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Knights celebrate 50 years

Catholic men's fraternity reaches milestone

Brandon Johnson

In 1956, Ralph P. Razzano was one of the founding members of Knights of Columbus Council 4131 in Craig.

But when people tell him he is a founding member of the Craig chapter of the Catholic men’s organization, he has a standard reply.

“He tells them, ‘I didn’t find anything,'” his wife, Rose Razzano, said with a laugh.



Razzano was one of the distinguished guests Friday when the Knights of Columbus celebrated the 50th anniversary of the group’s founding in Craig.

The first chapter of the Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 in Con-necticut. The Catholic men’s fraternal society was formed to render financial aid to members and their families.



Worldwide, there are now 12,000 councils and more than 1.7 million members. Locally, there are about 80 members.

Until the mid-1950s, there wasn’t a chapter of the organization at St. Michael Catholic Church in Craig.

Walt Cisar was a member of the church in the mid-1950s.

Many of the men at the church, including Cisar, wanted an organization of which they could be a part, he said.

They had a desire to help the church and to help the community, he said.

St. Michael’s priest at the time was supportive of the men starting a chapter of the Knights of Columbus, so they decided to do it, Cisar said.

Looking back on the group’s 50 years in Craig, Cisar, who also was a distinguished guest Friday, said he is proud of what the group has accomplished.

“I feel like we have put a little back in the community,” Cisar said.

The Rev. Jim Fox at St. Michael said the group helps out at the church in a variety of ways, including doing general maintenance at the church.

“They are a great asset to the church-at-large,” Fox said.

But the group’s work extends beyond the church at 678 School St.

The group hosts an annual tootsie roll sale to raise money for the needy. The Knights also support Horizons Specialized Services, the Special Olympics and the Visiting Nurse As-sociation.

Michael Gush, the grand knight of council 4131, said although the group doesn’t toot its own horn very often, he and the rest of the members are proud of the work they do.

The members are especially proud that the group has been active in Craig for a half century.

“Fifty years for anything is awesome,” he said.

The group is always accepting new members, Gush said. The only requirement is that members be Catholics in good standing with the church.

Brandon Johansson can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 213, or bjohansson@craigdailypress.com.


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