Virgil C. Dechant

Virgil Dechant
Virgil Dechant; GCPO GCSG KHS
	12th Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus
Church	Catholic Church
Installed	January 21, 1977
Term ended	September 30, 2000
Predecessor	John W. McDevitt
Successor	Carl A. Anderson
Personal details
Born	September 24, 1930; Antonino, Kansas
Died	February 15, 2020 (aged 89); Leawood, Kansas
Nationality	American
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Spouse	Ann L. Dechant
Children	4

Virgil C. Dechant GCPO GCSG KHS (September 24, 1930 – February 15, 2020) was the twelfth Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a position he held from January 21, 1977, to September 30, 2000.[1]

Biography

Dechant was born September 24, 1930, in Antonino, Ellis County, Kansas, and lived in Leawood, Kansas. His ancestors were German-Russians from the Mariental region. He and his wife Ann L. Dechant had four children and 12 grandchildren.

Prior to joining the Knights of Columbus in 1967 in the role of Supreme Secretary, Dechant worked as a farmer and a farm equipment salesperson. He also owned a car dealership.[2]

Dechant served as the vice president of the Vatican Bank, a Gentleman of His Holiness, and a Councillor on the State Council for Vatican City.

He had the honor of escorting President George W. Bush to the funeral of Pope John Paul II.[3]

Dechant stepped down as Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus on September 30, 2000, at the age of seventy after serving the longest term ever by a Supreme Knight. He was succeeded by Carl A. Anderson.[4]

Dechant died on February 15, 2020, at the age of 89.[2]

Distinctions

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Pope Pius IX
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great
Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
National Right to Life award along with Senator Jesse Helms (1998)

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gollark: https://github.com/qntm/fastjson

References

"Knights of Columbus: 125 Years in Review –1970s". Retrieved January 14, 2013.
"Virgil Dechant, long-serving KofC Supreme Knight, dies at 89". Catholic World Report. February 16, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
"Dechant, Virgil C." Center for Volga German Studies. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
Dame, Marketing Communications: Web // University of Notre. "Carl A. Anderson // Under Caesar's Sword // University of Notre Dame". Under Caesar's Sword. Retrieved January 2, 2020.

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[1] "Knights of Columbus: 125 Years in Review –1970s". Retrieved January 14, 2013.

[CWR-2] "Virgil Dechant, long-serving KofC Supreme Knight, dies at 89". Catholic World Report. February 16, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.

[3] "Dechant, Virgil C." Center for Volga German Studies. Retrieved January 1, 2020.

[4] Dame, Marketing Communications: Web // University of Notre. "Carl A. Anderson // Under Caesar's Sword // University of Notre Dame". Under Caesar's Sword. Retrieved January 2, 2020.