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A Brief History of Council 645
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A Brief History of Council 645
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Founding & History In late October 1901, six Knoxville Catholic men journeyed to Chattanooga Council 610 and received all the degrees of the Order. The initiation was under the direction of state deputy F.H. Kuhn of Nashville Council 544 and the Knoxvillians received into the order were William K. Graw, Michael L. Coen, Richard McNichols, L.A. O'Connor, John P. Murphy, and J.C. McLoughlin. These men formed the nucleus of a small group of dedicated and outstanding Knoxville Catholics who worked closely with State Deputy Kuhn to establish Knoxville Council 645 some three months after their return from Chattanooga. The original charter (currently in the possession of GK Paul Rodarte) carries an effective date of February 9, 1902, and bears the names of fifty-six charter members. Following the exemplification of degrees in 1902, conferred by the Nashville Council in loaned club rooms at the corner of Wall and Prince Streets, a banquet was held at the Imperial Hotel (later destroyed by fire but located on the site of the present Farragut Hotel) and the events of the day were carried in front page headlines by the old Knoxville Sentinel. |
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Date Unknown |
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The first meetings of Council 645 were held in a rented room in the Rose building on Commerce Avenue around the corner from the Church of the Immaculate Conception. The Council enjoyed a small but steady growth until the outbreak of World War I and the Council activities were conducted in a successive number of non-owned downtown locations. Following the cessation of the hostilities, the Council experienced a rapid growth and under the leadership of Grand Knight John M. Kelly, purchased a home at 201 E. Fifth Ave. The nineteen twenties were active years for the Council and during this period the Knights of Columbus became well known in the city of Knoxville. However, clouds of warning were beginning to gather and with the arrival of the Great Depression, the KC Home was lost, interest waned, membership declined, and the Council became inactive during the period 1935-1937. |
General Gleason, GK 1919 |
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Front Row: C.D. Susano, Ted Wojcik, T.J. McLaughlin, Martin Quinn, Dr. T.F. Fitzgerald, Dr. J.J. McGuire, Fr. Leon O. Englert, George U. Allison, EJ Moriarty Middle Row: Jas McFarland, Henry Schmoller, Dan Maney, D.J. Murphy, Rocco Talone, John J. Quinn, Edw. F. Walsh, Dr. F.H. Theile, B.F. Campbell, Dennis Gallagher, Michael Heagerty Back Row: W.C. Maney, Frank O'Brien, John T. Kelly, Walter DeMontreville, Henry Sullivan, P.J. Heagerty, Al Loebker, Will Pritchett, Robt. Powell, Francis Fitzgerald, J.M. McLoughlin, L.E. Benney Extreme Rear: Jim Condon Doby |
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After the inactivity of the period 1935-1937 the council was reorganized under the leadership of Grand Knight Edward Moriarty and Patrick Heagerty. Shortly thereafter Charles D. Susano joined the order and became the driving force behind the re-establishment of an active Knoxville Council. Again during this period meetings were held at various premises including those located in the Walgreen Building, Jackson & Broadway, 201 S. Gay Street, and the basement of Immaculate Conception Church. Immediately following the reorganization in 1937, a building fund was established and with the rejuvenation of the Council after World War II, these funds were used under the direction of G.K. Frank J. O'Brien in 1947 to make a down-payment on a council home at 2025 Magnolia Ave. The new home was, in prior years, the residence of an outstanding Knight, Timothy J. Abbot, a Past State Deputy. The availability of this property was discovered by Ernest J. O'Connor, later to become Grand Knight and City Councilman, and largely through his efforts the purchase was secured. The post war years witnessed an immediate growth of Council 645 and the mortgage on the council home was burned at a memorable ceremony a few years later. |
Burning of the mortgage note |
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Columbus Day Initiation Banquet, Nashville, 1941 |
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It was during the double term of GK Smith that Council 645 enjoyed its greatest period of development and in recognition of his outstanding leadership during this period, Brother Smith was later to be appointed a District Deputy and elected State Deputy. Council 645 was instrumental in founding the Oak Ridge Council, Maryville-Alcoa Council, and also the Johnson City Council. During the term of GK John Raymondo our honored Order was smeared by the printing of the "Bogus Oath" in several of the larger Baptist Church bulletins. Armed with the facts and ably assisted by District Deputy Howard Smith, the Grand Knight of Council 645 nipped in the bud this malicious spread of this false and infamous oath. When confronted with the truth, the pastors of the churches involved printed retractions in the same medium that the oath was disseminated. GK Raymondo travelled to Kingsport, TN and demanded and received an apology from the pastor and editor of the "Midnight Call," a paper of some 4,000 circulation. GK Raymondo and DD Smith appeared on the local TV stations as well as giving the complete story to the newspapers. Council 645 was credited by Supreme Knight Luke Hart at the Supreme Convention in Atlanta, GA, as nipping in the bud the further spread of the "Bogus Oath." |
Installation of GK Howard Smith |
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Council 645 has really exemplified the first principle of our Order; Charity. Our Council has shown this by its many works on the local, national, and international level. Council 645 collected 1800 pounds of clothing, shoes, toys, books, etc., and shipped them to the Sisters of Mercy in Kingston, Jamaica. Into the 1960's Council 645 hosted Monday-night Bingo at Knoxville Catholic High School. One-half of the proceeds went directly to the School. Also, during this time Council 645 obtained additional land on Magnolia which would later be used to build a new hall. In the early 1970's Grand Knight Larry Gibney was instrumental in starting our Columbus Home. This home for abused and neglected children was located next door to the Council hall for a number of years before relocating due to a need for more space. |
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Council Officers, 1975-76 Back Row: Chas O'Connor, Trustee / Ken McWhirter, Trustee Back Middle Row: Allen Keller, Chancellor / Lawrence Webster, Trustee / Ed Alkins, Treasurer Front Middle Row: Frank O'Brien, Advocate / Bert Benedict, GK / Paul Nesbitt, DGK Front Row: Carl Wust, DD / Bill Fenwick, SD |
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In 1982, the world came to Knoxville for the Fair, and Tennessee Knights came to Knoxville for the State Convention, which Council 645, led by "Doc" Davidson, hosted. In the late 1990's, during Stuart Metz's term as Grand Knight, the Council sold its hall located on Magnolia Avenue. This unburdened the Council and its members from the oppressive maintenance costs of the hall, and also freed up members from all the time and attention that owning a hall required. Finally, in the 21st century, our century-old Council has focused tremendously on charitable and community activities. We have recently held our Fourth Annual Easter Egg Hunt in inner-city Knoxville. This year we instituted a Brother-in-Need Fund, and we continue to support our school, St. Joseph, as well as our three parishes, Holy Ghost, Immaculate Conception, and John XXIII U.T. Parish. We hope to have another wonderful century! |
Do you have any stories or history related to Council 645 that you would like to see preserved? Do you remember a past Grand Knight or Chaplain that you would like to see honored? Do you have any photographs of the Council that you would like to see on this web site? If so, please send an email to kc645@korrnet.org,
