Jerry and Susan Pennington were unmasked Saturday night at the Annual Mardi Gras Ball as the 2024 Orange Mardi Gras King and Queen.
Original members of Krewe L’Orange, Pennington is a retired attorney and municipal judge. He’s also well known as an Orange historian. Wife Susan was a long time educator. She also assisted in the formation of Habitat for Humanity in Orange. She’s a member of the Golden Triangle Quilt Guild and the Ivy League Garden Club.
It was the 20th Anniversary of the ball and the past King and Queens were honored before the pageant. There were a couple of years were a King and Queen were not honored because of events like a hurricane and Covid. Most of the past Kings and Queens were in attendance and introduced by Larry Spears. Also honored were Royalty no longer with us including Carolyn Hogan, Corky Harmon, and Stump Weatherford.
The 2023 Court was introduced. They included the Captains of Land and Sea, Kyndall Trahan and Lauren Leigh, Duke & Duchess of Urban Zamunda, Allan and Tricia Villery, Duke & Duke from Scandinavia Adam Conrad and Jody Chesson, Duke & Duchess of Exquisite Art, Larry and Trisha Spears, Duke & Duchess of Rio de Janeiro, Gina and Skipper Yeaman, and the 2023 King and Queen of Dumonde Johnny and Becky Trahan.
That brought us to the 2024 Royal Court which was filled with feathers, sequins, glitter and a few dance moves.
The Captain of the Ball, Kenneth Wheeler, got things started. He was followed by the Duke and Duchess of Ridel High, Trent and Crystal Rogillio of Krewe LaRoulette. From Krewe des Ami, Micah and Cody Tant took the stage as the Duke and Duchess of Cemetery Street. The Duke and Duchess of Pride Land, Rabon and Lori Ezell from Krewe deVille Pont was third on the list. They were followed by Creole Krewe’s Marty and Jan Klucik, as the Duke and Duchess of Moulin Rouge.
The Pennington’s then took center stage as our new King and Queen and they will be ruling over the Orange Mardi Gras weekend which is scheduled Feb. 1-3.
The band Paper Chase played through the evening along with DJ Alex Murphy at the VFW.
On Thursday, Feb. 1, Bag of Donuts will be playing a free concert at the Orange Pavilion, sponsored by Dow at 6:30pm. On Feb. 2, the city pavilion will feature Chris Ardoin, live and free, beginning at 7pm.
And then on Saturday, Feb. 3, downtown Orange will feature a Kiddie Zone from 10 AM – 6 PM, Munchkin Parade at 1 PM, DJ Entertainment | 10 AM – 6 PM and the Krewe of Krewe’s Parade thru downtown Orange at 6PM. To participate in the munchkin or krewe parade, contact the Orange Chamber at 883-3536.
Also with the 20 year celebration, the Heritage House in Orange is displaying costumes, photos, and crowns from the past. That collection will be on display through February 13.
-Gary Stelly, KOGT-
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