An extract from "Columbianism in Maryland 1897-1965", KofC Maryland State Council, 1965
"BISHOP McNAMARA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Frederick, Maryland
W. Irving Jones
Faithful Navigator
About four years after the chartering of St. John's Council, No. 1622, Knights of Columbus, in Frederick, MD, a group of active and loyal Knights, with the assistance of members of the Charles Carroll of Carrollton General Assembly, laid down plans for the formation of an assembly of Fourth Degree Knights in Frederick.
After much work, on Sunday, January 16th, 1916, their dreams became a reality, for, with officers of the Charles Carroll of Carrollton General Assembly presiding, St. John's Local Assembly was fomed. Charles Barr, Master of the Fourth Degree of Maryland and District of Columbia, was in charge and the chairs were filled by the officers of the Baltimore Assembly. After explaining the aims, duties, privileges and honors of the Fourth Degree, Master Darr installed the officers of the newly formed assembly. Sir Knight H.F Burkart was installed as the first Faithful Navigator of St. John's Local Assembly.
After several years of activities of this small group of dedicated and unselfish Sir Knights, the Assembly became dormant, due to effects of the First World War.
Approximately thirty years after the assembly became inactive, fourteen members of St. John's Council, motivated by Sir Knights of other assemblies throughout the State, became members of the Charles Carroll of Carrollton General Assembly, at the Exemplification of the Fourth Degree at the Alcazar in Baltimore, on Sunday, February 26th, 1950. Since that time, the Sir Knights in this area have distinguished themselves by their active participation in religious, civic and patriotic endevours.
To keep this little group together, it was decided to hold a social meeting, with the ladies, once a month, a practice which has been continued throughout the years, to this present day. On the second Tuesday of each month our Assembly meets at the Southern Restaurant for refreshments and dinner.
After the membership in this area grew to about thirty members, it was decided to reactivate St. John's Local Assembly, and on January 9th, 1955 the Master of the Fourth Degree of Maryland, with officers and Color Guard from the Charles Carroll of Carrollton General Assembly, the officers of St. John's Local Assembly were installed. Sir Knight Alton J. Lipps was installed as Faithful Navigator of the reactivated St. John's Local Assembly.
During the years our Assembly grew, and since it contained Brother Knights form other Councils, John Bauerschub, Master of the Fourth Degee of Maryland, to the necessary steps to make us a Beneral Assembly. By unanimous decision, it was voted that our Assembly take the name of the late Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore and Washington, Bishop McNamara. Our membership consists primarily of members from St. John's Council, No. 1622 of Frederick and Brute Council No. 1860, of Emmitsburg. Meetings are slternated between Frederick and Emmitsburg.
History of Most Rev. John Michael McNamara Titular Bishop of Eumenia - Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore
AFTER 1965
In the 1980's, Bishop McNamara Assembly met at the Council Home of Bishop McNamara Council No. 1622, located at 16 W. Seventh Street, Frederick, MD.
In 1996, the Council sold this property and started meeting at St. John's Literary Institute at Prospect Hall, the Catholic High School which was located on Butterfly Lane in Frederick, MD. The Assembly followed and also met at St. John's Literary Institute.
In 2005, a number of changes occurred. St. John's Regional Catholic (elementary) School relocated to new property shared with the St. Katharine Drexel Parish. St. John the Evangelist Church invited the Knights and other ministries to move into the vacant classrooms of the old school building, 114 East 2nd Street, renamed the St. John's Community Center. St. John's Literary Institute announced it's plans to relocate to Buckeystown and efforts were initiated to form a new Council at St. Katharine Drexel Parish. These changes made it almost ordained for Bishop McNamara Council and Bishop McNamara Assembly to move back to their roots to the St. John the Evangelist Church, and the Council and Assembly became the principal users of "Room 10" of the St. John's Community Center in January 2006. The St. John's Community Center was later renamed to the Sr. Margaret Bauer Evangelization Center.
In 2019, Bishop McNamara Assembly began meeting in the library of the St. John's Regional Catholic (elementary) School located at 8414 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21702.
News articles before 1916
1916-1917 Faithful Navigator Sir Knight (SK) Harry F. Burkhart.
ASSEMBLY OFFICERS for 1916-1917 - elected and installed on January 16th, 1916 at the assembly chartering ceremony.
News articles for 1916
1917-1918 FN Joseph Francis Eisenhauer, Sr.
Faithful Comptroller SK N. Wilson Schley.
ASSEMBLY OFFICERS for 1917-1918 - elected at an Assembly meeting on Friday, September 28, 1917.
News articles for 1917
1918-1919 FN Joseph Francis Eisenhauer, Sr.
Faithful Comptroller SK Thomas J. Walsh.
ASSEMBLY OFFICERS for 1918-1919 - elected before 9 Sep 1918.
News articles for 1918
1919-1920 ??
1920-1921 FN Joseph Francis Eisenhauer, Sr.
Faithful Comptroller SK Thomas J. Walsh.
1921-1955 Assembly is inactive
News articles for 1943-1944
1955 St. John's Assembly Re-established
1955-1957 Faithful Navigator SK Alton J. Lipps (PGK, Cncl 1622)
Faithful Comptroller SK Milton P. Nash (PGK, Cncl 1622).
ASSEMBLY OFFICERS for 1955-1956 - elected and installed on Sunday, January 9th, 1955 at the assembly rechartering ceremony.
News articles for 1955-1957
1957-1959 Faithful Navigator Austin C. Thomas (PGK, Cncl 1622)
1957 Faithful Comptroller SK Milton P. Nash (PGK, Cncl 1622),
1958 Faithful Comptroller SK Albert Herring.
News articles for 1957-1959
1959-1960 GK Theodore Vincent Levinson, (PGK, Cncl 1622) <
Faithful Comptroller PFN Alton J. Lipps (PGK, Cncl 1622).
1960-1962 Faithful Navigator SK Maynard W. Wastler,
Faithful Comptroller PFN Alton J. Lipps (PGK, Cncl 1622).
News articles for 1960-1962
1962-1964 Faithful Navigator SK Paul A. Keepers,
1962-63 Faithful Comptroller SK Carl Wetzel,
1963-64 Faithful Comptroller SK Austin C. Thomas (PGK Cncl 1622).
News articles for 1962-1964
1964-1966 SK W. (William) Irving Jones, Jr. (PGK Cncl 1622)
1964-66 Faithful Comptroller SK Emmett J. Norris (Cncl 1622)
News articles for 1964-1966
1966-1967 SK Richard J. O'Connor (then PGK Cncl 1622, later with Cncl 14011)
Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)
1967-1968 SK Carl A. Wetzel
Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)
1968-1969 SK Richard J. O'Connor (then PGK Cncl 1622, later with Cncl 14011)
Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)
1969-1970 SK Raymond R. Lauer
1964-66 Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)
1970-1972 SK Frank C. Lang
Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)
1972-1974 SK Alexander R. Craw
Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)
News articles for 1972-1974
1974-1976 unknown
Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)
News articles for 1974-1976
1976-1978 SK Kenneth W. Martin (PGK Cncl 1622)
Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)
News articles for 1976-1978
1978-1979 unknown
1979-1980 SK Francis C. Lang, Jr.
Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)
1980-1981 SK Robert B. Morrow (PGK Cncl 1622)
Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)
1981-1982 SK Robert D. Weedon (PGK Cncl 1622) , deceased.
Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)
1982-1983 SK Robert B. Morrow (PGK Cncl 1622).
Faithful Comptroller Thaddeus M. Rychlak
1983-1984 SK William H. Brown (PGK Cncl 1622) , deceased.
Faithful Comptroller SK Robert B. Morrow (PGK Cncl 1622).
1984-1985 unknown
1985-1987 SK Robert W. Jack (then Cncl 1622, now Cncl 11703)
Faithful Comptroller SK Robert B. Morrow (PGK Cncl 1622).
1987-1989 SK Ernest E. Musser, Sr. (Cncl 1622), deceased
Faithful Comptroller SK Robert B. Morrow (PGK Cncl 1622).
1990-1992 SK Edgar D. Haynes (then Cncl 1622, now Cncl 11715)
Faithful Comptroller SK George H. Williams (PGK Cncl 1622).
1992-1993 SK William R. Jack (PGK Cncl 1622).
Faithful Comptroller SK William D. Schenkel (then Cncl 1622).
1993-1994 SK George H. Williams (PGK Cncl 1622).
Faithful Comptroller SK William D. Schenkel (then Cncl 1622).
1994-1995 SK Robert J. Swain (PGK Cncl 1622)
Faithful Comptroller SK William D. Schenkel (then Cncl 1622).
1995-1996 SK Donald Geiger
Faithful Comptroller SK William D. Schenkel (then Cncl 1622).
1996-1997 SK William F. Van Horn. Jr.
1997-1998 SK Roger P. Linde (Cncl 11105)
Faithful Comptroller SK David J. Richards (Cncl 11703).
1998-1999 SK Patrick M. Sullivan Jr.
1999-2000 SK Thomas R. Defibaugh
2000-2001 SK Wayne H. Landry, Jr.
2001-2002 SK Patrick M. Sullivan, Sr.
AWARDS FOR 2002-03
2003-2004 SK William J. Kinsella, Sr. (then Cncl 1622, later 14011, deceased )
2004-2005 SK David J. Richards (Cncl 11703)
2005-2006 SK Richard Tymoch (Cncl 11815)
2006-2007 SK Joel Tootill (Cncl 1622)
AWARDS FOR 2006-07
2007-2008 SK David Cadigan (Cncl 12255)
2008-2009 SK Duane Singleton (Cncl 12255)
2009-2010 SK Dirk Griffin (Cncl 12255)
2010-2011 SK David F. Zakrzwski (Cncl 1622)
2011-2012 SK William "Skip" Bush (Cncl 11975)
2012-2013 SK Lawrence "Larry" G. Kmiecik (Cncl 12255)
2013-2014 SK Marc Longenecker (Cncl 14011)
2014-2015 SK 2014-2015 SK Brian E. Woerner (Cncl 12255)
2015-2016 SK Walter John Leskuski (Cncl 14011)
2016-2017 SK Ronald V. Torre (Cncl 12255)
2017-2018 SK Thomas W. Plunkett (Cncl 1622)
2018-2019 SK John S. Satterfield (Cncl 1622)
2019-2020 SK Brian M. Kurtyka (Cncl 11703)
2020-2021 SK Raymond P. Vidal (Cncl 14011)
2021-2022 SK Lee J. Ericksen (Cncl 1622)
2022-2023 SK Dirk Griffin, PGK (Cncl 12255), PFN, FDD
2023-2024 SK Jonas Rebeiro (Cncl 14011)
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