State Deputy Awards

CHARITY - When this couple met, each had raised a family and each had experienced the loss of a spouse. And so upon marrying, they committed to do as much as possible together. And what an amazing journey that has led them on – they are active in their local parish, visit and support churches and schools in the Holy Land as members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem; they directly influence public policy through their work with LEGATUS and by political support for prolife candidates; and they are stalwart supporters in the evangelization efforts of Catholic Radio.Most importantly, their faith in action was inspired by a sainted Pope’s challenge in the defense of life, leading them to found and operate the John Paul II Life Center and Vitae Clinic, a full OB GYN medical and Natural Family Planning fertility practice in complete harmony with Catholic teaching, operating in conjunction with a crisis pregnancy center and teaching the principles of chaste living to our over-sexualized culture.In short, the Catholic answer to Planned Parenthood. This year’s recipient of the Ray Neumann Sr Charity Award is PSD Tim & Pat Von Dohlen.

UNITY - This year’s honoree has one of the most notable records of accomplishment of any in the Texas State Council. Active in his parish and community, he is a married for nearly 50 years with two grown children and four grandchildren. A knight for over 30 years, has served in almost every office of leadership the Order provides, in both the Third and Fourth degrees.He has been recognized many times for the extent of his contributions, but even more so for the gentle and thorough manner with which he approaches every task or challenge he faces. All who know him well marvel at his ability to bring people together to achieve extraordinary goals and can count on him for sage advice. Even his personal slogan clearly attests to the power of unity to attain exceptional results: We Are One.This year’s recipient of the Father Jack Whitley Unity Award is PSD Terry Simonton.

FRATERNITY - This year we honor a Knight who is married for 35 years with two grown children, a lifelong Texan and has for over 22 years served with distinction in many roles in the Order. With trademark humor and a can-do spirit, his fraternal accomplishments started with leadership in his local council, which continues its own outstanding record of achievement. Serving in his diocesan chapter, with Clergy Appreciation functions, and on many convention committees, his organizational and motivational skills brought him to the attention of several Past State Deputies who appointed him to ever more responsible roles, where he continued to excel while demonstrating his fraternal spirit as a leader of teams of men.In every situation he seeks the outcome that promotes harmony.A very memorable highlight was when he served on the Supreme Convention committee for San Antonio in 2013 while Texas also reached 100,000 Knights under his leadership as the State Membership Director. This year’s recipient of the PSD Joseph I Driscoll Fraternity Award is State Warden Terry Fruge.

PATRIOTISM - Our distinguished honoree this year is one of those quiet heroes who seems to be everywhere but never seeks the spotlight. He retired as a Lt Colonel from the US Marine Corps with over 24 years of service, including earning 30 Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross for flying combat missions in Vietnam. In his next career, he gave another 15 years to public education, as a classroom teacher and administrator. His most recent vocation is as a volunteer serving the needs of veterans in hospitals and retirement homes, as well as assisting their spiritual welfare by leading the rosary, serving as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and transporting and assisting a retired and disabled military chaplain priest.Last year he served with the Military Warriors to Lourdes pilgrimage sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Archdiocese for the Military Services. Married for 47 years, he and his wife have 4 daughters and 7 grandchildren. This year’s honoree as our Exemplar of Patriotism is LTC Klaus Hille USMC (ret).