Krewe Des Amis celebrated its 40th year
on Saturday, February 8 in the Lake Charles
Civic Center Coliseum. Th e theme for this
year’s ball was Krewe Des Amis Celebrates
Four Decades of Friendship. Th e venue
was transformed that night for Krewe members
and guests to celebrate this year’s Mardi
Gras season.
Th e 2019 Royal Court was introduced for
the fi nal time: King and Queen Brian and
Nina Abshire and their Dukes and Duchesses,
Rodney Jr. and Jessica Duhon, Charlie
and Paula McDonald, and Marty and Brittany
Castillo.
Th e fi rst 2020 Royal Couple, Dr. Brad
and Tammie Lebert were introduced as
the Duke and Duchess of Mardi Gras in
Hollywood, representing the Krewe’s fi rst
ever Ball theme. Duke Brad is an Otolaryngologist
for the ENT and Allergy Clinic. He
received a Bachelor of Science from Louisiana
State University, and then went on to
LSUHSC in New Orleans, where he earned
his Medical Doctorate. He is a member of
the Academy of Head and Neck Surgery,
American Academy of Otolaryngologic Allergy,
Board of Directors for Bishop Noland
Episcopal Day School, Board of Directors
for Imperial Surgical Facility, and Secretary
of Calcasieu Parish Medical Society. He
enjoys reading, working out, spending time
with family and friends.
Duchess Tammie is a registered nurse,
but is currently a homemaker and peacemaker
of two boys Liam (7) and Levi (6).
She attended Our Lady of the Lake College
where she earned her Associate’s Degree in
Nursing. Duchess Tammie is a member of
the EDS Cultivation Committee - Advancing
Th e Vision and volunteers with Truth,
Facts, and Lies. She enjoys reading, working
out, and spending time with friends and
family. Th e couple lives in Lake Charles and
attend St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal
Church.
Our next Duke and Duchess representing
Fairs and Festivals from the second
decade were Mike and Lurchel Wittler.
Duke Mike is retired from both farming and
Superintendent of Gravity Drainage District
#4 aft er 30 years of service. He attended Mc-
Neese State University and earned a Bachelor’s
Degree in agriculture. Duke Mike
enjoys anything McNeese. He is the CEO of
32 • MARDI GRAS SOUTHWEST • FEBRUARY 24, 2020
the Rowdy Road Wranglers Tailgaters, and
is an RV Road Warrior. He is a member and
was a past president of McNeese Alumni
Association. He is the current president of
the McNeese Cowboy Club, is on the Board
of Commissioners and is a past president of
the Southwest District Livestock and Rodeo
Show. He is also the current president of
Consolidated Gravity Drainage District #2
of East Calcasieu Parish.
Duchess Lurchel attended McNeese State
University and is retired from both the
University Day School where she was the
director and the Calcasieu Parish Planning
Department. She enjoys reading, RV travelling,
entertaining family and friends, supporting
McNeese athletics, and Rowdy Road
Wranglers. She is a member of Beachy’s
Brigade, UMW Circle, Manna Ministry, and
is the secretary/treasurer of Hebert’s Summer
Place. Th e couple has two children,
Michelle and husband Matthew Crumhorn,
and Megan and husband AJ Powell. Th eir
grandchildren include Bryce Powell (14),
Gavin Powell(12), and twins Case and
Camille Crumhorn (2). Th e couple live in
Lake Charles and attend University United
Methodist.
Next came the Duke and Duchess
of Mardi Gras on Parade from the
Krewe’s third decade, Matthew and
Michelle Crumhorn. Duke Matthew
graduated from Louisiana State
University and holds a Bachelor’s
Degree in fi nance, as well as a Civil
Law Degree from Loyola University.
He is an attorney at Rabalais Unland,
LLP. Duke Matthew enjoys watching
the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans,
as well as LSU sports. He also enjoys
music and playing guitar. He is a
member of Leadership St. Tammany,
the LA Bar Association, and board
of directors of St. Paul’s High School
Alumni Association.
Duchess Michelle is a public relations
coordinator for Heritage Bank of
St. Tammany. She attended McNeese
State University where she earned a
degree in general studies/business and
Delgado Community College, where
she earned an associate’s degree in interior
design. Duchess Michelle enjoys
arts and craft s, and interior design,
dance, and spending time with family
The King and Queen of 2020
Dr. Benjamin and Emily Williams