1. Joe Delatte

Joe Delatte, our charter Grand Knight for the 1983/84 fraternal years, undertook the difficult task of starting and forming a new Council from its beginning and turning it over to future Grand Knights as a vibrant active Council. Joe still has feelings for his time in Holy Spirit parish and Council #8157. They are shown by the effort he and Vee make to join us as least once a year and help out at our annual Knight of the Year banquet. Joe joined the Knights of Columbus in 1958 at Gentily Council #1925 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Joe moved to Texas and joined Holy Spirit parish in 1974. He said his proudest moment as Grand Knight was “receiving the confidence of the membership on his ability to lead the new council in its infancy”. He says his greatest accomplishment in that first year as Grand Knight was “watching the council grow in membership, community service and service to God and the church”.

Joe grew up on a farm in South Louisiana near Baton Rouge and graduated from high school in Livonia, Louisiana in 1948. He joined the Marine Corp during the Korean conflict and was discharged in 1956. After his term defending our country, be attended college at L.S.U. After college be worked for U.S Steel Corporation as a sales representative and retired from there 34 years later in 1989. Joe’s courtship and marriage reads like a storybook. He met his wife, Vee, in 1940 – they were neighbors. Seventeen years later, in 1957, they were married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in New Orleans. They will be celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary this year. Joe was an active Knight after his reign as Grand Knight and earned the honor of first Knight of the Year of Council #8157 in 1987. Joe is still an active member in his new Council #13133 in Forney, Texas as Grand Knight, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Trustee, Guard and Recorder. Joe is a very committed person as indicated by 55 years of marriage, 54 years of active Knighthood, and 34 years with U.S. Steel Corporation. Joe and Vee have three sons (Joseph R Jr., Michael D. and Brent S. Delatte) and 5 grandchildren.