Texas Honors Key Exemplary Contributions with Memorial Awards

Texas State Council has a storied past, filled with amazing Brother Knights and significant achievements.When a Brother Knight makes a particular impact on the Order in Texas through his efforts in a specific matter, or his example and contributions over time, the Texas State Council has determined that several of these great men should be remembered and recalled annually.This is done through the naming of an event or award in honor of that Knight.Here is a list of some of the men so honored.

• State Deputy Annual Awards Honoring Consistent Exemplars: Ray Neumann Sr Charity Award; Fr Jack Whitley Unity Award, PSD Joseph I Driscoll Fraternity Award
• Other Individual Honor Awards: Chic O’Connor Special Olympics Award; Cardinal Humberto Medeiros Fellowship Award, Msgr. James Kirwin Chaplain of the Year Award; Archbishop John Carroll Defender of Religious Liberty Medal
• State Charity Awards to Councils for Consecutive Periods Meeting Annual Goals: PSD Emil Ogden Award (10 years); Daniel Cardinal DiNardo Award (20 years); Saint Pope John Paul II Award (25 years); PSD Judge Ricardo Garcia Award (30 years)
• Namesakes for State Council Athletic Events:Joe Padilla State Bowling Tournament; Daryl Entrop State Softball Tournament; Johnny Lopez State Golf Tournament
• Texas Knights also have a very close connection to the saints of our Order who were martyred in Mexico during the suppression of the Catholic Church, especially San Pedro de Jesus Maldonado, whose relics are enshrined at St Patrick Cathedral in El Paso where he was ordained.

Short biographies of many of these men are found on the Texas State Council website through “Our History” page found at this link:https://www.tkofc.org/about/v/historyMore will be added as additional research is completed. We encourage all to read about these special Knights, and for Council Lecturers to share short reflections on them periodically at council meetings.

It is the goal of the State Council through its State Historian program to document the key facts and compelling stories of all of these men. Check back from time to time to read as more biographies are added.If you have any photos of or stories about the men included on this list, please send them to our State Historian by email at deo1958@gmail.comWe need to preserve their accomplishments in memory for future generations. Thank you!