The Chris Award was first instituted in 1963. The award was to be given to a Knight who stood out among the others. Attributes to be taken into consideration, modeled after Christopher Columbus, were leadership, dedication, participation and faith. It was obvious from the start that it would be difficult to select one honoree from many members worthy of the honor. Thus three awards were given the first year, two retroactively. The 1961 award went to Past Grand Knight Joseph C. Van Dusen. The 1962 award went to Alexander P. Stevenson. The 1963 award went to Brother Barney Jagosz.

Starting in 1964, one award was given each year with the exception of 1968 when a special Chris Award was given to honor our Worthy Chaplain, Rev. Clement J. Schneider, S.J..

Though awarded annually, this award is not the Knight of the Year Award. The selection is based on several years of distinction. The selection committee consists of all former recipients of the award in good standing at the time of selection of the next recipient.

Past Recipients:
1961 Joseph Van Dusen, PGK -- Deceased
1962 Alexander Stevenson, PGK -- Deceased
1963 Barney Jagosz -- Deceased
1964 William J. Corrin, PGK -- Deceased
1965 Mathew Walsh, PGK -- Deceased
1966 Lee Johnson -- Deceased
1967 Joseph Morris, PGK -- Deceased
1968 Rev. Clement J. Schneider S. J. -- Deceased
1968 Robert Kehoe, PGK -- Deceased
1969 Sylvester Schmolder, PGK -- Deceased
1970 Julius Lazok, PGK -- Deceased
1971 Robert Dalton, PGK -- Deceased
1972 James L. Mader -- Deceased
1973 Marvin Friebel, PGK -- Inactive
1974 Wilmer Parker
1975 Lawrence Schumaker, PGK -- Deceased
1976 Raul Mondragon, PGK -- Inactive
1977 Frances Coffey -- Deceased
1978 Fred Moore, PGK
1979 Fred Dyke -- Deceased
1980 Lyle Brennan
1981 Paul E. Hood, PGK -- Deceased
1082 Ruben Lenoue -- Deceased
1983 Benjamin Valentine -- Inactive
1984 Anthony Ghilardi, PGK -- Deceased
1985 John Deane -- Deceased
1986 William Drenick, PGK -- Deceased
1987 Frank Capone, PGK -- Deceased
1988 James Barry -- Deceased
1989 Thomas Jones, PGK
1990 William Boyle Jr., PGK
1991 Thomas E. Ullman, PGK
1992 John V. Kelly -- Deceased
1993 Ralph R. Hayne, PGK
1994 Charles Pavlich, PGK
1995 Stanley R. Clark, PGK
1996 Gregory Ullman
1997 Pat Rotolo -- Deceased
1998 Robert J. Young, PGK
1999 Ed Brady -- Deceased
2000 James B. Williams, PGK -- Deceased
2001 William M. Thompson, PGK
2002 Vincent A. Migliazzo, PGK
2003 Joseph Vezzetti
2004 Darryl Rouzan, PGK
2005 Michael J. Engler, PGK
2006 Walter J. Walsh, Jr.
2007 Marcel van der Sluys, PGK
2008 Emory D. 'Chip' Mallek
2009 Robert Wright
2010 Michael F. Rachford

Return Home