Golden Knights

Article written by Dan Poirier

Recently I visited Bill Martinell and Jack Maier. Between the two of them that have over 108 years of Service to the Knights of Columbus. I learned that both men had similarities in their lives. Both were Navy Men in their Twenty’s and both joined the Knights for the companionship and socialization. This was very common for the times, the mid 1940’s and early 1950’s. The Knights of Columbus offered young men a place to bring or meet a young lady for a night’s dancing to the sounds of live bands.

Bill a graduate of Georgia Tech, joined the Newman Center during his time on campus, now called the Catholic Center of Georgia Tech. He became a Knight after a group of Knights attended a function at the Newman Center. Bill’s roots are from a small town in Illinois called Savanna, know as a sportsman paradise. Savanna is located, in Carroll County Illinois along the Mississippi River at the mouth of the Plum River. Savanna is just 150 miles straight west of Chicago, Illinois. A few years after the start of WWII Bill joined the Navy and spent time at the Great Lakes Training Center, before moving on to Navy Bases in Memphis, Tennessee, Atlanta, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida.  After being discharged from the Navy he had one course left to graduate from Georgia Tech and went back to complete and graduate. Bill had a successful career and many moves before coming back to live and retire in Georgia.

Bill Martinell

John (Jack) Maier

Jack joined the Knights right out of High School and enjoyed the many years of being in the Knights. He also was a Navy Man during WWII and spent most of his time stationed in New York City and the Baltimore Area. A funny side to this, Jack could not be stationed on a ship due to Sea sickness. Jack remembers fondly the time he and his wife spent dancing the night away at the Council Banquet room in Baltimore. He commented this was a place for a young married couple to meet with friends and socialize with the local Catholic Community. After the War, Jack had a successful career in government and retired after many years of service.

Both men were dedicated to helping others and serving God.

I’m sure that both Bill and Jack would appreciate a visit from a fellow Knight, if you’re in their neighborhood.

Both are homebound, and have many great stories to tell of their adventures in the Knights of Columbus.