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Paynesville Press - September 12, 2001

58-year member recognized by Knights of Columbus

By Linda Stelling

Leonard Horn On Sunday, Leonard Horn was honored at a banquet by the Knights of Columbus at St. Louis Catholic Church for his half century of service to the organization.

Horn, 86, has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for 58 years. For 47 years, he has served as the financial secretary for the local council.

Horn joined the Knights of Columbus in 1943 when he lived in St. Cloud. He also served two years as financial secretary in St. Cloud for a total of 49 years in that position.

"When I joined, I wanted to find out what they were," Horn said. "I liked everything about them."

After moving to Paynesville, Horn and Father Joseph Varley started a council here with 50 members. Horn then transferred his membership to Paynesville in 1954. Of the charter members, only seven are still living.

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal organization that does charity work in the area.

The financial secretary is responsible for collecting dues from the Knights of Columbus' 400 members and paying bills. The local council has its headquarters in Paynesville. Members come from Belgrade, Eden Valley, Lake Henry, Paynesville, Regal, Richmond, St. Martin, and Spring Hill.

Horn has also been Faithful Navigator of Fourth Degree of Queen Peace Assembly out of Sauk Centre.

A native of Lake Henry, Horn was a mechanic in Paynesville and worked for all the dealerships in town at one time or another. "I wanted to learn how to repair all makes of cars, not just one brand," he said.

Horn and his wife, Louise, have been married 22 years. He has six children from his first marriage, four stepchildren, 24 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.



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