Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus | |
---|---|
since March 1, 2021 | |
Style | Supreme Knight |
Status | |
Abbreviation | SK |
Member of | Knights of Columbus |
Residence | United States |
Term length | At their discretion; mandatory retirement at age 70 |
Formation | February 2, 1882 |
First holder | James T. Mullen |
Website | kofc |
The Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus (more simply referred to as the Supreme Knight) is the title of the chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the Knights of Columbus. The organization comprises approximately 1.9 million members in more than 15,000 councils and operates an insurance company with over $109 billion of life insurance in force, as of 2020.[1][2]
Since its founding in 1882, there have been 14 Supreme Knights.[3] Patrick E. Kelly is the Supreme Knight incumbent, holding this position since March 1, 2021.
Supreme Knight[4] | Deputy Supreme Knight[4] | Supreme Chaplain[4] | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Office holder | Portrait | Term began | Term ended | Office holder | Term | Office holder | Term |
1 | James T. Mullen | ![]() |
March 29, 1882 | May 17, 1886 | John T. Kerrigan[5] | 1882–1884 | Rev. Patrick P. Lawlor | 1882–1884 |
John F. Dowling[6] | 1884–1886 | Rev. Michael J. McGivney[6] | 1884–1890 | |||||
2 | John J. Phelan[7] | ![]() |
May 17, 1886 | March 2, 1897 | William Hassett[7] | 1886–1887 | ||
James C. Roach | 1887–1895 | |||||||
Rev. Hugh Treanor | 1891–1899 | |||||||
James E. Hayes | 1895–1897 | |||||||
3 | James E. Hayes | ![]() |
March 2, 1897 | February 8, 1898 | John J. Cone[8] | 1897–1898 | ||
4 | John J. Cone | ![]() |
March 2, 1898 | March 31, 1899 | Vacant | |||
5 | Edward L. Hearn | ![]() |
April 1, 1899 | August 31, 1909 | John W. Hogan[9][10] | April 1, 1899–June 3, 1903 | Rev. Garrett J. Barry | 1899–1901 |
Rev. Patrick J. McGivney[11][12] | 1901–1928 | |||||||
Patrick L. McArdle[10][13] | June 3, 1903[10]–1905 | |||||||
James A. Flaherty[14] | 1905–1909 | |||||||
6 | James A. Flaherty[12][15] | ![]() |
September 1, 1909 | August 31, 1927 | Martin H. Carmody[12] | 1909–1927 | ||
7 | Martin H. Carmody[12][16] | ![]() |
September 1, 1927 | August 31, 1939 | John F. Martin[12][17] | 1927–1933 | ||
Rev. John J. McGivney[12][17] | 1928–1939 | |||||||
Francis P. Matthews[16] | 1933–1939 | |||||||
8 | Francis P. Matthews[17] | ![]() |
September 2, 1939 | October 14, 1945 | John E. Swift | 1939–1945 | Rev. Leo M. Finn[17][18] | 1939–1960 |
9 | John E. Swift[19][20] | October 24, 1945 | August 31, 1953 | Timothy P. Galvin | 1945–1949 | |||
William J. Mulligan[20][21] | 1949–1960 | |||||||
10 | Luke E. Hart | ![]() |
September 1, 1953 | February 19, 1964 | ||||
John W. McDevitt[21][22] | 1960–1964 | Bishop Charles P. Greco[23][18] | 1961–January 20, 1987 | |||||
11 | John W. McDevitt | February 22, 1964 | January 21, 1977 | John H. Griffin, MD[22][24] | 1964–1966 | |||
Charles J. Ducey[25][26] | 1966–April 1976 | |||||||
Ernest J. Wolff[26] | 1976–1977 | |||||||
12 | Virgil C. Dechant | January 21, 1977 | September 30, 2000 | Frederick H. Pelletier[26][27] | 1977–1981 | |||
John M. Murphy | 1981–1984 | |||||||
Ellis D. Flinn[28] | 1984–February 1, 1997 | |||||||
Bishop Thomas V. Daily[29] | February 13, 1987–April 1, 2005 | |||||||
Robert F. Wade[30] | April 1, 1997–September 30, 2000 | |||||||
13 | Carl A. Anderson | ![]() |
October 1, 2000 | February 28, 2021 | Jean B. Migneault[31] | October 1, 2000–October 27, 2006 | ||
Archbishop William E. Lori[32] | April 2, 2005–present | |||||||
Dennis A. Savoie[33][34] | October 27, 2006–December 2013 | |||||||
Logan T. Ludwig[35] | December 12, 2013–December 16, 2016 | |||||||
Patrick E. Kelly[35] | January 1, 2017–February 28, 2021 | |||||||
14 | Patrick E. Kelly | March 1, 2021 | present | Paul O'Sullivan[36] | June 9, 2021–July 1, 2023 | |||
Arthur L. Peters[37] | July 1, 2023-present |
References
- ^ Annual report 2020
- ^ KofC About Us
- ^ "History of the Knights - Supreme Knights". Knights of Columbus Supreme Council. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- ^ a b c Knights of Columbus archives (December 3, 2018). "Knights of Columbus Supreme Officers". Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ Kauffman 1982, p. 18.
- ^ a b Kauffman 1982, pp. 40–41.
- ^ a b Kauffman 1982, p. 61.
- ^ Kauffman 1982, p. 103.
- ^ Kauffman 1982, p. 131.
- ^ a b c "National Council, K of C., Increases Issue. Next Convention Will Be Held in Louisville". The Boston Globe. June 4, 1903. p. 3.
- ^ "The Life and Legacy of Father Michael J. McGivney" (PDF). Knights of Columbus. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Kauffman 1982, p. 287.
- ^ Dodge 1903, p. 9; Kauffman 1982, p. 114.
- ^ "History of the Uniontown Council No. 1275". Retrieved February 2, 2018.
- ^ "First Michigan Man to be Elected Supreme Knight". The Augustinian. Vol. XXXV, no. 87. Kalamzaoo, Michigan. August 20, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- ^ a b "K. of C. Pledge support for NRA". The Bulletin. Vol. XIV, no. 16. Augusta, Ga. August 26, 1933. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Kauffman 1982, p. 338.
- ^ a b Kauffman 1982, p. 394.
- ^ Kauffman 1982, p. 357.
- ^ a b "Swift Appoints Mulligan Deputy Supreme Knight". The Boston Globe. May 21, 1949. p. 2. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- ^ a b "K. of C Re-elect* Hart Supreme Knight". The Berkshire Eagle. Pittsfield, Massachusetts. October 22, 1960. p. 5. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- ^ a b "HON. JOHN H. GRIFFIN, M.D., K.S.G., K.H.S." (PDF). Knights of Columbus Maryland State Council. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
- ^ "Bishop Charles P. Greco" (PDF). Louisiana Ladies Auxiliary Association. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ^ Jordan, Robert (March 1, 1964). "New Chief of Knights Led Waltham Schools". The Boston Globe. p. 54. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- ^ "McDevitt is reelected as KC head". New Orleans Clarion Herald. October 27, 1966. p. 2. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
- ^ a b c Kauffman 1982, p. 417.
- ^ "Local Delegates at K of C Convention". Hanover Evening Sun. May 21, 1979. p. 14. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
- ^ "ORDER MOURNS THE PASSING OF FORMER DEPUTY SUPREME KNIGHT". Knights of Columbus. April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
- ^ "KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS MOURNS THE PASSING OF SUPREME CHAPLAIN EMERITUS". Knights of Columbus. May 15, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ^ "Annual Report of Supreme Knight Virgil C. Dechant". Chuck Hauger. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
- ^ Anderson, Carl A. (September 11, 2008). "SUPREME KNIGHT'S EULOGY FOR JEAN MIGNEAULT". Knights of Columbus. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
- ^ "ARCHBISHOP WILLIAM E. LORI, S.T.D. SUPREME CHAPLAIN OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS". Knights of Columbus. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ^ Gosgnach, Tony (August 30, 2007). "Q and A with: Dennis Savoie". The Interim. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
- ^ Gyapong, Deborah (February 27, 2015). "Ambassador settles in to new role in Rome". The B.C. Catholic. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
- ^ a b "Patrick E. Kelly". Knights of Columbus. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ Burger, John (June 14, 2021). "Supreme Knight installed, calls for "guardians of truth"". Aletia. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ "ARTHUR L. PETERS". Knights of Columbus. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
Bibliography
- Dodge, William Wallace (1903). The Fraternal and Modern Banquet Orator: An Original Book of Useful Helps at the Social Session and Assembly of Fraternal Orders, College Entertainments, Social Gatherings and All Banquet Occasions. Chicago: Monarch Book Company.
- Kauffman, Christopher J. (1982). Faith and Fraternalism: The History of the Knights of Columbus, 1882–1982. Harper and Row. ISBN 978-0-06-014940-6.