SLIDELL — Mary Clement and Randy Smith were crowned King and Queen Samaritan LXVI during the Krewe of Slidellians’ 66th bal masque.
Founded in 1947 by Anita Breisacher, Blanche Carroll, Virginia Madison and Peggy Solberger, the Slidell Women’s Civic Club fosters civic, welfare, cultural and social interests of the community, and each member of its Krewe of Slidellians court is traditionally selected because of their commitment and service to organizations vital to the community.
Queen Samaritan LXVI Mary Clement is a native and lifelong resident of Slidell who graduated from Slidell High School and went on to earn degrees from Tulane University and the University of New Orleans. Clement is a Special Education teacher at Clearwood Junior High School in Slidell, and has been honored as a Louisiana Educator of Distinction and Bonne Ecole Elementary School Teacher of the Year. State Certified in grade 1-12 Special Education, Clement has been an active Special Olympics volunteer on the state and international level, and has developed special needs gymnastics classes in several cities throughout the United States. She also is a U.S. Gymnastics Federation Judge and Safety Instructor and a National Association of Women’s Gymnastics Judge.
Since joining the Slidell Women’s Civic Club in 2006, she has served as the organization’s president and, for four years, as Parade Captain for the Krewe of Slidellians. She also has volunteered beside her SWCC sisters at local nursing homes, at the Mt. Olive Church Feeding Ministry, Christmas Under the Stars, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, and countless fundraising projects to support the SWCC.
(See Bal, Pg. 2B)
King Samaritan LXVI Randy Smith is currently serving as Slidell’s Chief of Police, and this summer will be inaugurated as Sheriff of St. Tammany Parish. A 28-year veteran law enforcement officer, Smith is a native of Slidell and a lifetime resident of St. Tammany Parish. Smith is a graduate of Salmen High School, the Louisiana State University Law Enforcement Academy, and the Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM), in Jacksonville, Fla.
He is a member of the Slidell Noon Lions Club, Slidell Elks Club, Slidell Police Association, International Chiefs of Police Association, Louisiana Chiefs of Police Association, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Communications District #1 / 911 Board of Directors, Child Advocacy Center / Hope House Board of Directors, Coastal Conservation Association, Leadership Slidell Alumni Association, and the National Rifle Association.
Smith also volunteers to support the Hospice Foundation of the South, Slidell Boys & Girls Club, the Make A Wish Foundation, United Way of St. Tammany Parish, Rotary Club, Keep Slidell Beautiful, and STARC.
This year’s Slidellians’ ball was the vision of Ball Captain Carol Beech and Ball Co-Captains (22nd Judicial District Judge) Mary Devereux, Jean Glover and Mary Pat Landry. Guests were transported back in time as the ball theme, “Memories of Days Gone By – Classic TV”, had each maid and duke on the royal court portraying a classic celebrity couple. Maids and dukes honored for service to their respective organizations were:
Dale Evans and Roy Rogers of “The Roy Rogers Show”: Tony Gebbia, representing Slidell Police Department/Blue Forever Inc., and Kevin O’Neill, Bring It Home Northshore;
Lucy and Ricky Riccardo of “I Love Lucy”: Mary Gilmore, Junior Auxiliary of Slidell, and Tony Walley, Emerging Young Professionals;
Jeannie and Major Anthony Nelson of “I Dream of Jeannie”: Laura Mauffray Borchert, Crisis Pregnancy Help Center of Slidell, and Dr. Charles Preston, St. Tammany Outreach for the Prevention of Suicide;
Alice and Ralph Kramden of “The Honeymooners”: Yolanda Paz, East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, and Bruce Anzalone, Rotary Club of Slidell.
Master of ceremonies for the evening was Bruce Lowrey, who introduced, among others, the United States Marine Corps, Color Guard; soloist Sarah Schultz, performing the national anthem; Slidell Women’s Civic Club President Ramona Carlin, who delivered a welcoming address; Parade Captain Rosemary Clement, Parade Co-Captain Mary Clement, and Lieutenants Gwendolyn Clement, Jean Glover, Judy Kramer, Nell Laporte, and Kerry Lawless; and Slidell Women’s Civic Club Executive Board members Cindy Boudreau, Kellie Ainsworth, Jill Scholl, Martha Van Deventer, Angela Lamarque, Rosemary Clement, Carol Beech, Michelle Chappuis, and Kendra Maness.
Royal entertainment was choreographed by Rosemary Clement, and performed by Clement with Marlene Cocran Bajon, Sheree Bouchillon, Michelle Chappuis, Sharon deLong, Joann Dever, Barbara Doyle, Martha Jones, Mary Pat Landry, Adelaide Lowrey, Magen Tardo, Julie Teal, Martha Van Deventer, and Carol Wolfram.
