History of the Knights of Columbus, Council # 7291

It was Sunday evening, March 4, 1979, when a group of Catholics met for the purpose of possibly organizing a Council for the Knights of Columbus in the Greenwood County area, based at the Sacred Heart parish in Eureka. Present at this meeting, held in a local VFW hall, were State Deputy Alvin Legleiter and District Deputy Fred Burnheide, Fr. Eugene Grabner, the Richard Hamiltons, the Terry Reillys, the Randy Scates, the Arthur Zimmermans, the Joseph Beckers, the Leo Thills, John Reilly, Ron Myers, Al McCarthy, Carl Haag, Bill Shay and Tony Fredelake.

The purposes of this meeting and organization were stated, followed by a discussion among the group. It was happily decided that a council will be organized for the Eureka and Hamilton parishes, with March 25th, 1979 as the charter date. This council became dedicated to the memory of Fr. Leo C. Kelty, who was the pastor in Greenwood County from 1937 until 1943. Records show that the following men served as Grand Knights since the beginning: John Reilly, Carl Haag, Joseph Becker, James Huschka, Michael Houseman, Michael Duffy, Leonard Schenk, Clarence Orth, Bill Teichgraeber, Floyd Sanburn, John Stevenson and Gregg Conklin. In the meantime, local pastors of Scared Heart parish served as chaplains of this council: Fathers Eugene Grabner, Eugene Komer, Harold McCormick and Michael Peltzer.

In its nearly 20 year history, the council helped several organizations, assisted victims of disasters, provided needs to disabled people, encouraged future priests, helped and guided many people along the trials of life and so forth. They sponsored holy hour and prayer services, Sweetheart dinner/dances, turkey shoots, raffles, tootsie roll drives, holiday treats, pennies for heaven, pro life and family activities and promoting of vocations.

Perhaps their greatest accomplishment was the help they gave in planning and building of the new parish hall for Eureka, dedicated in 1993. They continue to meet each second Wednesday of the month in the new building’s conference room, where many of their awards are proudly displayed, which is a testimony of a busy and active council!