Sun Mar 02 05:20:00 UTC 2025: **Local Attorney Howell Crosby to Reign as Rex, King of Carnival**

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Howell Crosby, a New Orleans attorney and longtime community leader, will reign as Rex, King of Carnival, for Mardi Gras 2024. Crosby, 65, a partner at Chaffe McCall law firm, expressed his disbelief and excitement at the honor, describing it as a significant “trade up” from his teenage years spent operating the Boeuf Gras float for a mere $7.50 a day.

His extensive community involvement includes serving on numerous boards, acting as legal counsel for the Rex organization, and playing a key role in the Pro Bono Publico Foundation, which has awarded approximately $15 million in grants to revitalize New Orleans schools following Hurricane Katrina. He also coordinated musical acts for the Rex parade and the annual Lundi Gras ceremony. His public service even extended to a brief stint on the New Orleans City Council.

Friends and colleagues describe Crosby as a driven and effective leader who connects people for positive change. His network even facilitated a post-Katrina donation of band instruments and uniforms to Warren Easton High School through actress Sandra Bullock.

Crosby credits his commitment to service to his grandfather, who instilled a strong sense of community responsibility in him from a young age. His family’s history is rooted in the Crosby Land & Resources company, one of the largest timber businesses in the United States.

As he prepares for his reign, Crosby balances his Rex duties with family life, including raising chickens and building intricate dollhouses for his grandchildren. He and his wife, Katie, are immersed in the preparations, managing numerous lists to ensure a smooth Mardi Gras experience. This year, however, all eyes will be on him as he leads the Rex parade down St. Charles Avenue.

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