Council History

Growth of the Knights of Columbus

On April 23, 1975, thirty-five men met at St. Mary Queen of Angels parish hall for an information meeting about the Knights of Columbus. Prior to that meeting Knights of Columbus District Deputy, Wally Kowalski, had approached two members of the parish, Mr. Bob Kelly and Mr. Delbert Roy, with the idea of forming a council in Swartz Creek. The three of them then proposed the idea to St. Mary’s pastor, Father Amos Wischmeyer. With Father’s full support the April 23rd meeting was held. Thirty-five members for the new council were signed up that night. A steering committee was formed which consisted of Mr. Delbert Roy, Mr. Bob Kelly, Mr. Joe Merinsky, Mr. Ed Kulis, Mr. Clem Ouellette, Mr. George Paul, Mr. Bob Forman and Mr. Ken Lixey to develop a membership drive. The committee worked fast. On April 30th four more members signed up and by May 4, 1975, there were 42 men lined up to form the new council. They included 8 transfers, 6 reinstatements, and 28 new members. On May 8th the 28 new members were initiated into the First Degree. On May 18th three additional men were initiated. On May 28, 1975, thirty-five days after the information meeting, 30 men met for the first membership meeting and elected officers. The next evening Grand Knight, Bob Kelly, was introduced at the State Convention Banquet at Mackinac Island as the representative of the “baby” council of the state. Swartz Creek Council 6694 was officially chartered and off and running.

Mr. Kenneth Lixey was appointed by the Supreme Office as the Council’s Financial Secretary. In addition to Bob Kelly and Ken, the first elected officers of the council were Delbert Roy as Deputy Grand Knight, Ed Preville as Chancellor, Walt Seitz as Warden, Joe Fisher as Recorder, George Paul as Treasurer, Bill Bacik as Advocate, Gerry Clark as Guard, Al Honeck as Guard, Jim Zielney as Trustee, Tim Sparr as two-year Trustee, and Ralph Kleinedler as three-year Trustee. Father Amos Wischmeyer was appointed as the Council Chaplain along with Ward Mitchell as Lecturer, Bob Forman as Membership director and Jim Zielney as Program Director. The new council did very well during its first year and was awarded the Star Council Award. On March 25, 1976, the council’s first “Ladies Night” was held. ¹

[¹The First Eight Years – Swartz Creek Council 6694 – Knights of Columbus – May 1975 to May 1983, Contributed by PGK Al Martin and PGK Jim Drummond.]

Knights of Columbus Swartz Creek Council No. 6694 Grand Knight History