Dominic Massa / Eyewitness News
Email: dmassa@wwltv.com | Twitter: @DMassaWWL
NEWORLEANS- Owen 'Pip' Brennan Jr., the founding captain of the Krewe of Bacchus, has turned over the reins of the city's first super krewe to his son, who was elected captain by a vote of the krewe's members Wednesday.
Brennan's son, Clark Brennan, has served Bacchus for decades as a member of the krewe's board and chaired several of the krewe's committees. He has also been a public face of the krewe throughout the year, doing media interviews and appearing at annual events welcoming each year's celebrity monarch.
'I am surrounded by a dedicated board of directors who will help me continue the rich traditions of Bacchus while making headway into the future of this incredible krewe,' Clark Brennan said in a statement.'Bacchus will sustain its goal of putting on a premiere Mardi Gras parade that focuses the spotlight on the City of New Orleans.'
Pip Brennan and the founders of Bacchus introduced the concept of a super krewe in 1968, when they founded the club, with a celebrity monarch, huge floats, throws and a post-parade party called the Rendezvous, originally held at the Rivergate.
The founders' original idea was to 'wake up' what they saw as a somewhat sleepy Carnival season, which had just a handful of parades at the time and no major parade on the weekend before Fat Tuesday.
Notable celebrity Bacchus monarchs over the years have included Danny Kaye (the first), Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Perry Como, Drew Brees and this year's, Hugh Laurie.
To honor Pip Brennan, Bacchus' board of directors has created the position of 'captain emeritus'and elected him to the position.
Pip Brennan has been embroiled in a different controversy in recent months involving the bankruptcy, closure and fierce family fight over Brennan's Restaurant, which was founded by his father. Brennan ran the restaurant for many years alongside his two brothers.
