A History of Council 4022
from the 25th anniversary brochure of the
Knights of Columbus, Maria-Joseph Council 4022.

A FRIENDLY CONVERSATION
by Obiter Dicta

 "There were 84 of us and our wives that descended on Suttmiller's that evening right after the first 3rd Degree the Council ever had," said Bill Kissell, during a recent conversation at the Christopher Club with Bill "Frostie" Frost. Listening in was an inquisitive youngster eager to learn of past glories from his elders. "We took over the whole place but it was a special occasion for us, and besides that, we desperately needed a few drinks and a steak after that degree. I don't think the Council has done it since but that dinner got us off to a good start."
  Bill and Frostie are charter members of Maria-Joseph Council and enjoy getting together now and then to swap lies about the good old days. They remembered, for example, the early meetings being held in the cafeteria at St. Albert's. The first initiation, however, took place in the basement meeting room of the old Merchants Bank (now First National) building in the relatively new Town & Country Shopping Center. Later meetings were also held at the bank when St. Albert's was unavailable.
 

"We finally decided that we needed more room to spread out since the Council was growing," said Frostie. "We ended up at The Willows around 1957. We stayed there for about four years even though old A1 Grote, the owner, would come in and break up the post-meeting card games by turning out the lights. Occasionally we would play on by the light of the fire in the big stone fireplace, but after a couple of hands we generally took the hint and went home. If we didn't Al's dog would growl at us and that usually did the trick."   "Yep," said Bill, "we finally decided to bail out of The Willows after the infamous `night of the chicken coop' in 1961. Seems that A1 had gotten his dates mixed up or he needed the additional money from another party. Either way, the knights came out on the short end. We were relegated to the chicken coop for our meeting. As I recall, it was the night that James T. Cline was sworn in as Grand Knight. Jim wasted no time in finding us another home. We moved over to Bella Villa on County Line Road, a nicer place and also a lot closer for some of us from Belmont, East Kettering and Oakwood."
 "I remember, Bill," said Frostie, "but that was like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. We got along well with our landlord, the Sons of Italy, but the neighbors were always complaining every time we had a meeting, and especially if the meeting (or card game) lasted beyond midnight. We always had the Hearts deck ready and everybody had practiced sweeping the poker money from the table against the time when the cops would show up."
  "Johnnie Ernst, God bless his soul, was one of our most avid players. The game never was the same after he left us in 1964. We decided to do something in his memory and came up with the John Ernst Award which to this day is awarded to a senior at Alter who best typifies Johnnie's all-round life qualities."
  "Later on we also honored Joe Hoffmann who showed tremendous courage in the face of a terminal illness. We named another senior award for Excellence in Religion after him." 		  "I well remember all of these things," replied Bill. "But don't forget another significant event in our history. That would have been in September, 1955, just a few months after the Council was founded, when we opened our first bowling season at the Bar-Jan alleys. In fact, that was also the first season for Bar-Jan. Some of the original bowlers are still around. For example, you and me and Tom Haas, Carl Placke, and Lou Koepnick, to name a few. I am especially proud of the fact that Tom and Carl and I were on the championship team in this 25th anniversary year. We managed to eke out a 3 pin win over Lou and those upstart teammates of his, Pete Donahue and Ike Eichner, who've been in the league only 20 years or so. We probably never would have won, however, if Larry Staub, Sr. and his sons had stayed active. I think they must have won 3 or 4 years in a row."
  "Well, we've seen a lot of water go over the proverbial dam," acknowledged Frostie, "but the most significant decision made by the Council, aside from deciding to organize in the first place, was to acquire an ex-nightclub called "The Racquet Club" for its permanent home. Ike had been Grand Knight in 1963-64 when it became apparent that we could not survive at Bella Villa and badly needed some place to light where we would not be bothered. A committee was organized to look for such a place. I remember our looking at a house way down on Springboro Pike next to Waldruhe Park and a house on Indian Ripple Road (we lucked out by not buying this one - a Baptist Church is now next door), among others. Later that fall, Ike and Dan Nagle somehow got wind of the Racquet Club and talked the Shank brothers into selling it to us. It looks like a steal now, but it was tough in the early going."
  "Yeah," chimed in Bill, "and our buying and renaming it the Christopher Club also produced one of the biggest social events in the Council's history. The following spring after the contract was signed we had a formal dinner-dance to celebrate. The Shank boys even sent us a case of champagne. I never could figure out if they were happy for us or for themselves. Probably a tad of both." 		 "Speaking of finances, Bill, it seems to me that you've been handling the Council's money forever. Any particular reason?" "Not really, Frostie, except that as an accountant I was a natural candidate. Dick Sammons had been Financial Secretary for 3 years and asked to be relieved. I was elected and have had the job for the last 22 years. I'm proud to say that we've never bounced a check although in the old days one or two were a little livelier than usual."
  "But getting back to the spring of '65, you overlooked another significant event in old M-J's history. The same month that we celebrated the opening of the Club the Ladies Auxiliary had its first meeting. Joan Sammons and Mary Krach really pushed to get it off the ground, and Mary was elected the first president. The ladies have been very much a part of our activities ever since. Their fund raising has, among other things, resulted in construction of the upstairs powder room several years ago. Frankly, I don't know where we'd be without their help and support."
  "I might also add that in 1972 Doug Cox was instrumental in getting the Columbian Squires organized and active during his term as Grand Knight. That gave us groups for the men, the ladies and the younger boys."
  "All of this is true, of course, Willie, and while we're handing out the kudos how about all the time that Gene Koop, Frank Staley and Bernie Wannemacher put into the Club over the years? They planned and carried out most of the changes in the Club during the past ten years as well as taking over the operation after a series of managers did not pan out. We owe them a great deal for their loyalty to the Council."
  "That reminds me, Frostie, of a couple of other activities that over the years have produced a lot of good times and especially a bunch of bucks for the Club, the Council and for charity. Those are the spring cocktail party which was known as the `Paradise for Two' party in its early days, and the annual State Youth raffle. Time really flys. Do you realize that this year is our 14th annual cocktail party. That means that this event was initiated during the Antonelli administration in 1966. I never knew what a bunch of amateur salesmen could do but once they were turned loose we always met our quota. As I recall, Ike and Dick were always pushing the cocktail party tickets while John Esselstein had the youth program under his wing. In any event, all the guys who've made hundreds of phone calls over the years and who've spent many Friday nights and Saturdays outside grocery stores selling tickets and chances have really made my job a lot easier." 		 "Speaking of different activities remember the Xenia disaster in 1974? What a job the Council did. Supplies were received from all over the country. The then District Deputy Dick Sammons was designated distribution chairman by the State Council. Dick, Paul Horn and Doug Cox, and members too numerous to mention, spent days on this project. The Council "store" was open around the clock and thank God for those CB radios. You know, Bill, 1974-1979 were good years. Programs started during those years are still active today. For example, the State Council's current emphasis on mental retardation with its Measure Up Program is commendable, but shucks, we have had a continuing program for the mentally retarded and handicapped children since 1974. It started with the thought of some form of Christmas entertainment and it became so popular with the membership that it is now one of our most important and respected projects. Remember the evening when Ms. Patty Dix and the children from Meadowview School were presented video and camera equipment by GK Paul Fischer?"
 "Frostie, you are pretty close to our present GK Jim Deime and his staff, what are the prospects for year end awards at the 81st annual convention in Cleveland? I hear you, Jim, Ray Mock and John Butkus will be representing 4022. Yes that's right. Personally I think that this year will be an outstanding one. Jim is doing a great job. Greg Dronen, our General Programs Director is doing a yeoman's job of coordinating the "Many Are Called" programs and timely submission of reports. Reviewing the current standings in the Buckeye Bulletin and talking with Greg I wouldn't be surprised if 4022 places 1st in our division. We are a cinch for 2nd place.   The Gold Leaf Award is certain and Star Council is within reach. I predict that future historians will rank the 1979-1980 Council year as one of the best years ever. One certainly fitting to climax our 25th anniversary year."
  "You know, Bill, sitting here and pulling all of these names out of the past reminds me that we have overlooked a very significant group. Don't forget that over the last 25 years we've been blessed with spiritual guidance from our chaplains. Father Kallaher, the Pastor at Incarnation, was the first chaplain. He was followed by Father Bill Schwartz, who was with us for seven or eight years. Then came Father Joe "Aces Up" Brennan, and finally, Father John "Strikes and Spares" Dickson. We've enjoyed a lot of good times with these good men but they have also helped to keep us on the straight and narrow through their wise counseling. Father Joe also managed to keep some of us broke through his able betting. One or two of us thought that now and then he would get some extra-terestrial help as he pulled off more than his share of inside straight draws or filled out flushes."   "How right you are, Frostie, but I've got to be going now. I promised I would get home early to help Mary babysit our grandchildren. Fortunately for you Marguerite is more understanding. She knows that you would rather shoot the bull about the Council than have a smoke. Before I go, though , I just wanted to mention that, although you and I will never make it, we do have a rather significant bunch in the Council that have celebrated their golden anniversaries as worthy knights. Jim Carney, Frank Sull, Pat McManus, Jim Cline, Herm Kroger and Lou Koepnick have all been around forever, it seems. I'm looking forward to seeing them at the 25th anniversary bash in a few weeks and listening to a few fresh war stories."
  "Meantime, take care, Frostie, and on your way out tell Gene and Frank it's time to leave. Also tell that kid, O. Dicta, to put his pen away and skedaddle on home."

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