2008 Royalty

2008 Royalty

Mr. Ralph Romaguera, Sr.

King Carrollton LXXXIV

Ralph has been member of the Krewe since 1972. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors as well as a Float Lieutenant. His two sons Ralph Jr. and Ryan and his son-in-law Roch are also members of the Krewe. His two daughters have reigned as Queens of Carrollton, Carol in 2001 and Liddy in 2005. Romaguera began his photographic career at the age of 18 in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Following active duty at the Naval Photo School, he obtained a part time position with United Press International and later became a full time photojournalist for the Times Picayune Publishing Corporation in New Orleans, LA. In 1971, Romaguera opened his first portrait studio in New Orleans. Presently he and his sons own and operate three studios in the Greater New Orleans area. His exhibition prints have been accepted in the General, Loan and Masters Loan Exhibits of the Professional Photographers of America and a ten-time winner of the prestigious Kodak Gallery Award, given for photographic excellence. Romaguera has been honored numerous times with Master of the Year for the state of Louisiana. Romaguera has received his Masters and Craftsman Degrees and is certified from the Professional Photographers of America and the Fellowship in the American Society of Photographers. He has served on the Wedding Group, chairman of the Photographic Exhibitions Committee, the International Committee and vice-chairman of the Convention Committee for the Professional Photographers of America. Romaguera has been honored with the coveted National Award and the International Award from PPA as well as the Service Award from the American Society of Photographers. The Professional Photographers of Louisiana has recently recognized Ralph with the Emile Navarre Lifetime Achievement Award for his long dedication to the profession and recent activities he handled for New Orleans area photographers following the Katrina disaster. Romaguera is currently a member of the PPA Board of Directors. Romaguera has served as President of the Greater New Orleans Guild, the Professional Photographers of Louisiana, the Southwestern Photographers Association and the American Society of Photographers. As a platform speaker and a judge, Romaguera has lectured throughout the United States, China, Canada, Mexico, Korea, Germany and Great Britain. He has been a presenter numerous times at the National PPA convention, Senior Photographers International and Wedding and Portrait Photographers International. He has been an instructor for the Winona International School for Professional Photography, the Florida School, the Mid America Institute of Professional Photography, the Mount Carroll School, Mid Atlantic Regional School, the California Workshop and the Texas School of Professional Photography. Romaguera was chosen to represent portrait photographers on the NBC Today Show in a series celebrating the 150 Years of Professional Photography.

2008 Royalty

Miss Katherine Elise Dileo

Queen Carrollton LXXXIV

Katherine Elise Dileo Queen Carrollton 84th is the daughter of Mr. Greg Pius Dileo and Ms. Gia Marie Rabito. Katherine is a senior at Isidore Newman School where she is Vice-president of the Newman Chorus and the Assistant editor of the “Greenie” the school newspaper. She enjoys theatre and has been performing in the school performances since 6th grade. She is also a member of the acapella singing group "Offke”. Katherine plans to attend college in the Northeast and pursue a degree in journalism and communications. Katherine has long standing ties to our Carrollton Family. Her mother Gia reigned as Queen of Carrollton in 1975. Her grandfather was a member of the krewe for many years. Her grandmother and her aunt have also been members of past Carrollton courts. Her uncle was also a member of the krewe and a former duke. Queen Katherine has previously been a member of our past courts as a Lady in Waiting, and now completes her Carnival journey as our Queen.