Russell Blanks Butts Jr. knows the honor and responsibility that go along with being chosen king of the Historic Natchez Pageant. Representing the third generation in his family to serve as pageant king, he senses the honor even more keenly.

&uot;The garden club asked me back in May, and I’ve had time for the excitement to build up,&uot; Butts said. &uot;Now it is here. It has sunk in, and I’m very excited.&uot;

Butts, representing the Pilgrimage Garden Club along with Bettye Jane Carby, his queen, will take part in the pageant during the first half of Spring Pilgrimage. Their opening night was March 11.

He wears the uniform of his uncle, Lucius Butts III, who was pageant king in 1972. His great-uncle Handsel Butts was pageant king in 1952. Russ carries the Civil War sword that belonged to his great great-grandfather, Edward Scott Butts, a captain in the Mississippi Militia who served under Gen. James Longstreet.

The uniform, first worn by Robin Punches in 1970, was hand tailored by Van Court of New Orleans. It is a reproduction of the uniform worn by generals of the period.

Other pageant kings who have worn the uniform include Elton Larry in 1971, David Michael Colbert in 1973, Karl Ewald III in 1975, Wheeler Parker III in 1981, Frederick DuPre in 1982, Stanley E. Cooper III in 1994, Jamison Blough in 1996 and Richard Punches in 1999.

King Russ Butts grew up participating in the pageant, taking part in &uot;almost everything you can do in the pageant,&uot; he said. &uot;Everybody knows when spring comes along, it’s time for the pageant. It’s a big deal.&uot;

He described himself as easy going but as one who knows when to take things seriously, as he does the role of king. Still, he is enjoying the experience. &uot;I like not to be too serious,&uot; he said. &uot;And I am having fun.&uot;

That does not surprise Gwen Young, his English teacher for three separate grades at Trinity Episcopal Day School. &uot;Russ has a tremendous sense of humor. He is a pleasant young man and always positive.&uot;

Young grew close to Butts’ class, as she watched them grow and mature during their high school years. &uot;It’s never happened before. But they had me in ninth, 11th and 12th grades,&uot; she said. &uot;We forged a natural bond with one another.&uot;

Young said Butts was insightful, often seeing humor where others might have missed it. &uot;What also is nice to remember about him is that every day was a good day for him.&uot;

A 2002 graduate of Trinity, he now attends the University of Southern Mississippi, where he is majoring in business management. He enjoys activities with the Kappa Sigma fraternity and likes to take part in intramural sports such as flag football, basketball, volleyball, soccer and softball.

He is the son of Russell and Stephanie Butts of Natchez and the grandson of Lucius Butts Jr. and the late Hilda Butts and Flavius and Pauline Smith, all of Natchez.

Among family members who have influenced him, his great-grandfather the late Lucius Butts is a standout, he said. &uot;What a gentleman he was. I try to be like him, the way he carried himself and the way he handled situations.&uot;

His mother said Russ &uot;has been excited in the nicest way. It means something to him, as much from the family history as anything. And he and Bettye Jane seem to be having a good time.&uot;

Russ Butts reflected on other family influences, remembering his parents as always encouraging him, being sure he attended church at First Presbyterian, where he remains a member, and keeping an open mind in helping him deal with problems.

&uot;We always knew we could talk to them,&uot; he said. And now his younger brother, Hayden, 17, and sister, Molly, 14, have grown up in his eyes, he said. &uot;It’s fun to find them now at an age that we’re able to be friends.&uot;

Natchez is important to him as his home and as a place where he thinks the quality of life is excellent, Butts said. &uot;I look forward to coming back to Natchez. It’s a beautiful town. It’s a small town, and you know everybody and everybody knows you.&uot;