Honoring Our Past
Council 5207's Story
In 1961, the Church was led by the beloved “Good” Pope John XXIII. He was called the “most loved pope in history” and the newly elected President of the United States was a Knight and a Catholic. This was an exciting time to be a Catholic.
On January 20, 1961, a snowy bitter day in Washington, a brother Sir Knight and future President attended Mass at Holy Trinity Church and hours later would speak to the nation and the world in historic powerful terms. His speech to the nation and world outlined American’s determination to defend our values and he asked each American to “ask what they can do for their country.” The Kennedy Inaugural speech was one of the most powerful in American history and given by a Knights of Columbus. Months following this important national call to action, 45 Catholic men from the new Sacred Heart parish came together and started a new council in West Knoxville.
It seems hard to believe today, but the selection of the current Sacred Heart parish was considered “too far out west” when the Towle Farm was purchased in 1952. Sacred Heart was started two years later with the school preceding the church structure. Father Edward Dolan, fresh from building Saint Ann’s Church in Nashville was assigned by Bishop Adrain to build the new parish in Knoxville.
The first Sacred Heart pastor, as history has recorded, was thrifty, a careful spender, and a great leader. He did not ask more from the men and women of the parish than he was prepared to give. When the school was finished and the rectory was still under construction, Father Dolan moved into a school classroom for several months to save the rent from his apartment. Good men of the parish rewarded Father Dolan with their hard work, time, and money to make the new parish possible.
Many things can be said about the great leadership of Father Dolan, but for this accounting, it is important to understand the special relationship that the men of the parish and the pastor enjoyed. Father Dolan (later named by the Holy Father as a domestic prelate with the title of Monsignor) took very special interest in the men that came together to form his new parish and he recognized that many had a common thread, a thread of Columbianism. Most men that formed Sacred Heart came from existing parishes and many of the active men were members of the Knoxville Council, 645.
Knights of Columbus
Vincent J. Gleason
Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Council #5207
As the concrete of the parish buildings continued to cure, a proud group of 45 Catholic gentlemen stood up to be counted, to be organized, and to petition the Tennessee State Council of the Knights of Columbus for permission to form a new council at Sacred Heart. The new council, a second council for the city of Knoxville, was to be the 21st in the state. New Haven issued the next consecutive number from the “Supreme” list and “5207” was assigned.
Very early in the formation period, tragedy struck the new council when the founding member, Vincent J. Gleason, died. The passing of the young father and husband so moved the membership that Supreme was notified that the name for the new council was to be Vincent J. Gleason, in his memory.
Getting a new council started and heading the right direction is vital to its future in the parish and its subsequent growth. Charles Susano, Sr. was elected by his peers as the first Grand Knight for 5207 because he was such an esteemed and respected leader. These Charter Members built a good foundation for growth and Fraternalism that continues to this day. Charlie was a popular leader and an overachiever, taking on a new career as an attorney in his 60’s.
During the early years of the council, the transfer of responsibility and a party went hand-in-hand. It was an early tradition of 5207 for the outgoing Grand Knight to host a party at his house for the incoming leadership team. Maybe this was a factor in the hotly contested elections of Grand Knight, especially in the early years.
The pastor was especially proud of his new Knights council. The council was a natural outlet for the energies of the pastor, so he worked closely with the council to help grow the church. During the early years of the council, the pastor and his knights continued to build the Sacred Heart campus and legacy. The Knights worked to remove farm buildings that were still on the property and would add the second bridge to allow better access to the property. Knights also started Bingo in the school gym. The council also purchased one or more of the small plots of land that surround the Sacred Heart school and church to allow for further expansion. At one time, during the 60’s, the council pitched the Big Top and ran or supported a carnival, complete with games of chance (what did the neighbors think!).
The council business meetings appear to have been a “First Monday” since the early days of the charter and bylaws. As the council grew, it recognized that the involvement of the wives and woman of the Knights was needed. Sometime around Howard Petty’s term as Grand Knight (GK), the council added a “social meeting”, the third Sunday of the month. This social meeting was truly a social event with little meeting and much more social. The Sunday night meetings had the women bringing covered dishes and the Knights fixin’ the meat for the meal. The Knights would start out with a meeting in a school classroom and join the ladies in the cafeteria. Meetings usually included a speaker (doctors and other educational speakers) to enlighten the crowd or entertainment (magicians, etc.) to amuse them. This tradition carried over to the council home, when it was built and operational.
During a meeting, when Father Dolan was present, Past Grand Knight (PGK) Cedric was very frustrated and violated the Second Commandment several times. Upon his leaving, Dolan was heard to remark, “Cedric needs to join the Holy Name Society.”
Sacred Heart was growing and the council wanted to grow as well so the guidance and approval of the chaplain was sought. Father Dolan knew the challenges for growing a parish and the demands for church resources, so he gave the council guidance. He thought that it might be in the best interest of the council to buy property and establish a fraternal home. However, the move to leave church property was not without some difference of opinion.
A “building” committee was formed, and available commercial property was inspected as they became available. Each property has its pluses and minuses, but the committee did not find any suitable existing property. An end to the search came when charter member William Tyrell agreed to subdivide his small farm west of the church, on Gleason Road, and sell 7 acres to his brother Knights. Records show that in November 1968, 7.09 acres of the existing Tyrell farm were portioned and sold. The council bought that property for approximately $12,000. The Gleason Home Association was charted in the state on 12/31/1968 for “promoting the objectives of that organization, fostering high ideals of friendship among its members…”
The Gleason Home Association was charted with the State for the real property holdings and operation of the new fraternal home. Competing ideas and plans existed between members that were builders and architects about what the new council home would look like. Member Norm Forley won over his brothers and build a prefab steel building approximately 5000 sq. ft. on a concrete slab on the new property. Council 5207, in honor of its respected chaplain and charter member Father Mark Edward Dolan, named the new building, Dolan Hall. Dolan Hall had a council meeting area, called the Charlie Susano Room, a common area and a bar. As seen in the few remaining photos, the hall was paneled, the bingo board was mounted, and the Past Grand Knights were remembered with their photos on the wall.
Bingo moved from Sacred Heart (run by the council) to Dolan Hall. There was a band of loyal brothers that made the bingo games a fixture in the area. Jim Elliott cranked the ball spinner cage and was a popular caller for the games; Frank Ciccini took the money and Harry Sullivan managed the cards. Tear-off cards were also popular and a good moneymaker. Bingo provided Sacred Heart a great deal of money in the early years of the parish and established a community outlet for games of chance. The games and the faithful players moved to Dolan Hall and supported its operation. Bingo became a Thursday night fixture.
There was a time, before the neighbors moved around the council property that PGK Jack Passiffume and others ran another classic fundraiser, the Turkey Shoot. For the three weekends prior to Thanksgiving, sure shots from the area tried to win a bird with a lucky shot. Rumor has it that Jack loaded up “game” shells and some shells had a mixture of rock salt and lead shot. There is not a space for miles of the old hall location today that shooting a shotgun wouldn’t get a visit from the sheriff!
The Sunday night socials and the new council home combined for a joy-filled and true spirit of fraternity. Recognition for good work, membership, and insurance during this period can be found in the multiple Star Council awards given to PGK Bill Shaw. The entertainment became more organized and members along with their wives put together the Follies and the fun. Laughs and good times followed. Some of the highlights of the Follies were the organized skits, where performances improved as the night grew later and the alcohol continued to flow. There were many dances that were held by the membership at the Hall. New Year’s Eve parties were always a favorite. Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, and an Oktoberfest celebration were all part of the social calendar in the 70’s and 80’s. The German-American club, a dependable renter of the Hall, also took particular pride in helping with the Oktoberfest.
CadSteaks (and later CarSteaks) was a great party and major fundraiser of the council. This event was originally a Sacred Heart event that, like bingo, moved with the Knights. Steve Kirk has great memories of the 1958 Caddy that his mother “won.” Winning, in her case, involved buying the last few tickets from those remaining. The car went on to service at least one of the family’s two seminarians and future priests. This type of fundraiser was common in some locals. A limited number of $100 tickets were sold, and the winner takes the Cad(illac). The Steaks come in from the party before the final ticket was pulled.
The long-gone Deane Hill Country Club was booked, the bar was open, the steaks and all of the fixin’s were the meal and the tickets were reverse pulled so the last ticket was the winner. Money was at the ready when the last four or five tickets remained. Deals were made to buy the last ticket and remove any chance at the end. When Cadillacs became too pricey for the game, another car from Rodger’s was used. Howard Petty said that, as he recalls, there were about 150 tickets sold. The car was about $7,000, the meal was $2,000 and the rest, wow, what a fundraiser! This type of game and bingo, considered by the State to be gambling, was outlawed in the 1980’s, so that the State could do all of the gambling with the Lottery. Maybe that’s progress, but its not as much fun.
The months and years that followed the loss of Dolan Hall seem to somewhat mimic the wanderings in the desert from the Old Testament. The comparisons are really a stretch, but some truth lies within:
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There was the sense of loss – leaving Egypt > the burning of the Hall.
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Wandering in the desert – 5207 meetings moved from the Church to a rented clubhouse, month to month.
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Loss of the faithful – wandering tribes of Israel > some 5207 members never returned and were lost.
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Following the 40 years of wandering – following the 40+ months of wandering, the tribe/council found a new home.
Sir Knight Ron Alt, member of the council and local general contractor, built the New Dolan Hall, which opened in the fall of 1995. It was largely built on the same slab and to a like design as the previous hall. The New Dolan Hall lasted only sever years within the council’s hands before falling to the wrecker’s ball in early 2003 to make room for condominiums. During its short existence however, and through good leadership, the council started to socially function again. There were New Year’s Eve parties again; the Turn of the Century party in 1999 was a special one that found every wall covered in black plastic trash bags and gold decorations, calendars, and timelines covering the last 1000 years. Oktoberfest returned for a few years. The horseshoe pits were redone, and the Santa Maria was docked there for many months.
New Dolan Hall had a beer cooler for years, but kegs seemed to develop leaks once they were tapped, or so said the Hall Manager.
Interesting notes: During these first 50 years of Council 5207, two new Catholic parishes have started from within our footprint, St. John Neumann and All Saints. In 1980, the parish in Farragut opened and rather quickly, a new council, 8781, formed with many brothers from 5207. So loved was the memory of Monsignor Dolan that the new 8781 council stole the name of the 5207 charter chaplain! Council 8781 remains today a smaller but viable council. Fourteen years later, All Saints parish was begun. Circumstances in the council and in the church were different and critical mass was never achieved for a fission event; a larger nucleus (council) with joint membership at both All Saints and Sacred Heart resulted and remains today.
By 2002, membership in the council was about 155, the New Dolan Hall was operating on past savings and it was obvious to the board of the Gleason Home Association that a critical point in our real estate life had been reached. There were many ideas on how to save the home and / or the property in addition to maintaining our “standard of living” as a council. Ideas floated at the time: Put in a cell tower (new technology, but we were at the bottom of the hill); take out a loan and make improvements for rentals; and we even sent a letter to Bishop Kurtz to see if the land was of value to the diocese, but in the end, everything pointed to a sale. Real estate prices were strong in the early 2000’s and after about 8 to 10 months, a developer bought the property for about $325,000. The New Dolan Hall was of no value to him so the council sold what we could. Mostly kitchen appliances and we removed some odds and ends before the dozer flattened the building.
Times were changing. From the peak of the Baby Boom generation in the early 70’s to the beginning of a new millennium, the social structure and environment that enjoyed Dolan Hall, and like facilities, had changed. Gone were bingo games and other community gambling events that raised money. Sadly, some of the family and church socials were also gone that were mainstays of Catholic Sundays. The 3rd Sunday Social meeting lost favor, likely with the loss of the Hall, and when attendance waned, the bylaws were amended, and that meeting was dropped in the mid 90’s. Some family time was lost in the two-wage earner family. Our council family was not immune to changes of society, but it has evolved and gotten stronger in other areas.
In the year 1994, the Diocese addressed the growing Catholic population in West Knoxville with the founding of the Cedar Bluff Catholic Community. CBCC started in a warehouse near the large property (purchased years prior with great foresight) where the parish and eventual relocation of Knoxville Catholic High School would be built. Membership at the new All Saints parish quickly approached to that of its parent, Sacred Heart Cathedral and with it the membership of 5207 grew as well approaching a split in home parishes.
When fundraising began for the new All Saints church, the council, under the leadership of Pat McCleary as Grand Knight, set an ambitious goal promising to fund the church “bell” system which was a capital cost of about $12,000. All that money was to be raised and with that commitment, a new purpose was found, and the council ultimately benefited the most. With the church pledge kept and met years earlier than planned, the council established itself in the new parish and there was a drive as new members came into the council. The council performed at high levels again with the Star Council status being achieved for three consecutive years. The new energy of success and productive council activities started a great renaissance within the council. Success breeds success.
Confined to a wheelchair for many years, through the Grace and Gift of our Lord, SK Jerry Barkley went on to walk and ride a motorcycle with a Rosary of our Lady on his hog’s gas tank.
Last Dance. One of the last parties held in New Dolan Hall was for a young man’s wedding. Complete with live entertainment and slippery fun…
Some good works of the council are a mainstay of community support and involvement. Almost since its founding, the council has wholeheartedly supported the State Council’s charitable organization of the mentally handicapped. Over $225,000 has been donated for this one cause and half of that money has been locally distributed. Many in our community know little of our good works or Catholic origin but do know about the Tootsie Roll drive and what the money raised is used for. A lasting reminder of the good works in the community by 5207 and 645 councils is the Columbus home, now a United Way operation, started through our efforts and given our name.
In 2002, over $13,000 was raised at one Spaghetti Dinner at KCHS for Catholic Charities; for an elevator that was never built.
Moving day came in the fall of 2002 and 5207 went from being a “homeowner” to a renter in Joe Kirk’s complex at 5710 Kingston Pike. Some used Intimate Treasures as a directional landmark in the early days when giving directions to the new meeting hall. Gone were the homeowner worries: getting the 5+ acres mowed; the dead trees falling in the neighbors’ yards; handling a bridge that was failing; vandalism, etc. etc. Gone also was the 5000 sq. ft. hall that could host indoor yard sales, Jazzercise renters, and any party that the membership wanted. But the smaller footprint didn’t require much work from the membership and more time was available for the council’s good works. The starter home first used in the 5710 complex was gladly replaced with a much-improved (with council labor) space that it currently uses in suites 3 and 4 in the summer of 2005.
In Parish Priest, Father McGivney’s drive for a fraternal organization for Catholic men began during a period when 800 fraternal organizations had existed. Our Order, its founder, and our foundation were sound and worthy of support 120 years ago. That model and framework supports Catholic men and their families to this day. Like the Supreme Council, the Vincent J. Gleason Council, 5207, founded in West Knoxville in 1961, has changed in many ways but its core along with its foundation have always been firm and sound while building and supporting the Catholic community and the families that comprise of its membership.
This history of the council is not a complete one. Unfortunately, most of the good works of the council and its members are lost in time and were not recorded. There are likely many members that should be recognized; history and space limit this collection, but these three brothers stand as examples for the membership during the first fifty years of 5207 history:
Howard Petty, PGK – Howard is the only member of the council to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the State. Howard was honored in 2009 for his 46+ years of charitable service and significant contributions to the Church, the Order, and Council 5207.
Tom Ciaccia, PGK – Likely the most gifted project manager in the council’s first 50 years. Two of the most significant and largest ($) projects in the council's history are his projects and are on-going today. The Spring Classic High School baseball game at Smokies Park is heading into its 9th year and has raised over $49,000 for the Crisis Pregnancy Center. With the inspiration of Dave Halstead, Tom also has spearheaded a separate project to build an education center in the Kenyan hometown of Father William Oruko AJ, previously of Sacred Heart. This international gift of Faith has raised over $175,000 and the project is poised to break ground in East Africa this year.
Mike Wills, PDK and State Deputy – The council is honored to be represented and lead in the State Council by one of its own. Mike is a very generous Knight, sharing his gifts of dedication and leadership with class and pride within the local and state councils. He became well known in the State from his leadership in ceremonials. Mike could take roles in all four degrees but may be best known for meeting the most, new knights for the first time when he was wearing a tuxedo. Mike Wills is the only member of the council to be elected to State Deputy.
Before writing this history, the Recorder’s logbooks that have been generated since the Dolan Hall fire, were briefly reviewed. Going through those records, of meetings and minutes, Grand Knight’s reports and Chaplain’s summations, there was little essence of our great council and what has been fun and memorable about this fraternal organization. The best of the “old” council lives on through the memories of those who made them and those fortunate enough to be a part of our Catholic assembly of men and their families. If Council 5207 remains true to the Values and Principles of the Order for the next 50 years, its importance in the lives of the membership, their families, and the Church will be assured.
A Special Thank You goes out to the following people for their contribution to this simple narrative: Howard Petty, William Tyrell, Pat McCleary, and Leroy Heldman. Written by Sir Knight Russ Carvin, PGK, PDD. Editing support from Lara Carvin and SK Chad Hernandez.
