Knights of Columbus

Bishop McNamara 4th Degree
Assembly #384

Frederick County, Maryland
Established January 16, 1916

History of KofC Bishop McNamara Assembly No. 384, Frederick, MD

 

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.

Mcnamara2_2

History of Most Rev. John Michael McNamara Titular Bishop of Eumenia - Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore

 


     During the few years that our Assembly has been reactivated, we have accomplished much and have accomplished much and have worked closely with the surrounding Councils. Among our activities, other than turning out for various religious functions throughout the county, is our annual dinner-dance which is always one of the highlights of the year.
     One of our outstanding functions was our assistance in the Roger Brook Taney Memorial Dedicatin, with the Chief Justice General Assembly of Cumberland, MD, which took place in St. John's Cemetary in Frederick on Sunday, October 24th, 1954. At this dedication, at which time a tablet was unveiled in honor of Chief Justice Taney, many local, state and government officials were present, including the Honorable Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the United States, who was the principal speaker for the event. An appropriate luncheon was held, folling the dedication, and Sir Knight William J. Mulligan, Supreme Master of the Fourth Degree, was the speaker.
     An exceptionally large group of our Assembly turned out for the dedication of the Knights of Columbus Carillon at the National Shrine in Washington, D.C. The Bishop McNamara General Assembly always stands ready to assist in any religious, civic or patriotic affair whenever called upon. We will always remember our Sir Knights wo have passed away since our reactivation, namely: Louis V. Keyser, Thomas J. Norris, John McE. Wilson and John A. McCabe. We have honored them with fitting memorials and remember them with our frequent prayers."

 

AFTER 1965

16_W._7th_St.     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.

 

Prospect_Hall     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.

 

st.johns-community-center      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.

 

st.johns-regional-catholic-school      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.

 

 

PAST FAITHFUL NAVIGATORS, OFFICERS AND HISTORY BY YEAR

           News articles before 1916

1914-1127-daily-news-frederick 1915-1012-frederick-post

 

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

1916-0114_the-news-frederick 1916-0114_frederick-post 1916-0117-the-news-kofc-form-assy

 

1917-1918   FN Joseph Francis Eisenhauer, Sr. Faithful_Navigator_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

1917-1001-frederick-post

 

1918-1919   FN Joseph Francis Eisenhauer, Sr. Faithful_Navigator_Joseph_Francis_Eisenhauer,_Sr.
     Faithful Comptroller SK Thomas J. Walsh.

          ASSEMBLY OFFICERS for 1918-1919 - elected before 9 Sep 1918.

           News articles for 1918

1918-0909-frederick-post

 

1919-1920 ??

1920-1921   FN Joseph Francis Eisenhauer, Sr. Faithful_Navigator_Joseph_Francis_Eisenhauer,_Sr.
     Faithful Comptroller SK Thomas J. Walsh.

1921-1955 Assembly is inactive

           News articles for the 1921 - 1955 inctive period

1943-0330-frederick-post 1950-0225-the-news-frederick 1950-0512-the-news-frederick 1951-0316-frederick-post 1951-0410-the-news-frederick 1952-0326-the-news-frederick 1954-0215-the-news-frederick 1954-1126-frederick-post 1943-0330-frederick-post

 

 

1955 St. John's Assembly Re-established

1955-1957 Faithful Navigator SK Alton J. Lipps (PGK, Cncl 1622) SK_Alton_J._Lipps
     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 the 1955-1956 and 1956-1957 Fraternal Years.

1955-0111-the-news-frederick 1955-0610_the-news-frederick 1955-1024-frederick-post 1955-1024-the-news-frederick 1956-0111-frederick-post 1957-0223-frederick-post

 

1957-1959 Faithful Navigator Austin C. Thomas (PGK, Cncl 1622) Past_Faithful_Navigator_Austin_Thomas
     1957 Faithful Comptroller SK Milton P. Nash (PGK, Cncl 1622),
     1958 Faithful Comptroller SK Albert Herring.

           News articles for the 1957-1958 and 1958-1959 Fraternal Years.

1958-0920-the-news-frederick 1957-0921_frederick-post 1958-1011_the-news-frederick 1959-0611-the-news-frederick

 

1959-1960   GK Theodore Vincent Levinson, (PGK, Cncl 1622) Faithful_Navigator_Theodore_Levinson
     Faithful Comptroller PFN Alton J. Lipps (PGK, Cncl 1622).

           News articles for the 1959-1960 Fraternal Year

1959-1031_the-news-frederick

 

1960-1962 Faithful Navigator SK Maynard W. Wastler,
     Faithful Comptroller PFN Alton J. Lipps (PGK, Cncl 1622).

           News articles for the 1960-1961 and 1961-1962 Fraternal Years.

1961-0913-the-news-frederick 1962-0124_frederick-post 1962-0201_the-news-frederick 1962-0224_gettysburg-times

 

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 the 1962-1963 and 1963-1964 Fraternal Years.

1962-0616-Gettysburg-times-pa 1963-0315_frederick-news-post 1963-0321_gettysburg-times 1963_0607_Asy384-frederick-post 1964-0303_frederick-post

 

1964-1966 SK W. (William) Irving Jones, Jr. (PGK Cncl 1622)
     1964-66 Faithful Comptroller SK Emmett J. Norris (Cncl 1622)

           News articles for the 1964-1965 and 1965-1966 Fraternal Years.

1964-1007_the-news-frederick 1964-1012-frederick-post

 

1966-1967 SK Richard J. O'Connor (then PGK Cncl 1622, later with Cncl 14011) SK_Richard_O'Connor
     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) SK_Richard_O'Connor
     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)

           News articles for the 1970-1971 and 1971-1972 Fraternal Years.

1971-0929_the-news-frederick 1971-1001_gettysburg-times

 

1972-1974 SK Alexander R. Craw
     Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)

           News articles for the 1972-1973 and 1973-1974 Fraternal Years.

1972_0417_Assy384-the-news-frederick

 

1974-1976 unknown
     Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)

           News articles for the 1974-1975 and 1975-1976 Fraternal Years.

1975_1002_Assy384-the-news-frederick

 

1976-1978 SK Kenneth W. Martin (PGK Cncl 1622) SK_Kenneth_W._Martin
     Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)

           News articles for 1976-1978

1977_0830_Assy394-the-news-frederick 1978-0323_the-news-frederick

 

1978-1979 unknown

           News articles for the 1978-1979 Fraternal Year.

1978-0814_the-news-frederick 1979-0109_the-news-frederick

 

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) SK_Robert_B._Morrow
     Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)

1981-1982 SK Robert D. Weedon (PGK Cncl 1622) , deceased. SK_Robert_D._Weedon
     Faithful Comptroller PFN Theodore V. Levinson (PGK Cncl 1622)


1982-1983 SK Robert B. Morrow (PGK Cncl 1622). SK_Robert_B._Morrow
     Faithful Comptroller Thaddeus M. Rychlak

1983-1984 SK William H. Brown (PGK Cncl 1622) , deceased. SK_William_H._Brown
     Faithful Comptroller SK Robert B. Morrow (PGK Cncl 1622).


1984-1985 SK John Shriver (?) (PGK, Cncl 1622, 1979-1981 (2 years)) SK_John_Shriver
A photo in the Frederick News-Post dated 16 Jun 1983 identifies SK John Shriver as the Faithful Navigator in June 1983. More resolution is needed.


1985-1987 SK Robert W. Jack (then Cncl 1622, later transferred to Cncl 11703) SK_Robert_W._Jack
     Faithful Comptroller SK Robert B. Morrow (PGK Cncl 1622).


1987-1989 SK Ernest E. Musser, Sr. (Cncl 1622), deceased SK_Ernest_E._Musser,_Sr.
     Faithful Comptroller SK Robert B. Morrow (PGK Cncl 1622).


1989-1990 SK William H. Garner (PGN Cncl 1622), deceased. SK_William_H._Garner
     Faithful Comptroller SK Robert B. Morrow (PGK Cncl 1622).

 


1990-1992 SK Edgar D. Haynes (then Cncl 1622, now Cncl 11715) SK_Edgar_D._Haynes
     Faithful Comptroller SK George H. Williams (PGK Cncl 1622).


1992-1993 SK William R. Jack (PGK Cncl 1622). SK_William_Jack
     Faithful Comptroller SK William D. Schenkel (then Cncl 1622).

                         Assembly Officers 1992-1993



 

1993-1994 SK George H. Williams (PGK Cncl 1622). SK_George_Williams
     Faithful Comptroller SK William D. Schenkel (then Cncl 1622).


 

1994-1995 SK Robert J. Swain (PGK Cncl 1622) SK_Robert_J._Swain
     Faithful Comptroller SK William D. Schenkel (then Cncl 1622).


 

1995-1996 SK Donald Geiger SK_Don_Geiger
     Faithful Comptroller SK William D. Schenkel (then Cncl 1622).

                         Assembly Officers 1995-1996



 

1996-1997 SK William F. Van Horn. Jr.SK_William_Van_Horn



 

                         Assembly Officers 1996-1997



 

1997-1998 SK Roger P. Linde (Cncl 11105)
     Faithful Comptroller SK David J. Richards (Cncl 11703).



 

1998-1999 SK Patrick M. Sullivan Jr. SK_Patrick_Sullivan_Jr.


                         Assembly Officers 1998-1999



 

1999-2000 SK Thomas R. Defibaugh SK_Tom_Defibaugh


                         Assembly Officers 1999-2000



 

2000-2001 SK Wayne H. Landry, Jr.  SK_Wayne_Landry


                         Assembly Officers 2000-2001



 

2001-2002 SK Patrick M. Sullivan, Sr. SK_Patrick_Sullivan,_Sr.


                         Assembly Officers 2001-2002



 

2002-2003 SK Greg E. Loss SK_Greg_Loss


                         Assembly Officers 2002-2003



 

          AWARDS FOR 2002-03

2022-0604_01 2022-0604_02

 

2003-2004 SK William J. Kinsella, Sr. (then Cncl 1622, later 14011, deceased ) SK_William_Kinsella,_Sr.


                         Assembly Officers 2003-2004


2004-2005 SK David J. Richards (Cncl 11703) SK_David_Richards

                         Assembly Officers 2004-2005


2005-2006 SK Richard Tymoch (Cncl 11815) SK_Richard_Tymoch

                         Assembly Officers 2005-2006

2006-2007 SK Joel Tootill (Cncl 1622) SK_Joel_Tootill

                         Assembly Officers 2006-2007


          AWARDS FOR 2006-07

2022-0604_01 2022-0604_02

 

2007-2008 SK David Cadigan (Cncl 12255) SK_David_Cadigan

                         Assembly Officers 2007-2008


2008-2009 SK Duane Singleton (Cncl 12255) SK_Duane_Singleton

                         Assembly Officers 2008-2009

2009-2010 SK Dirk Griffin (Cncl 12255) SK_Dirk_Griffin

                         Assembly Officers 2009-2010


2010-2011 SK David F. Zakrzwski (Cncl 1622) SK_David_Zakrzwski

                         Assembly Officers 2010-2011


2011-2012 SK William "Skip" Bush (Cncl 11975) SK_William_Bush

                         Assembly Officers 2011-2012


2012-2013 SK Lawrence "Larry" G. Kmiecik (Cncl 12255) SK_Lawrence_Kmiecik

                         Assembly Officers 2012-2013


2013-2014 SK Marc Longenecker (Cncl 14011)  SK_Marc_Longenecker

                         Assembly Officers 2013-2014


2014-2015 SK 2014-2015 SK Brian E. Woerner (Cncl 12255)  SK_Brian_Woerner

                         Assembly Officers 2014-2015


2015-2016 SK Walter John Leskuski (Cncl 14011)  SK_Walter_Leskuski

                         Assembly Officers 2015-2016


2016-2017 SK Ronald V. Torre (Cncl 12255)  SK_Ronald_Torre

                         Assembly Officers 2016-2017


2017-2018 SK Thomas W. Plunkett (Cncl 1622)  SK_Tomas_Plunkett

                         Assembly Officers 2017-2018


2018-2019 SK John S. Satterfield (Cncl 1622)  SK_John_Satterfield

                         Assembly Officers 2018-2019


2019-2020 SK Brian M. Kurtyka (Cncl 11703) SK_Brian_Kurtyka

                         Assembly Officers 2019-2020


2020-2021 SK Raymond P. Vidal (Cncl 14011)  SK_Raymond_Vidal

                         Assembly Officers 2020-2021


2021-2022 SK Lee J. Ericksen (Cncl 1622)  SK_Lee_Ericksen

                         Assembly Officers 2021-2022


2022-2023 SK Dirk Griffin, PGK (Cncl 12255), PFN, FDD  SK_Dirk_Griffin

                         Assembly Officers 2022-2023


2023-2024 SK Jonas Rebeiro (Cncl 14011)  SK_Jonas_Rebeiro

                         Assembly Officers 2023-2024


2024-2025 SK William Cutchin (Cncl 1622)  SK_William_Cutchin

                         Assembly Officers 2024-2025


           News articles for the 2024-2025 Fraternal Year

2024-0606_76-columbiajulyaug

2025-2026 SK Thomas J. Robinson (Cncl 11703)  SK_Tom_Robinson

                         Assembly Officers 2025-2026


 

 

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