Dedication

In this Holy Year of 1950, let us revere the memory of those men whose vision and foresight, zeal and sacrifice, a half century ago, brought about the establishment of the Knights of Columbus in Kansas.  Let us review the wonderful career of the past, that we may better understand our tremendous responsibilities in the future.  Let us resolve to carry on, to even greater intensity, the determination of our Order to serve our God, our Country, and our Church.

Preface

This book is intended to be both a memorial and at least a fragmentary history of the first half-century of the Knights of Columbus in Kansas.  The account has been drawn largely from the Proceedings of the Kansas State Council of the Knights of Columbus published annually since 1904.  The first part of the book tells of the growth, the development, and the activities of the society.  The latter part of the volume is devoted to brief sketches of the one hundred and twenty-six councils in the state.  Membership figures given in the council sketches are the official annual figures of June 30, 1949.

The committee is grateful to the hundreds of Knights whose cooperation made this volume possible.  The Financial Secretaries bore the brunt of the several questionnaires.  The chapter on the State Officers is largely the work of past State Deputy Clarence J. Malone.  The story of Public Relations was contributed by past State Deputy James Malone.  Material on the Fourth Degree was supplied by State Secretary for the Fourth Degree, Francis H. DeBacker.  Finally, the book would probably never have been completed had it not been for the energy, patience, and ceaseless labor of State Secretary Bernard J. Brungardt.

The Historical Committee:

Herman J. Tholen, Chairman
Rev. Peter Beckman, O.S.B.
A. J. Roberts
Leo Nusbaum