Update: 12:00pm May 20, 2023
The family of local scion Ed Muniz has issued a statement to the public on his passing at age 83:
We are sad to report that Ed Muniz, Endymion captain, long time radio broadcaster and former Kenner mayor and Jefferson Parish councilman passed away this morning, May 20.
Our family’s hearts are broken by the loss of this incredible man, who always had a vision in whatever he did.
His love of broadcasting, politics, and Mardi Gras only pales in comparison to the love he had for his family and his wife of 58 years, Peggy.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.
We will inform everyone on funeral arrangements when they become available.
Initial Story: 8:15am May 20, 2023
Edmond J. Muniz, the founder of Endymion and former Mayor of Kenner has passed at the age of 83.
His family confirmed the passing around 8am Saturday morning.
Muniz founded the super krewe of Endymion in 1966 and saw it grow into a group of more than three-thousand members.
The krewe has consistently received the honor of best parade since 1994.
Muniz served as a Jefferson Parish Council member and Kenner Councilman at large from 1987 to 2003 when he retired.
He came out of retirement to run for the Mayor’s job in Kenner 2006.
Muniz was a supporter of open government and conducting official business in public.
In 1988 Mr. Muniz received the Past President's Award from the Alliance for Good Government.
Muniz was a local broadcasting scion, starting in 1959 through his time as President of Phase II Broadcasting.
Phase II owned and operated radio stations in six Southern states. His stations included Lite 105.3 which would later become WWL 105.3fm after Entercom (now Audacy) purchased the radio station from Muniz.
Just last week a statue of Muniz made its debut on the campus of Delgado Community College. The location of the statue is near Orleans Avenue where the Endymion Parade begins its yearly march through the streets of New Orleans.
Mr. Muniz is a graduate of St. Rose of Lima Elementary School, St. Aloysius High School and Loyola University. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
The krewe's website says, "Endymion... is by far the largest parade with the largest crowds in Mardi Gras! Endymion features 37 floats. Many are tandem units with up to nine sections, meaning Endymion rolls on over 80 chassis! The motto of the Krewe is 'Throw Until it Hurts' and we toss over 15 million throws along the parade route!"
