Jesuit.
President Fr. John Brown, S.J., praises Cox for exemplifying the qualities that define a Jesuit alumnus and serves as an inspiring model for current students:
“Worldly success alone does not define the success of a Jesuit alumnus. It is putting that success at the service of others, glorifying God through his gifts and hard work, that makes Ralph Cox such an inspiring example for our students to look up to. Ralph Cox has paired achievement with character, generosity, and enduring loyalty to his alma mater and wider community. We are honored to recognize him as Jesuit’s Alumnus of the Year.”
A member of the Class of 1964, Cox earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of New Orleans before joining Bourgeois Bennett, LLC in 1969. After passing the CPA examination in 1971, he became a partner in 1977 and was elected managing member of the firm in 1997. Over a distinguished 43-year career, he helped guide one of Louisiana’s premier accounting and consulting firms while earning widespread respect throughout the accounting profession.
His leadership extended well beyond his firm. Cox served as the president of the New Orleans chapter of the Society of Louisiana CPAs, chaired numerous state committees and conferences, and received the organization’s Distinguished Service Award in 2001 before being honored with Life Membership in 2018. Nationally, he served two terms on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Governing Council, chaired its life and disability insurance committee, and served on the Board of Governors of the American Group of CPAs.
Reflecting on the impact of his Jesuit education, Cox said:
“I grew up at Jesuit. All of the positive values and character traits that had been instilled by my parents were reinforced and developed during my high school years. Jesuit became the ‘furnace’ where my morals and personal ethics were tempered and strengthened. I learned to treat everyone with respect, even those with whom I might disagree, and to listen and learn while always using my own judgment to reach my own conclusions. I learned that being a leader really meant setting an example and becoming a person others would want to follow. In short, my Jesuit education helped develop me into the man I am today.”
As a Blue Jay, Cox immersed himself in student life. He was a four-year member of the Blue Jay Band, playing flute during marching and concert performances, and also played tenor saxophone with a small student ensemble that entertained fans at basketball games. Beyond music, he competed on Jesuit’s bowling team and was a member of the Radio Club, experiences that helped forge lifelong friendships and deepened his connection to the school community.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Cox has devoted decades to civic, charitable, and church leadership throughout the Greater New Orleans area. He has served on the UNO Accounting Advisory Council, UNO Foundation, and the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, while also chairing the finance committee of the New Orleans Board of Trade. He currently serves as vice chairman of the Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission after previously serving on the board of First Bank & Trust for 15 years, including as chairman of its loan committee.
Service has remained a defining characteristic of Cox’s life. An Eagle Scout, he dedicated many years to the Boy Scouts of America, serving as an adult leader and receiving the New Orleans Area Council’s District Award of Merit. His commitment to the Catholic Church has been equally extensive, including nearly four decades on the St. Pius X parish finance council, along with leadership roles supporting the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Catholic Charities, the Catholic Community Foundation, and numerous educational and charitable organizations across the region.
His devotion to Jesuit has likewise remained steadfast. Cox has served as co-captain of the Class of 1964, volunteered for numerous Jesuit Bazaars, and co-chaired the school’s booth sponsors committee. He has also generously supported organizations closely connected to Jesuit, including the Jesuit Program for Living and Learning (Boys Hope) and Stuart Hall School for Boys.
In recognition of his lifetime of professional excellence and community service, Cox has received numerous honors, including being named a “Role Model” by the Young Leadership Council, recognized as a “Community Activist” by St. Elizabeth’s Guild, and awarded the Order of St. Louis Medallion by the Archdiocese of New Orleans for his distinguished service to the Church.
For more than six decades, Ralph Cox has exemplified the values instilled at Carrollton & Banks; faith, leadership, integrity, and a lifelong commitment to serving others. His remarkable career and unwavering dedication to his community make him a worthy recipient of Jesuit High School’s highest alumni honor.
Ralph and his wife, Patricia, have two children, Christopher Cox ’89 and Jennifer Cox Serio. Jennifer and her husband, Steven Serio ’96, are the proud parents of Ralph’s two grandsons, Marshal Serio ’26 and Harrison Serio, a current Jesuit junior.
Alumni and their spouses or guests are invited to Jesuit’s Alumni Weekend Mass & Reception where Cox will be honored on Friday, November 6, 2026. Attire is coat and tie. Registration is required.