FARMERVILLE -- Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne is a New Orleans native but he also takes pride in his family ties to North Louisiana.
Wayne spent many a summer in Marion with his grandparents, the late Luke and Ora Lee Wayne. His father Ralph Wayne also grew up in Marion before playing linebacker at Grambling in the 1960s.
“I do know that when we came up here, it was always great eating,” he said. “Something about grandmother’s cooking. It was a fun time. Everyone was always smiling.
“Our main thing was that we used to throw rocks every day.
“Our main thing was that we used to throw rocks every day.
From throwing rocks to catching the rock , Wayne blossomed into one of the NFL’s best wide receivers -- and a favorite target of quarterback Peyton Manning.
“I put a lot into my off-season workouts,” Wayne said. “I go out there and just try to be consistent. That’s what it is and how Peyton goes. If you’re there for him, he’ll continue to throw you the ball."
When returns to Union Parish, he's greeted by more good food, more smiles, and a surprising number of Colts fans who welcom him back. 
“I’ve been to this area plenty of times to see my grandmother and grandfather,” Wayne said. “I was like, seven years old, traveling back here to see all my relatives. I feel like this is home as well. ”
Louisiana is a football hotbed and Wayne loves to spread the word.
“In the NFL, you get covered over with the state of Florida, the state of California and the state of Texas,” said Wayne, who prepped at John Ehret High School before playing college football at Miami. “But me and Peyton always tell everybody, ‘We’ve got a lot of guys from Louisiana. Don’t skimp on us.’ It’s exciting to have so many guys to play on the professional level to represent the state.”
Wayne said his father Ralph’s stories about Grambling always intensify when they return to the area. Ralph Wayne was a teammate of Grambling legends like James “Shack” Harris and Frank Lewis.
“Whenever I come up to North Louisiana, I get all the stories,” Wayne said. “Whenever I’m in New Orleans, you don’t get many. But as soon as we get around Farmerville and Marion, it’s like you pressed a button.”
