Honoring Trumpet Bob

This Photo was taken during the Crooks Second Line by Ralph De Palma

Trumpet Bob was a KW Legend. He passed away on August 7, 2018. He loved leading the New Orleans Style Street Funerals with his tuxedo, top hat and trumpet. Bob played on the patio of the Cafe Tropical in front of the Mel Fisher's Museum for over fifteen years. He played in many places all over Key West.
He loved to sit in with the Love Lane Gang. He first arrived in KW in 1952 while still in the Navy. Trumpet Bob was a world traveler and loved everyone. He had many friends here in Key West and will be missed by everyone who knew and loved him. Bob loved to play in musical groups with Richard Crooks and was a good friend to Richard. Bob also loved to get children involved in music and it will be an honor to be included in the January 30th, 2022 Crooks Second Line March.

Honoring Margaret Powell

Margaret McElroy Powell was born January 2, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois, and passed away August 28, 2016, in Hudson, NY, after a yearlong courageous struggle with colon cancer. She attended Marian Catholic High School and Illinois State University. She met her husband Greg on a student ship on her way to spending her junior year in Grenoble, France. After losing touch with each other, they met once again during a chance encounter in St. Peter’s Square in Rome on Christmas Eve, 1967. They spent the following 50 years together, never losing their love for language, travel, and adventure. She received a Master’s degree in Language and Linguistics from Georgetown University and a Ph.D. in French Literature from Duke University. Margaret approached life with style, grace and creativity. Friends and family relied on her for her knowledge, insight and delicious cooking. When visiting Key West, she enjoyed the weather, the culture, the cuisine and the many friends of her sister and brother-in-law Kathy and Steve Russ.

Honoring Kathy Hughes

Kathy Hughes, a native of Monterey, California, was a regular visitor to Key West for over 30 years. Widowed after 20 years of marriage, she raised 4 children and ran a very successful family business in Aptos, California. In 1987, Kathy married Gary Hughes and together they shared 9 children, 18 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. On one of their trips to Key West, Kathy and Gary met a fellow native of the Northern California Bay Area, the great Richard Crooks. The joy of listening to Richard play and watching him perform highlighted every visit. Friendships were formed that literally lasted lifetimes. Kathy passed away unexpectedly and beautifully on June 22, 2016, in the Monterey Bay village of Aptos. Her ashes were scattered there and on the ocean outside Louie's Backyard.

Honoring Jimmy Davis

A.K.A. "J.D. and "Mangrove Jim"

Jimmy lost a courageous battle with esophageal cancer on May 16, 2016. He was born on April 16, 1950 in Port St. Joe, Florida. He graduated from Florida State University after proudly enlisting and serving for 3 years in the United States Army, Military Police, 101st Airborne. 

He and his wife Anita owned their outdoor furniture business in Kingston, NY and worked side by side for 25 years. Jimmy had a creative talent to design and build many unique custom pieces. 

He and Anita enjoyed traveling and drove by way of the old 7 Mile Bridge in the mid-1970's to solve their curiosity about the Keys. They became longtime residents of the Keys where they raised their two daughters, Summer Rose and Amber Rose. He and Anita played music and entertained throughout the Keys for many years at Boondocks, Sugarloaf Lodge, Looe Key Tiki, Sunshine Key Resort, Key West and Big Pine Moose Lodge, Marathon American Legion, Galway Bay, Venture Out Resort, and many other venues.

Jimmy was an avid spear fisherman and enjoyed spending his time spearing mangrove snapper in the backcountry, He became known to many as "Mangrove Jim." He also loved cooking outdoors, eating raw oysters, and drinking cold beer. He was a dedicated Florida State football fan and enjoyed tailgating and FSU games with his family.

He loved everyone, had the best sense of humor, and was the life of every party. He was the most giving person and was always willing to lend a helping hand to ANYONE. His advice to everyone would be to live life to the fullest like he did because, as he would say, "We're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time.

Honoring Richard Crooks

The man who started it all, Richard Crooks. We will honor his memory once again at this years parade.

Honoring Nancy Robinson

Nancy R. Robinson was born Nancy Nell Rose in 1924 in St Paul, Minnesota. She married Seymour B. Robinson in 1946 and they began their family, moving to Chappaqua, New York, to watch them grow. Once Andrea, Nina, Martha, and Jim became adults and moved on, Nancy and Sy relocated to Ocala, Florida, where life began anew. In 1996, Seymour passed away, beginning Nancy’s fourth life in 1999 as a full-time Key West resident. Here, Nancy was known as a patron of the arts, board member to numerous organizations, supporter of many charitable causes, but mostly a regular presence in the Key West music scene, supporting venues and musicians alike. She regularly watched her son-in-law, Richard Crooks, Nina's husband, as he performed with many of Key West’s, and the country’s finest musicians. An aging body never stayed her youthful spirit, nor her time spent in being a loving and loved Key West presence. She always remained  available for her friends and her causes, and most of all, continued assuring that opportunities opened for those whom she could encourage, support, and love.

Honoring Larry Douglas

Lawrence “Larry” H. Douglas was born in Watertown, NY in 1935. He joined the US Navy and served aboard the USS Sabalo, a diesel submarine. Thanks to the GI Bill, he obtained a degree from the State University of New York at Oswego and then taught junior high school in Watertown. In 1962 he married Barbara and they moved to Syracuse, NY where he earned his PhD from Syracuse University while teaching at the University of Rochester.

In 1973 Larry and Barbara moved with their three children, Nancy, Kate, and Tom, to New Hampshire, where for 28 years Larry was both a Dean and a Professor of History at Plymouth State College. He continued his service in the Navy Reserve, was recalled to active duty during Operations Desert Shield/Storm as the naval historian for Central Command, and retired as a decorated captain in 1991.

A surprise trip for Barbara’s birthday in 2003 was the first visit to Key West for the Douglas family. Larry loved the warmth of the sun, the boats in the harbor, the smell of salt air, the rich history of the island, the friendliness of everyone, and especially the music. He was happy to wear shorts, a t-shirt, and sandals in the winter months, leaving the snow shoveling and shivering behind. He and Barbara spent several winters here, eventually purchasing a home in Old Town within walking distance to their favorite haunts – B. O.’s Fish Wagon and Finnegan’s Wake. Larry thoroughly enjoyed hearing good music all over town, especially when Richard Crooks or Barry Cuda were performing with the island’s other world class musicians. Many of these fantastic artists have become great friends, as have those with whom Larry and Barbara enjoyed the music. Larry made friends with ease and those who knew him will fondly remember his wide grin and finger-tapping joy. We thank you all for your friendship and love.