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The Years of
Dominance
By the late 1960s, Msgr. Cramers Assembly had developed an esprit de
corps and a leadership program that would make it the dominant assembly of
Bienville Province for almost two decades.
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1968-69.
When TRUMAN STACEY was elected Faithful Navigator of
the 1968-69 term, his predecessors provided him with an assembly
membership of 222 domiciled in 12 councils, and well-supplied with quality
leadership.
Stacey's team consisted of an elite
corps of officers, committee chairmen and liaison officers that included
seven future Faithful Navigators, and which for ability, experience and
enthusiasm, had few equals in the assembly's 24-year history.
This elite group furnished much of the
leadership that enabled the assembly to win the Master*s Award for the
next eight consecutive years
After a two-year break, the assembly
continued its dominance, winning the Master's Award for an additional five
straight years.
During Stacey's administration, 36 new members were brought into the
assembly. For the first time, assembly officers were installed in church,
following special permission granted by Bishop Maurice Schexnayder. Master
Ben Kiper carried out the installation, and special guests were V/S Master
Edward A. Winter, Former Masters Emile A. Reggie Sr., William Sonnier and
Regional Deputy Leroy Langlois. After the installation, a banquet was
served to 150 Sir Knights and guests.
The assembly marked the celebration of Independence Day by purchasing a
full page in the American Press
for a full*color reproduction of the Declaration of Independence ara cost
of $601.50. The assembly held four quarterly Communions dedicated to the
Supreme Chaplain, Bishop Charles P. Greco, President Richard Nixon, Bishop
Maurice Schexnayder and Father James J. Shahrigian. An appreciative
response was received from each.
The assembly sponsored a Memorial Day Mass in honor ofSouthwest
Louisiana's war dead from the Spanish American war, World Wars I and II,
Korea and Viet Nam. A list of the names of the deceased soldiers was
placed on the altar at the Mass.
The assembly sponsored a free concert by the U.S. Army Field Band,
distributed 125 Holy Medals to those in attendance at the Lake Charles
Deanery Retreat for the Aged, and sponsored a Brotherhood Dinner with the
Lake Charles Human Relations Council, joining forces with the Knights of
Peter Claver for the first time in such an endeavor.
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March 2008
JENNINGS — Truman Stacey, former editor of the American
Press, was presented the National Society Daughters of the American
Revolution Medal of Honor on Wednesday at the Southwest Louisiana War
Veterans Home.
Virginia Turner of Lake Charles,
regent of the Louisiana Bayou Chapter of the NSDAR, said the medal
recognizes an American born citizen who
exemplifies extraordinary qualities of leadership, trustworthiness, service
and patriotism proved by his or her outstanding contributions to country,
state, community and fellow man.
The Louisiana Chapter of the NSDAR nominated Stacey for the honor, Turner
said.
Myra Whitlow, a former regent of the Louisiana Bayou Chapter, said Stacey
honorably served in World War II with the Army. He was discharged in 1943
with the rank of sergeant and received the Good Conduct Medal, American
Defense Medal and World War II Victory Medal.
She outlined his career as a journalist — he worked as a reporter
(1937-1950), sports editor (1950-1960) and editor-in-chief (1961-1982).
“The American Press won numerous awards under his editorial direction,”
Whitlow said.
From 1982-1990, Stacey served as director of
communications for the Diocese of Lake Charles and he authored two books,
“Louisiana’s French Heritage” and “The Church Visible,” as well as articles
and monographs for historical journals and periodicals from 1967 to the
present.
Among his awards are 1971 Lake Charles Chamber of Commerce Man of the
Year; 1975 Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and
Jews; Silver Beaver Award; James E. West Fellow; Whitney M. Young Service
Award from the Boy Scouts of America; and Saint George Emblem from the
National Catholic Committee on Scouting.
He was awarded the George Washington Medal of
Honor by the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge and the Faith and Freedom
Award in Journalism by Religious Heritage of America.
Stacey is the first vice commander of W.B. Williamson Post 1 of the
American Legion and serves on the Lake Charles
Mayor’s Armed Forces Committee.
He has been honored for his service with the Knights of Columbus and was
cited with the Harry Huber Memorial Award as the outstanding Knight of
Columbus in greater Lake Charles.
Stacey became a Knight Commander of the Fleur de Lis and a Knight of St.
Gregory in 1979. He received the Gold Palm of Jerusalem
Award, Silver Cross of Merit Military and Hospitaller, Order of St. Lazarus
of Jerusalem.
In 1987, he was honored by the USA Council of Serra International with
the St. Andrew Award for promoting religious vocations in the Catholic
Church in the U.S.
Since 1987, he has served the Knights of Peter Claver. His other
interests include the Louisiana Council for Music and
Performing Arts, Lake Charles Civic Symphony, American Red Cross, Calcasieu
Citizens of Decency, and Family Service Agency.
Among those who recommended him for the NSDAR Medal of Honor were Mayor
Randy Roach, former state Rep. Jimmy Martin and Lake Charles Bishop Glen
John Provost. |
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