King Christian  XC

James Benjamin Benigno Jr.

 

Jimmy Benigno has been involved with St. Paul’s Carnival Association since he was a child. He remembers his first time riding in the Pass Parade as a “Lost Boy” on the “Peter Pan” float. He has served with St. Paul's Carnival Association in a number of roles, including as Chairman of the Contestant Committee, Court Duke, Royal Ball Floor Committee Member, Team Captain and Queen’s Escort for his wife, Queen Christiana 2009 Kim Benigno. In addition to his wife being Queen in 2009, Jimmy has had several relatives bestowed with the honor of King, Queen, Grand Duke and Grand Duchess since 1976.

 

Jimmy grew up in Pineville, across the street from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish grounds, now home of Holy Family Catholic Church and St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School. He attended St. Paul Elementary School, graduated from St. Stanislaus, attended the University of Southern Mississippi and completed his Bachelor’s and Doctor of Optometry degrees from the University of Houston.

 

Jimmy serves as a member and has chaired the St. Paul and now Holy Family Seafood Festival committee. He has also served on the St. Paul and St. Thomas/St. Paul School Board as well as the Building Committee during the transition phase of what is now St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School.

 

Jimmy has owned and operated Coast Eyecare, PLLC in Pass Christian since 1997. He has volunteered his time performing vision screenings every year since 1998 at St. Paul’s Elementary School, and soon after included Coast Episcopal School. Currently, he offers vision screenings at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Elementary School, Coast Episcopal School and Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School in Bay St. Louis.

 

Jimmy and Kim are members of Holy Family Catholic Church. They will be married 25 years in December. They have a son, Benjamin, who is a junior at Loyola University in New Orleans.