Knights of Columbus, Covington

In January 1947, W. Russell Sharp, a new resident of the City of Covington, began investigating the possibility of instituting a Knights of Columbus Council in Covington. He had been a very active member of the Marquette Council No. 1437 in New Orleans, where he formerly lived.

With the assistance of George P. Naquin, who also was a newcomer to the City of Covington and was not a Knight, several former members of the St. Tammany Council No. 1380 were marshaled to lend support to bring the Knights of Columbus back into Covington. Among these were: Louis D. Ross, Sr., J. Louis Smith, Sr., B.P. Fontan, J. V. Connaughton, Sr., and Dr. H.E. Gautreaux. Informal planning meetings were held in Hebert’s Cafe on Boston Street. D. F. Vavasseur of Father Placide Dobyns Council No. 1819, serving as District Deputy at the time, was consulted and brought into meetings. Upon determining that there would be sufficient interest in the community to support a Council, a meeting was held with Father Amelian Egler, OSB, Pastor of St. Peter Parish, and Father Canisuius Bluemel, OSB, Assistant Pastor.

It was learned at the first meeting with Father Amelian and Father Canisius that the Parish was in the process of organizing a Chapter of The Order of Catholic Foresters of America.

However, after much consideration Father Amelian gave his approval and blessing for the Knights of Columbus to institute a Council in Covington.

Deliberations with the Supreme Council were begun by the District Deputy. There was much discussion about the possibility of re-instituting the former Council No. 1380. The Supreme Council made the decision to grant a New Charter under a New Council Name.

Realizing that St. Peter Parish would not be able to support effectively two (2) Fraternal Organizations, Father Canisius set about the task of dissolving the Foresters Organization and brought all of those men into membership in the Knights.

The first formal organizational meeting for a new Knights of Columbus Council was held on June 11, 1947 in the basement of the “old” St. Peter School building. The meeting was conducted by District Deputy D. F. Vavasseur. In attendance were members of the former Council No. 1380, some Knights in good standing in other Councils, and potential new candidates for membership. Officers were elected. Applications for membership into the New Council were made and processed. Plans were finalized for the initiation of the new members to be held on June 18, 1947 at Archbishop Blenk Council No. 1905, Gretna La. There were forty-one (41) men in the group of candidates who received the First, Second, and Third Degrees of the Order on that Sunday.

The Charter Roster was made up of new members, along with twenty-two transferees from other Councils which included thirteen (13) members of the former St. Tammany Council No. 1380.

The Charter dated June 18, 1947, was first granted by the Supreme Council in the name of St. Benedict of Monte Cassino Council No. 3061. In 1948 the Council membership voted to request the Supreme Council to change its name to Covington Council No. 3061. In October 1948 this request was granted.