Knights of Columbus Bishop Galagher Assembly 0482 History of the Assembly

As the history of the Bishop Gallagher Council parallels the history of Royal Oak, so does the history of the Bishop Gallagher General Assembly parallel the history of the Bishop Gallagher Council.

On October 24, 1951, sixty-five members of the Bishop Gallagher Council 2569 who were members of the Honorary or Patriotic degree of the Order of Pontiac Assembly #600 petitioned the Master, Fred Taylor, to institute a local Assembly. This was done, and the first officers were:

The Worthy Master of the Southern Michigan District of the Hennepin Province, Fred R. Taylor, was successes in 1952 by Vincent T. O’Meara.

A set of By-Laws for the Assembly was adopted January 8, 1952. The Annual Dues for the Assembly were $8.00 plus $2.00 for the Chalice Fund.

The Charter was presented at a banquet in July, 1952 by Former Worthy Master Fred R. Taylor. The Officers for the Assembly for 1952-1953 were:

On June 24, 1952, the Honor Guard for Bishop Gallagher Assembly was organized by S. K. John J. Hewitt, Commander. The uniform of the Guard included Top Hats, wing collars with white ties and tuxedo. The tuxedo was soon replaced by tails. Caps, with red lining, were made by S. K.. Charles Uhnavy in his home-based tailor shop. S. K. John Hewitt served as Worthy Master. He was succeeded as Commander by S. K. Robert Heffernan. The original members of the Honor Guard included the following Sir Knights: Anthony Wagner, Jr., Lieutenant; William Burns, James Carney, Louis Hafner, Gerald Hall, Robert Heffernan, Lyle E. Melenbacher, Dan Olesak, Frank Rudney, Charles Uhnavy, and Anthony Wagner, Sr.

On April 25 and 326, 1953, Bishop Gallagher Assembly was the organizer and host for the “Second Round-Up” for the Southern Michigan District. The Program included: On Saturday April 25 at 2:00 PM, a District Assembly Meeting which was attended by Governor G. Mennen Williams and his wife, Nancy. That evening, there was a dinner dance at Northwood Inn. On Sunday April 26, there was a parade at Tom’s Market at Woodward and Catalpa to the Shrine of the Little Flower for 10:30 High Mass. In his sermon, the Rev. Charles Coughlin scolded the Knights of Columbus for the many deficiencies he felt they had. Mass was followed by Bruch at the Shrine Grade School. The first “Round-Up” had been held in 1952, hosted by the Detroit General Assembly. There were no succeeding Round-Ups.

Since Sir Knight Charles Uhnavy was elected as the first Faithful Navigator of the Bishop Gallagher Assembly 2569, approximately 550 third degree members have received honors of membership for their services to the council, to their Parish, or to their civic government. The Assembly has always been represented at various parochial, civic, or Columbia functions by a Color Corps Guard of Honor.

Following the first Faithful Navigator Charles Uhnavy, his successors have been Sir Knights Lyle Melenbacher, James Shirk, Clarence Gates, Anthony Wagner, Norm Walker, Owen Flynn, John Martens, John O’Leary, Charles D’ Augustine, Garry Fortune, Rocco Mortabito, Paul Fry, Frank Balk, Wilfred LeVeque, Wilfred Bernard and Frank Lorang, all of the Bishop Gallagher Council 2569. During the Next two terms, The Rochester Council furnished Sir Knights John Gorang and Frank Gagne as the Faithful Navigators. Following Their Leadership, the Assembly was again led by Bishop Gallagher Council members: Sir Knights Tom Cherwinski, George Buckley, John Skridulis, Hennery Masiwchuk, Edward Wangler, Charles Almashy, James Behrendt, Norman DeBastos, Edward Weiss, Joseph B. O’Connor, Frank Pugliano and John Legner of the Rochester Third Degree Council.

In July, 1959, the Bishop Gallagher assembly received the honor of having the late S. K. John Hewitt appointed as master of the District, the first from this Assembly.

In 1963, the bishop Gallagher Assembly received a further honor of being chartered as a General Assembly. This included members from three Councils: Bishop Gallagher of Royal Oak, Rochester Council, and Father Lynch Council of Clawson.

During the year 164-65. the traditional top hats worn by the Color Corps were discontinued in favor of the more colorful chapeau with white ostrich plumes. During the same year, S. K. Garry Fortune had the honor to be chosen to serve as Secretary to the Master, Don Abler. Then, when Master Don Abler was appointed as Vice Supreme Master of the Hennepin Province, an area composed of several states, S. K. Garry Fortune continued to serve as his secretary.

S. K. Joseph B. O’Connor served as the Degree Master for the Fourth Degree for over 15 Years. In addition, other members of the Bishop Gallagher General Assembly Walter Mauer, P.G.K. James Costigan, P.G.K. Kevin Sutherland, P.G.K. John Marion, and Clarence A. Gohl served with Joseph O’Connor on the District Degree Staff which appeared all over the State of Michigan and out of State as well.

Favorite Charities for the Assembly for many years have been Guest House and, since 1980, the Sisters of Good Shepherd’s Vista Marie, a home for wayward girls.

For many years, the Assembly was actively engaged in the donation of American Flags to Schools, churches, etc. A notable such was in 1963 when F. N. Wilfred Bernard in the name of the Assembly assisted the raising of the American flag on a pole erected by both the third and fourth degree members at St. Mary’s School. The pastor, Father Hubble, students and boy scouts all assisted at this memorable ceremony.

Many of the Faithful Navigators also served Bishop Gallagher as Grand Knights. Such were the first F. N. Charles Uhnavy, James Shirk, Clarence Gates, Paul Fry, Wilfed LeVeque, Norman DeBastos, and James Behrendt. Also serving as such from the degree staff were Joseph J. O'Connor, James Costigan, John Marion and Kevin Sutherland. Along with these were the former Master John Hewitt and the Past State Deputy William Crotty. Other Sir Knights who became grand Knights were Henry Schwager, John Merdian, Richard Rvard, Will Connelly, Harold Bourgios, George Stewart, David Hock, Roberts Hearns, Lyle Powell, Robert Weiler, Harry Jonas, James Behrendt, James Mullen and Alex Craddock, all at Bishop Gallagher Council. Others who became Grand Knight at other Councils were Mike Cox, who became a charter member and first Grand Knight at Father Lynch Council of Clawson, Sir Knights John Gorang and Frank Gagne at the Rochester Council, Ted Rypkowski at St. Mary’s Council of Gaylord, Michigan, George Dunne who became Grand Knight, Faithful Navigator in the Gran Rapids Area and continued to become Master in District 6 of that area, George Buckly was a one-time National Commander of the American Legion. S.K. Richard Rivard, prior to serving as Grand Knight of the Bishop Gallagher Council and serving as District Deputy, served in those positions at Greenville, Michigan prior to his arrival here.

In addition to Richard Rivard, other Sir Knights serving the district level were: S. K. Charles Uhnavy, the first to serve as District Deputy; S. K. John Hewitt served as D.D. from 1953 to 1957 when he became State Auditor. He was followed by James Costigan from 1957 to 1964. Joseph O’Connor, Richard Rivard, Robert Hearns and Kevin Sutherland have served in the capacity.

S. K. Charles Uhnavy as P.G.K. served as Chairman of two State Conventions, one at Port Huron and the other at Mt. Clemens. Other State and Diocesan committees were headed by Clarence Gates and James Shirk. In more recent times, James Costigan served as Eastside Archdiocesan Director for three years, Joseph B. O’Connor served as State Ceremonial Director for Seven Years until 1972. John Marion served as Director of the Knights of Columbus Scholarship Foundation for three years until 1975. Si r Knight Joseph B. O’Connor was appointed as Special Assistant to the State Deputy by Robert J. Klein. Sir Knight James Costigan and Robert Hearns were selected to serve as Delegates to Supreme Conventions, Costigan in St. Louis, Missouri in 1958 and Hearns in San Diego, California in 1978.

The only member of the Bishop Gallagher Assembly to reach to top post in the State Knights of Columbus was William Crotty of Ferndale. Mr. Crotty served the State Knights for ten years. He was appointed State Membership Chairman on July 1, 1962. he served in this capacity until September 2, 1964 when he was appointed State Warden. Thus, he became the first member of the Bishop Gallagher Assembly to office in the State hierarchy. He served in this capacity until 1966 when he was elected twice in the next two years as State Treasurer. In 1968 and 1968, he was elected as State Secretary. Then, in 1970, in addition to being elected to the highest office in the State, he was appointed to the Ladies Auxiliary Commission, the purpose of which was to establish a Ladies Auxiliary in the Knights of Columbus. Also at the 1970 Supreme Council convention, he was appointed to the Committee for the Good of the Order. In 1971, Mr. Crotty was reelected as State Deputy and served on the committee on “By-laws and Resolutions”. After serving for two years as the ranking State Officer, he was appointed as Chairman to head plans for the 92 Supreme Convention which was held in Detroit in August 1974. Assisting Bill in this great undertaking were Sir Knights and Past Grand Knights James Costigan, Joseph O’Connor, John Marion and Richard Rivard. In addition, he has served Boysville for a total of nearly 30 years in various important capacities. He was appointed as State Retention Chairman by the then-State Deputy Robert J. Klein. He was appointed Master of our own District #7 of the Hennepin Province on September 15, 1985.

In the Mid-Nineties, Bishop Gallagher Assembly had run into difficulties which caused survival to be questioned. S. K. Charles La Pratt had requested Master Jerome Wrobleski to consider elimination of the Assembly. In a move to attempt to save the Assembly, Master Wroblowski authorized the move of Bishop Gallagher Assembly from Royal Oak to Clawson. The move had been requested by P.F.N. Charles La Pratt and P.F.N. Ken Hanson. As the Assembly was still struggling, Master Wrobleski asked Faithful Navigator Ken Hanson to try to have S. K. Don White transfer from Blessed Virgin Mary Assembly, to assist in trying to save the Assembly. Ken Hanson was successful, Don joined our Assembly and was immediately elected Faithful Comptroller, a position he held for nine months. While Don was serving as Faithful Comptroller, Faithful Navigator Ken Hansen was relocated to Chicago, Illinois. Don filled the remainder of Ken Hanson’s term and was then elected Faithful Navigator, serving for the next two years. Those years were essential to the turnaround that the Assembly was achieving.

Ten years prior the Master had been petitioned to dissolve the Assembly, in 2006 thanks to Navigators Don While, John Murphy, Charles Eckhout, Paul LeVeck and John Hundiak, the Assembly went from problem to “Best in Michigan District 1”.

P.F.N. Don White had a goal to have everything the Assembly did as a low cost or no cost, this was done to increase membership and allow the members to have fun. With that in mind, the Assembly also targeted a Charitable Contribution Program of donating $100.00 per month in thanks for all the blessings bestowed on the Assembly, which continues to this day.

Charles La Pratt, P.G.K. Ken Hanson, P.G.K. F.D.D. Don White, John Murphy, P.G.K. Charles Eckhout, P.G.K. F.D.D. Paul LeVeck, G.K. John Hundiak, John Snyder, Ed Ching.

Harry P. Bigham	Richard J. Gardner	Lawrence McAullife	Anthony J. Wagner, Sr.
William F. Burns	Lewis T. Hafner	Neil McEachern	Anthony J. Wagner, Jr.
James H. Costigan, Sr.	Gerald W. Hall	Lyle Melenbacher	Norman D. Walker
James H. Costigan, Jr.	Patrick J. Hannaford	Sherman L. Miller	Frank H. Zettell
Howard Damico	George W. Heil	Rocco J. Morabito
Leon J. Flynn	James F. Kavanaugh	Robert A. Reid
Owen E. Flynn	John Martens	George E. Stewart

Gilbert J. Bannasch	Wilfred A. Leveque, P.F. N.
James F. Behrendt	Lyle E. Mehlenbacher, P.F.N.
Edward J. Brezezinski	Henery Pickering
Charles L. D'Agostine, P.F.N.	James F. Pilat
Dominic J. Doyon	Robert J. Pinette
John W. Dulay	Ernest P. Tedesko
Anthony F. Gondek	Victor J. Vachon
James F. Kavanagh
Charles F. Cherwinski	Chalice Presentation Chairman

Assembly Officers

2007 - 2008

2006 - 2007