Picayune native Edward Howell Crosby has been named the 2025 King of New Orleans Carnival, leading the Rex Parade and presiding over the Rex Ball on Mardi Gras, March 4. A longtime member of the Rex Organization, Crosby has served in various leadership roles, including Legal Counsel and Ball Lieutenant, and helped establish the Pro Bono Publico Foundation, which supports education initiatives in New Orleans.

Crosby, a respected attorney, is a General Partner at Chaffe McCall and previously served as Managing Partner. He has been recognized nationally for his expertise in real estate law and was honored with the American College of Mortgage Attorneys Lifetime Fellow Award in 2023.

Raised in Picayune, Crosby is the great-grandson of L.O. Crosby and grandson of R. Howell Crosby, both prominent Mississippi forestry leaders. He remains connected to his hometown through his work with the Crosby Arboretum and Crosby Land & Resources, one of the largest private timberland companies in the U.S.

Beyond his legal career, Crosby is active in community service, serving as Treasurer of the Methodist Health System Foundation. He has also held leadership roles with Crescent City Farmers Markets, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, and Warren Easton High School, where he helped connect actress Sandra Bullock to post-Katrina recovery efforts.

Crosby and his wife, Katherine Andry Crosby, are active in civic and philanthropic work. They attend St. Rita Catholic Church and have been awarded the Order of St. Louis IX for their contributions to the Catholic community.

As he takes on the role of Rex, Crosby expressed gratitude to the organization and its members, reaffirming his commitment to the motto Pro Bono Publico—for the public good.