LIBRARY BLOG

A Trip Down Memory Lane: The Krewe of Taureans

Taureans King Eual Philips and Queen Judith Theriot

On Tuesday, February 27th, 1968, the city of Houma celebrated with the Krewe of Taureans—an all-African American carnival organization that was parading for the first time. Up until this point, all of the Mardi Gras crews in Houma were segregated, and the Taureans were one of the first black parades allowed to ride in the city. 

The parade’s captain was Donald Verrett, the Royal Highness King was Eual Phillips, and the queen was Judith Theriot. Eual Phillips was a United States Army Veteran and a teacher at Southdown High School. He served during the Berlin Crisis. Mr. Phillips was very active in civic affairs; he served in the Terrebonne Parish Education Association and the Louisiana Education Association. Judith Theriot was a senior at Vanderbilt High School and planned on attending Nicholls State College upon her graduation.

Credits: Houma Courier

Credits: Houma Courier

Hordes of local citizens came out to enjoy the festivities. The parade consisted of five floats, the well-known Persian Rife Team of Southern University, followed by the Southdown High School Band and Eaglettes. Other bands in the parade were the Sumpter William High School Band and the Cohn High School Band of New Orleans. 

As the map shows, the parade started near the corner of Goode and Honduras, then traveled in a square around Barrow, East Main, Lafayette, and back to Goode. 

Credits: Houma Courier

Other members of the Krewe of Taureans: 

Mrs. Bertha Mae Norman – Maid 

Ms. Yvonne B. Smith – Maid 

Mrs. Elodie Lawson – Maid 

Milfred Harris – Maid 

Anna Mae Lawson – Maid 

Elijah Lawson – Duke 

Marvin Robertson – Duke 

Johann Marie Brown – Page 

Jean Marie Brown – Page 

Stephen Hawkins – Page 

Gregory Jones – Page 

Works Cited

“Krewe of Taureans Moves for First Time.” Houma Courier, 1 Mar 1968, p 8A.  

Further Reading

“PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEMORIES: Letter sheds light on earlier local African-American royalty.” — Houma Today

-Carlos Crockett, Reference Department