The History of the San Diego Chapter
The San Diego – Imperial Valley Chapter began in July 1955 to serve the councils in two counties of the Diocese of San Diego, which diocese comprises the counties of San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino. In 1959 the Arrowhead – Desert Valley Chapter was formed for the benefit of the councils in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. There were 19 councils in San Diego and Imperial counties constituting this chapter.
The Diocese of San Diego was founded in 1936 and the first Bishop, Most Reverend Charles F. Buddy, undertook in due time, the establishment of the University of San Diego. The Chapter at its inception made the University Library its chief project. An annual barbecue was held and from this and other sources of receipts, the Chapter reimbursed the diocese about half the cost of the library, which initially was $889,000.00. In addition, the Chapter has made contributions to the book fund and has supported the Newman Club movement.
Other ongoing major projects for the Chapter is the Annual Priest Golf Tournament: A day for priests to socialize with each other, enjoy a round of golf and dinner after the tournament. In addition, the Chapter’s Annual Priest and Religious Dinner has always been a big hit with priests, religious and deacons as all of them are invited to be the guests of the Knights for a dinner. In 2014 added to the dinner was the recognition of outstanding altar servers in the diocese. These boys and girls are nominated by their pastor and the top servers are guests of honor with their parents at the Priest and Religious Dinner. In 2016 the chapter added recognition of any priest or religious celebrating their 25th or 50th Anniversary.
In 2015 under the leadership and vision of Chapter President John Bertrand the chapter took another step in their partnership with the diocese by taking on the Bishop Flores generic Provigil cost Scholars Program as a major project. This program offers tuition grants to children to help them attend a Catholic School. Bishop Flores had a vision that no child in the San Diego Diocese would be denied the opportunity to receive a Catholic education regardless of their parent’s financial ability. The Bishop Flores Tuition Drive has become an annual program for the chapter. The first drive-in 2015 raised over $140,000 including a pledge from Terri Caster, president of A1 Storage, to match funds collected through Dec 1st up to $100,000.
The sister project of the Tuition Fund was the 2015 First Annual Catholic Education Banquet and Gala. This event honored the hard work and dedication of the many teachers, staff, and volunteers in the Catholic Schools of the San Diego Diocese. In addition, it became a fund-raising event to help support the Bishop Flores Scholars Program. In 2016 the Fund Raising was removed from the banquet and made a separate project.
In 2016 the chapter increased to 73 councils and 11 assemblies with over 8000 members. The San Diego Diocese Chapter continues to work hard through their charitable events each year. This was evident when the Mar Toma Council raised over $650,000 in the fall of 2014 in a period of two weeks to support the Christians in Iraq and Syria who were being persecuted. Their effort of human service to others in need brought them the International Award for the most outstanding community project in the entire Order of the Knights of Columbus worldwide. They were honored by being presented this award along with the Chaldean Archbishop of Iraq at the 2015 International Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Presidents serving the San Diego Chapter: |
| 2024 – 2025 | Jose De La Garza |
| 2023 – 2024 | Gary Hayes |
| 2022 – 2023 | Luigi Zoni |
| 2021 – 2022 | Michael Bordwell |
| 2020 – 2021 | Tom Davis |
| 2019 – 2020 | Armando Mena |
| 2018 – 2019 | J. Anthony Villaman |
| 2017 – 2018 | J. “Jesse” Ramirez |
| 2016 – 2017 | Kenneth Morris |
| 2015 – 2016 | Rene Trevino |
| 2014 – 2015 | John D. Bertrand |
| 2013 – 2014 | Hugh Largey |
| 2012 – 2013 | Joe Valdez |
| 2011 – 2012 | Ernesto Edraisa † |
| 2010 – 2011 | Kamal Alsawaf |
| 2009 – 2010 | Michael Brault |
| 2008 – 2009 | Frank Durazo † |
| 2007 – 2008 | Jack O’Rourke |
| 2006 – 2007 | John Giltner |
| 2005 – 2006 | Frank Contreras † |
| 2004 – 2005 | Abe Doliente |
| 2003 – 2004 | Larry Campitiello |
| 2002 – 2003 | John Spafford |
| 2001 – 2002 | Joe Proctor |
| 2000 – 2001 | Joseph La Combe † |
| 1999 – 2000 | Bernard Gardner † |
| 1998 – 99 | Rey A. Fernandez |
| 1997 – 98 | Robert Brennan † |
| 1996 – 97 | Robert J. Villalobos |
| 1995 – 96 | Harley W. Harris † |
| 1994 – 95 | Joseph P. Schultz † |
| 1992 – 94 | Leonard J. Brezezinski † |
| 1991 – 92 | Mike B. Lopez |
| 1990 – 91 | John G. Moore |
| 1989 – 90 | Michael G. Moran, Jr. † |
| 1988 – 89 | Lawrence J. Powell † |
| 1987 – 88 | Albert G. Porritt † |
| 1985 – 87 | John B. Tuscano † |
| 1984 – 85 | Edward J. Panek † |
| 1983 – 84 | Albert H. Koenig † |
| 1981 – 83 | Douglas E. Tomlin † |
| 1980 – 81 | Ira Beaver † |
| 1979 – 80 | Carlos Martinez † |
| 1978 – 79 | James E. Sheil † |
| 1976 – 78 | Robert Dover † |
| 1975 – 76 | Theodore Gurbacki † |
| 1974 – 75 . | Michael G. Moran Sr † |
| 1973 – 74 | Jose Alire † |
| 1972 – 73 | Paul McGrath † Clarence Kueter † |
| 1971 – 72 | Richard G. Josserand † |
| 1970 – 71 | Mitchel Gos † |
| 1969 – 70 | William F. Smith † Dennis Parra † |
| 1968 – 69 | Gustave Kirchoff † |
| 1967 – 68 | Conrad M. Nagengast † |
| 1966 – 67 | George A. Tasch † |
| 1965 – 66 | Kenneth E. Battin † |
| 1964 – 65 | Edward J. Greaney † |
| 1963 – 64 | Frank E. O’Connor † |
| 1962 – 63 | Alfred Ohlinger † |
| 1961 – 62 | Cecil E. Sparling † |
| 1960 – 61 | Lambert J. Ninteman † |
| 1959 – 60 | Albin J. Seifert † |
| 1957 – 59 | Thomas F. Usher † |
| 1956 – 57 | Dr Charles F. Kennedy † |
| 1955 – 56 | Ralph Mazela † |