Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus
Head of the Knights of Columbus
The Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus (more simply referred to as the Supreme Knight ) is the title of the chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the Knights of Columbus . The organization comprises approximately 1.9 million members in more than 15,000 councils and operates an insurance company with over $109 billion of life insurance in force, as of 2020[update] .[ 1] [ 2]
Since its founding in 1882, there have been 14 Supreme Knights.[ 3] Patrick E. Kelly is the Supreme Knight incumbent, holding this position since March 1, 2021.
Supreme Knight[ 4]
Deputy Supreme Knight[ 4]
Supreme Chaplain[ 4]
#
Office holder
Portrait
Term began
Term ended
Office holder
Term
Office holder
Term
1
James T. Mullen
March 29, 1882
May 17, 1886
John T. Kerrigan
1882–1884
Rev. Patrick P. Lawlor
1882–1884
John F. Dowling
1884–1886
Rev. Michael J. McGivney
1884–1890
2
John J. Phelan
May 17, 1886
March 2, 1897
William Hassett
1886–1887
James C. Roach
1887–1895
Rev. Hugh Treanor
1891–1899
James E. Hayes
1895–1897
3
James E. Hayes
March 2, 1897
February 8, 1898
John J. Cone
1897–1898
4
John J. Cone
March 2, 1898
March 31, 1899
Vacant
5
Edward L. Hearn
April 1, 1899
August 31, 1909
John W. Hogan [ 10]
April 1, 1899–June 3, 1903
Rev. Garrett J. Barry
1899–1901
Rev. Patrick J. McGivney[ 11]
1901–1928
Patrick L. McArdle[ 10]
June 3, 1903[ 10] –1905
James A. Flaherty[ 14]
1905–1909
6
James A. Flaherty [ 15]
September 1, 1909
August 31, 1927
Martin H. Carmody
1909–1927
7
Martin H. Carmody [ 16]
September 1, 1927
August 31, 1939
John F. Martin
1927–1933
Rev. John J. McGivney
1928–1939
Francis P. Matthews[ 16]
1933–1939
8
Francis P. Matthews
September 2, 1939
October 14, 1945
John E. Swift
1939–1945
Rev. Leo M. Finn
1939–1960
9
John E. Swift [ 20]
October 24, 1945
August 31, 1953
Timothy P. Galvin
1945–1949
William J. Mulligan [ 20] [ 21]
1949–1960
10
Luke E. Hart
September 1, 1953
February 19, 1964
John W. McDevitt[ 21] [ 22]
1960–1964
Bishop Charles P. Greco [ 23]
1961–January 20, 1987
11
John W. McDevitt
February 22, 1964
January 21, 1977
John H. Griffin, MD [ 22] [ 24]
1964–1966
Charles J. Ducey [ 25]
1966–April 1976
Ernest J. Wolff
1976–1977
12
Virgil C. Dechant
January 21, 1977
September 30, 2000
Frederick H. Pelletier[ 27]
1977–1981
John M. Murphy
1981–1984
Ellis D. Flinn[ 28]
1984–February 1, 1997
Bishop Thomas V. Daily [ 29]
February 13, 1987–April 1, 2005
Robert F. Wade[ 30]
April 1, 1997–September 30, 2000
13
Carl A. Anderson
October 1, 2000
February 28, 2021
Jean B. Migneault [ 31]
October 1, 2000–October 27, 2006
Archbishop William E. Lori [ 32]
April 2, 2005–present
Dennis A. Savoie [ 33] [ 34]
October 27, 2006–December 2013
Logan T. Ludwig [ 35]
December 12, 2013–December 16, 2016
Patrick E. Kelly [ 35]
January 1, 2017–February 28, 2021
14
Patrick E. Kelly
March 1, 2021
present
Paul O'Sullivan[ 36]
June 9, 2021–July 1, 2023
Arthur L. Peters[ 37]
July 1, 2023-present
References
^ Annual report 2020
^ KofC About Us
^ "History of the Knights - Supreme Knights" . Knights of Columbus Supreme Council. Retrieved January 25, 2011 .
^ a b c Knights of Columbus archives (December 3, 2018). "Knights of Columbus Supreme Officers" . Retrieved December 3, 2018 .
^ a b c "National Council, K of C., Increases Issue. Next Convention Will Be Held in Louisville". The Boston Globe . June 4, 1903. p. 3.
^ "The Life and Legacy of Father Michael J. McGivney" (PDF) . Knights of Columbus. Retrieved August 14, 2018 .
^ "History of the Uniontown Council No. 1275" . Retrieved February 2, 2018 .
^ "First Michigan Man to be Elected Supreme Knight" . The Augustinian . Vol. XXXV, no. 87. Kalamzaoo, Michigan. August 20, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2018 .
^ a b "K. of C. Pledge support for NRA" . The Bulletin . Vol. XIV, no. 16. Augusta, Ga. August 26, 1933. Retrieved February 6, 2018 .
^ a b "Swift Appoints Mulligan Deputy Supreme Knight" . The Boston Globe . May 21, 1949. p. 2. Retrieved February 6, 2018 .
^ a b "K. of C Re-elect* Hart Supreme Knight" . The Berkshire Eagle . Pittsfield, Massachusetts. October 22, 1960. p. 5. Retrieved February 6, 2018 .
^ a b "HON. JOHN H. GRIFFIN, M.D., K.S.G., K.H.S." (PDF) . Knights of Columbus Maryland State Council. Retrieved February 2, 2018 .
^ "Bishop Charles P. Greco" (PDF) . Louisiana Ladies Auxiliary Association. Retrieved March 4, 2018 .
^ Jordan, Robert (March 1, 1964). "New Chief of Knights Led Waltham Schools" . The Boston Globe . p. 54. Retrieved February 6, 2018 .
^ "McDevitt is reelected as KC head" . New Orleans Clarion Herald . October 27, 1966. p. 2. Retrieved February 25, 2018 .
^ "Local Delegates at K of C Convention" . Hanover Evening Sun . May 21, 1979. p. 14. Retrieved February 26, 2018 .
^ "ORDER MOURNS THE PASSING OF FORMER DEPUTY SUPREME KNIGHT" . Knights of Columbus. April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2018 .
^ "KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS MOURNS THE PASSING OF SUPREME CHAPLAIN EMERITUS" . Knights of Columbus. May 15, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2018 .
^ "Annual Report of Supreme Knight Virgil C. Dechant" . Chuck Hauger. Retrieved February 2, 2018 .
^ Anderson, Carl A. (September 11, 2008). "SUPREME KNIGHT'S EULOGY FOR JEAN MIGNEAULT" . Knights of Columbus. Retrieved February 2, 2018 .
^ "ARCHBISHOP WILLIAM E. LORI, S.T.D. SUPREME CHAPLAIN OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS" . Knights of Columbus. Retrieved March 4, 2018 .
^ Gosgnach, Tony (August 30, 2007). "Q and A with: Dennis Savoie" . The Interim. Retrieved November 15, 2016 .
^ Gyapong, Deborah (February 27, 2015). "Ambassador settles in to new role in Rome" . The B.C. Catholic. Retrieved November 15, 2016 .
^ a b "Patrick E. Kelly" . Knights of Columbus. Retrieved February 1, 2018 .
^ Burger, John (June 14, 2021). "Supreme Knight installed, calls for "guardians of truth" " . Aletia. Retrieved August 5, 2022 .
^ "ARTHUR L. PETERS" . Knights of Columbus. Retrieved June 10, 2024 .
Bibliography