The first float, according to the article, carried The Exclusive Twelve, directed by Louella Robertson, Captain.

Judith Theriot Verrett recalls the occasion, nearly 34 years ago, when the Krewe of Taureans parade paused at the reviewing stand for the traditional carnival rituals.

Even though she reigned as queen of Taureans, Judith, a Vandebilt Catholic High School senior, was unsure whether alcohol was appropriate.

Leslie Broussard that it was permissible, Judith toasted the mayor and her subjects.

Then her royal float rolled on up Main Street to Lafayette, then Honduras and to Goode Street where the parade had begun.

On another float, then Southdown High School teacher Eual Phillips ruled as King Taurus.

When a recent front page Courier story announced that Lawrence Robinson would reign as king of the Krewe Hercules in the coming 2002 carnival season, the headline called it a first.

The article explained that Hercules, in selecting Robinson as king, would become the first mainstream Houma krewe to roll with an African-American as king.

But the headline above the story slightly overstated Robinsons accomplishment.

Fred Theriot, Judiths brother, knew better, and informed Courier editors by e-mail.

Your article concerning Mr.

In the late 1960s or early 1970s, a young African-American woman by the name of Judith Theriot reigned as queen of the Krewe of Taureans.

And as proof, he included the electronically scanned image of a yellowed clipping from an issue of the Houma Courier.

You will notice in the attached photograph that she is on the float toasting the mayor in front of City Hall on Main Street, Theriot wrote.

He concluded, Though Mr.

Robinson is a man of many firsts in Terrebonne Parish, he and The Courier must accept the fact that he has placed second in this race.

Theriot did not know the year of the first Krewe of Taureans parade, but Judith, now Mrs.

Alexander Verrett of Gulfport, Miss., provided information that led to microfilm copies of the 1968 Houma Courier containing photographs and articles about the first outing of the all-black krewe.

It rolled at 2 p.m.

Mardi Gras, Feb. 27, 1968, with four floats and several marching units.

Donald Verret served as captain of the parade.

The Feb. 23, 1968, Houma Courier published front-page pictures of the king and queen.

A map of the parade route and photographs of the royal Taureans court appeared on an inside page.

Under the headline Krewe of Taureans Moves for First Time, the newspaper reported Plans have been finalized for the first Mardi Gras parade of the Krewe of Taureans.

Ruling over the day of fun will be His Royal Highness Eual Phillips, and his Queen, Miss Judith Theriot.

Following the police escort will be the color guard, the well-known Pershing Rifle team of Southern University.

Riding in the first convertible will be Donald Verret, Captain of the parade.

In the convertible just behind will be the queens attendant and the page boys and page girls, Stephen Hawkins and Gregory Jones and Jean Brown and Johanna Brown.

Fred Theriot E Michelle Theriot