Cyndie & Chuck Reid, leaders of the Krewe of Highland '07 told us that they are "delighted and excited to add Blanc et Noir Marching Society to the Highland parade!" They were in attendance at the Krewe of Sobek ball.
While Chuck is King of the K of H, a great deal of the responsibility of the parade traditionally falls to the krewe captain. In New Orleans the captain is strictly masked, often on horseback, and is the principal krewe authority figure. In Cajun country the capitaine is the leader of the carnival gang.
In the B & N I hope you won't mind me appointing myself first captain. That leaves the position of the King & Queen of the K of H open. Me, I nominate co-founders Jerry & Tarama Davenport as the royalty. Let me hear from you if you have other suggestions. It's trudeau@earthlink.net.
Here's a Times listing of the area krewe captains:
Mardi Gras '07: Meet the krewe captains
Dec 31, 2006
KREWE OF AESCLEPIUS: Jim Thomas, of Shreveport, is a claims representative for United Fire Group. He is secretary this year and vice president-elect for Northwest Louisiana Claims Association and a member of the Louisiana Claims Association. He has been a krewe member since it started and has worked on collarpiece and float construction each season.
KREWE OF AKEWA: Renee Rayner, along with husband Ernie Rayner, is owner and operator of Dorcheat Disposal Service, Minden. A native of Minden and reared in Shreveport-Bossier City area, she is the krewe founder.
KREWE DES AMBASSADEURS: Vickie Cullen, of Haughton, is director of human resources for Fibrebond Corp. She has served in various posts with the Minden South Webster Chamber of Commerce and was board chairwoman in 1994. She reigned as Ambassadeurs queen in 2004.
MYSTIC KREWE OF APOLLO SHREVEPORT: R. Gust Bridges is also king of Apollo. He holds business related rental property in Mansfield, has been president of the Mansfield Jaycees and was a director of the Junior Miss Pageant in DeSoto Parish while in the Jaycees. He has judged many Junior Miss and other pageants. He has been on the DeSoto Parish Hospital Board and was youth director and youth choir director of First Methodist Church in Mansfield.
KREWE OF ARTEMIS-SPRINGHILL: Eric Simmons is owner of Eric's Cleaners and Laundry and operational manager of Lewis Funeral Home. He is a professional rodeo announcer and a member of the Springhill-North Webster Chamber of Commerce.
KREWE OF BARKUS AND MEOUX: E. Scott Douget is a graduate of Northwestern State University, a member of Delta Zeta Alumnae and St. John's Cooking Crew.
KREWE OF CENTAUR: Deon Behr-man is employed by Lyons Commercial Properties. He joined the krewe in 1994 and was King Centaur VI. He has served as a Centaur board member and volunteered for many jobs for a total of six years and been captain for two.
KREWE OF DIONYSOS: Tony Gustwick, of Natchitoches, retired in June 2005 as an executive director of Northwestern State University. The National Service Fraternity has awarded him the "Distinguished Service Award." He serves on the board of directors of the Association of the U.S. Army and has been on numerous boards of directors. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and is a Shriner. He is a charter member of Dionysos and volunteered as a float lieutenant for many years.
KREWE OF ELDERS: Jeri Lancaster, of Haughton, is a seamstress. Bowling and dancing are her hobbies.
KREWE OF GEMINI: Brad Graff, a professional engineer, is president of Cothren Graff Smoak Engineering, Inc. He is a member of Shreveport Downtown Rotary and Council of Engineering Companies. He was Gemini's Duke of Louisiana in 2005 and has served as throw chairman and float lieutenant.
KREWE OF HARAMBEE: Lynn Braggs is owner of Decimal Inc.
KREWE OF HARAMBEE KIDS: Teen Captain Shaylen Braggs.
KREWE OF HIGHLAND: Cyndie Reid is a past board member of Elks Lodge 122 Ladies Auxiliary and Elks Lodge 122 Swim Team. She is a charter member of the krewe.
KREWE OF JUSTINIAN: Deryl Medlin is a managing member of McMichael, Medlin, D'Anna & Wedgeworth, L.L.C. Attorneys. He is involved in a numerous organizations. Among them: former member and treasurer of the Board of Trustees Shreveport Bar Foundation; member, board of directors Downtown Shreveport Development Corp., where he served as treasurer; former president of South Highlands Foundation; and Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He has received the Louisiana Start Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award and the Shreveport Bar Association Pro Bono Project Outstanding Service Award. He was Justinian duke in 2003.
KREWE DE LES FEMMES MYSTIQUE: Bernie Bitting is North Louisiana director of March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation and has been president of the Ark-La-Tex Mardi Gras Museum Foundation Board. She received the Bossier Chamber of Commerce Athena Award in 2005 and several national awards with the March of Dimes.
KREWE OF SOBEK: Carl A. Pierson Sr. is retired from the Caddo Parish School System. He is a Caddo commissioner and is involved in various community a activities. He is serving his second year as krewe captain.
