Council 12300 celebrates 70 years of Knighthood for Bill Henry

On Tuesday, June 11, 2019, St. Anthony Council 12300 held a dinner and presentation in honor of the 70^th Anniversary of Bill Henry’s entry into the Knights of Columbus at St. Anthony Parish in Wylie, Collin County.

Bill entered the order in 1949 at the age of 19, in Seneca, Kansas. His father and uncle were knights, and his two brothers and many cousins became Knights. He later became a charter member of a new council in Roseville, Minnesota. His 3rd Council was in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. While in Cedar Rapids, Bill acted as District Deputy and helped to start a university council in Iowa City. He was later charter Grand Knight of Council 5390 in Marian, Iowa in 1963.

His 5^th Council, which he also chartered, was Council 6065 in Richardson, Texas in 1968.Bill’s wife Jane suggested to name it the “Santa Maria” Council, after the Christopher Columbus flagship. This council has since moved to St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Plano, Texas and spawned a new council at nearby St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.

Bill’s 6^th and current council is St. Anthony Council 12300, for which Bill player a major role in founding 20 years ago alongside Charter Grand Knight Charles Lutz under the leadership of Fr. Loyd Morris. By then, Bill and Jane were well known figures at St. Anthony Parish, with Bill active in the men’s club and he and Jane served the music ministry, leading music at many masses.

Jane and Bill also used their professional talents to help in the purchase of various real estate properties that surround St. Anthony, St. Joseph of Richardson and St. Mark the Evangelist Parishes to help them grow to the size they are today. The Henrys never charged a church a fee for their real estate services.

Bill held about every office including Grand Knight in the councils of which he was a member. Bill has also been active in the 4^th degree and held various state and diocesan positions.The current membership in Councils that Bill played a major role in founding number somewhere in the order of 1,000 Knights, and of course enrolled many more members over the decades since their founding.

Many of Bill and Jane’s family members were present as District Deputy Rick Guzman and Deputy Grand Knight Bryan A. Finley presented Bill with a framed certificate and cake acknowledging 70 years of Knighthood. The Deputy Grand Knight also gave an address recognizing and Bill’s bringing of many men into the order as well as Bill and Jane’s many contributions in support of their parish communities, and for their acts of service and charity.

Grand Knight Gene Ryan stated that "Bill has been a guiding light in this community for over 20 years. He is the kind of person I wish there were more of in the world. It is an honor to know him, and to able to call him friend and brother".

(Photos by Bob Fries)