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Gonzmarts Resign From Knights Of Sant' Yago

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 18, 2008

TAMPA - The Gonzmart name long has been synonymous with two aspects of Tampa history: the Columbia Restaurant and the Krewe of the Knights of Sant' Yago.

Now brothers Richard and Casey Gonzmart have resigned from the krewe their parents founded nearly 40 years ago.

After Richard Gonzmart heard what he described as vulgarities by a DJ during last month's Gasparilla boat invasion, he and his brother called it quits. They say the president, or baron, of their krewe should have resigned over the matter. When he didn't, the brothers resigned instead.

"I'm just so sick and tired of parades and women who flash themselves for beads," said Richard Gonzmart, 55. "It's just so stupid."

Gonzmart wrote a letter to krewe Baron Dan Haya Jr., complaining about the situation and asking him to take action.

"This past Saturday's behavior I am sure has my mother and father rolling over in their grave," Gonzmart wrote, referring to the Jan. 26 Gasparilla events.

Gonzmart said he and some friends and family were on a small boat during the invasion when they overheard the amplified voice of a DJ say, "Hey, you in the orange shirt, show us your boobies, come on, don't be embarrassed, we have beads for you if you show us your boobies." Gonzmart said the DJ was on the Krewe of Sant' Yago's boat, with about 100 others, including members and their guests.

Haya, who said he did not hear what Gonzmart heard but has no reason not to believe him, said the disc jockey would not be rehired. He also wrote a letter to krewe members to remind them to conduct themselves appropriately. No drinking to the point of intoxication. No enticing women to bare their breasts.

The apology wasn't enough for Gonzmart, however, who called for Haya's resignation. Haya said Monday that he had no plans to leave.

"There's definitely some deeply rooted traditions between the Gonzmarts and the krewe," Haya said. "I certainly did not want it to come to this."

Early steps to start a krewe in Tampa to promote and preserve Latin culture began in 1970. Five men started the organization, including Cesar Gonzmart. By 1972, the krewe was formed and had 75 members.

Today, the krewe has 275 members. The krewe sponsors the Knight Parade, which originally was sponsored by the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce as a civic pride event.

The Gonzmart family has remained active, with several family members earning the privilege of being named king and queen of the krewe.

Jim Tarbet, of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, would not comment about the Gonzmart situation or about Gasparilla in general.

Mary Alvarez, whose husband, Manny, was a charter member of the Krewe of Sant' Yago, said she was disappointed Gonzmart quit.

"He might have gone over the top on it," said Alvarez, herself a longtime krewe member. "I'm sorry he did this, but that's his choice."

Gasparilla long has had a reputation for being rowdy, where paradegoers drink alcohol and do outrageous things for strands of plastic beads. Casey Gonzmart, 59, said what one individual might do in a crowd is one thing. It's another, he said, when those people are on a boat bearing the emblem of their krewe.

Police and Gasparilla organizers say they can't control everybody in a parade crowd that generally tops 400,000 people.

Darrell Stefany, head of EventMakers, the group that organizes the parade, said his organization doesn't condone inappropriate behavior. Though some might be rowdy, EventMakers tries to put on a family-friendly event, he said.

"We have 400,000 people out there," Stefany said. "Some people are going to be stupid from time to time."

Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said the 107 arrests at Gasparilla this year is typical. Generally, between 90 and 120 people are arrested at the event each year, mostly on charges of underage drinking.

She said she hadn't seen much change in the level of rowdiness through the years.

Alvarez says she regularly sees paradegoers behave inappropriately.

"It happens every year. Men will be boys," Alvarez said. "I've seen it. I've heard it. It's not just the Krewe of Sant' Yago that's done it."

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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