Bo Dollis, the Big Chief of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras Indians troupe the Wild Magnolias, died Jan. 20 at his home in that city. He was 71. A cause was not reported but Dollis’ death was confirmed by the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame, according to several published obituaries.
Born Theodore Emile Dollis, on Jan. 14, 1944, the colorfully festooned tribe leader was one of the most prominent figures among New Orleans’ Indian groups. He held the position as the Wild Magnolias’ Big Chief beginning in 1964, masking annually until ill health forced him to relinquish the reins to his son, Gerard (aka Bo Dollis Jr.) a few years ago.
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