In 1972, former captain of the Krewe of Jason, Charles Mauer had the vision of bringing Mardi Gras to Jefferson Parish. Mr. Mauer approached his long time friend William Atkin, who was the former captain of the Krewe of Elks Orleanians Truck parade, to help organize the Jefferson Mardi Gras. These two men had a vision for a family oriented Mardi Gras in Jefferson Parish. On a clear Tuesday afternoon March 6, 1973, their vision came alive and the Krewe of Jefferson’s twelve truck floats paraded down Veterans Highway through a large number a spectators.
Today, thirty-two years later the Krewe of Jefferson has grown into seventy-five truck floats with over three thousand members yearly. Mardi Gras in Jefferson Parish would not exist if it were not for the ideas of Mr. Mauer’s and Mr. Atkin’s.
In 2005, Mr. Atkin retired after thirty-two years as captain. Mr. Atkin appointed Michael Benedetto as the Krewe’s new captain. Mr. Benedetto has been a part of the Krewe for many years. He hopes to continue the legacy that Mr. Atkin has left for Jefferson Parish.