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Grand Knight Jerry Hicks welcomes State Warden Steve Adamczyk

Council #7914 was chartered on November 18, 1981. Exactly 25 years later, the council held a pot luck banquet to celebrate their Silver Anniversary and to commemorate the council’s founding.

The Color Corps from Father Andrew White Assembly #377, in full regalia, lent dignity to the celebration proceedings and to the Memorial Mass that preceded it. The Mass was said in memory of the deceased members of the council, and the Color Corps rendered a solemn salute while the list of names was read.

The celebration, held in the newly-completed Parish Center at St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church in Hollywood, was attended by over 200 people, including five of the original 32 members.

The eight widows of deceased Knights present were thanked for their continued support, and Sir Knights in tuxedos presented them with roses.

St. Mary’s County Board of County Commissioners President Tommy McKay, a member of the council for almost 24 years, read a proclamation by the Commissioners declaring the reason for the celebration.

The event was held in honor of these Charter Members. Grand Knight Jerry Hicks stated that, as a symbol of this honor, he has placed an order for a Knights of Columbus flag to be displayed in the council’s chambers. Hicks said, “It will serve as a perpetual reminder that we honored, here, tonight, several hundred cumulative years of service to our church, our community, its families and youth, and to our brotherhood” by these men.

The honored guest and principal speaker for the event was Maryland State Warden Steve Adamczyk, accompanied by his wife, Kathleen, and her mother, Mrs. Mabel O’Malley (whose late husband, Peter A. O’Malley, was also a Knight). In his remarks, Adamczyk conveyed to the council the congratulations of Supreme Knight Carl Anderson and presented them with a Silver Anniversary certificate issued by order’s headquarters in New Haven, Connecticut.


Father Andrew White Assembly Color Corps Presents Colors for the Memorial Mass; (l. – r.) Sir Knights Jim Bailey (commanding), Tom Chayka, Ron Norris, Ray Faulstich


GK Jerry Hicks reads the names of deceased Knights at the Memorial Mass


St. John’s Pastor and Council Chaplain Father Ray Schmidt Invokes the Divine Blessing on the proceedings


Father Andrew White Assembly Color Corps Presents Colors to start the celebration; (l. – r.) Sir Knights Jim Bailey, Deacon Jim Dominic, Tom Chayka (hidden), Ron Norris, Dick LaBarge, Ray Faulstich


Former Associate Pastors at St. John’s Church (l. – r.), Fr Gary Studniewski (LCol., USA) and Fr Martin Flum. At Fr Gary's left are Deacon Lou and Hanna Koeniger