Richard Rebman 

Richard got in on the ground floor and became the founding Grand Knight of Council 10243, quite a feat for someone who had been inactive in the Knights of Columbus for about twenty years.  Yet when the word went out that a Council would possibly form with St. Bernard as it's home, he was interested in getting active again.  "When they asked for volunteers for officers, it seemed everybody was just sitting there, so I said I'd be Grand Knight.  I thought it would be for six months."  He ended up serving for two and a half years.  "Well, I was elected to another term and then the Deputy Grand Knight really didn't want to take it, so I stayed another year."

 

It was just as well, serving a Council that was just getting started and trying to grow.  His goals as Grand Knight were to help the Council form itself and build up a treasury so the Council could operate effectively.  The first activity was a Tootsie Roll drive in April of 1990, four months after the Council formed.  "That was a memorable experience," he says, "the muscle of all the men willing to be a part of things and take the bull by the horns."  The Council continued to grow and become more and more active, to the point where numerous awards were being won.  "It is humbling for me to be called to pick up those awards."

 

Now a Star Council, # 10243 is one of four councils Richard serves since being appointed District Deputy in June of 1992; the others being # 5844 in Luxemburg, # 4735 in Denmark and # 10552 at Ss. Peter & Paul in Green Bay.  "My goal as District Deputy is to have all four of my Councils be Star Councils."  He's certainly on the way: our Council as well as Luxemburg were both Star Councils this year; Denmark won the Columbian Award and Ss. Peter & Paul won the Founders Award.

 

So, what does a District Deputy do?  "He learns a lot and he does an awful lot of paperwork."  Richard is appointed District Deputy for one year with the possibility of re-appointment.  He is employed by Oconto Power and Light as Supervisor of Collections and Metering.  Richard got his son, Scott, involved in the Knights and Council 10243, as well as about seven other men.  He and his wife, Janet, have been a part of St. Bernard Parish since 1963.

 

October 1992