Verhovayak Lapja, 1949 (32. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1949 / Verhovay Journal
October 19, 1949 Verhovay Journal PAGE 5 MAYOR OF CLEVELAND SALUTES JOS. SZALAY AT BR. 14 BANQUET — Service Award Presented To Illustrious Verhovayan By National President John Bencze. — A man who has served an organisation for 35 years with untiring devotion and unswerving integrity, surely deserves recognition. Much more so a man who has served neither for monetary gain, nor for personal advancement, but unselfishly, gratuitously, motivated only hy obedience to the unwritten moral law that ability obliges to service. Joseph Szalay has thus served Branch 14 for 35 years. During this period he has held various offices and in each one of them he has proved himself a capable man. In whatever capacity he was elected to serve, the advancement of the Association in the fulfillment of its humanitarian aims was his sole concern. During the 35 years of his service Joseph Szalay encountered much conflict, but he never resorted to means other than the weapons of peace and goodwill. He never believed that one can build — by destroying. He never approved of obstructionism as a means to progress. Where others criticized — he worked. Where others fought, he made peace. Where others despaired, he was confident. And that he was right, has been proved by the history of the progress of the Association and of his branch. The membership of the Association did not fail to recognize his abilities. As a delegate to the National Convention he was elected to the Board of Directors. He served for 16 years as a member of the Board, and during the second half of this period he was Vice-President of the Association. The growth of his popularity in NATIONAL OFFICERS HONORED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT BANQUET IN SPRINGDALE (Continued from page 4) thanks of all present to the officers and members of Branch 296, for their splendid hospitality and kindness. He pointed out that the Board of Directors wished to pay tribute on this occasion to three loyal workers of the Association: National President John Bencze, who has completed 20 years of service as a National Officer, Coloman Revesz, who has served 17 years as a National Officer, and Mrs. Anna Green, secretary to the President, who has completed 15 years of service as a Home Office employee. THEY SERVED VERHOVAY FOR A TOTAL OF 52 YEARS A review of the service record of these three honored Verhovayans was given by National Treasurer John Szalanczy in Hungarian and by National Auditor John Sabo in English. Pointing out that they had served the Association with utmost loyalty and devotion for an aggregate total of fifty-two years, the speakers included in their tribute Mrs. Bencze and Mrs. Revesz who, with truly admirable understanding for their husbands’ responsibilities, have so patiently resigned themselves to those strenuous working schedules that rarely allow our National Officers to enjoy a few hours of relaxation with their families. With expressions of unreserved confidence, appreciation and good wishes followed Mr. E. T. Knodel, actuary, directors Coloman Kolozsvary, Stephen Nyers, Joseph Turner, Stephen Lang, Aloysius C. Falussy, Joseph S. Taylor, John A. Hornyak, chief Medical Advisor Samuel Gomory, M.D., director Mike Korosy, Legal Counsel Stephen 'Matassy, Assistant Secretary Leopold Hirsch, editor Henry Rettmann, editor-publisher Andrew Fay Fischer, and Stephen Üveges, President of Branch 296. INTRODUCTIONS After paying tribute to the National Officers, Manager Elmer Charles introduced the officers of Branch 296 and the trustees of the Verhovay Home. National Auditor John Sabo introduced each and every Home Office employee and District Manager and Mrs. John Fulop. Finally the Master of Ceremonies introduced Miss Yolanda Bencze, daughter of the National President, Mrs. Knodel, wife of the actuary, and Mrs. Sabo, wife of the National Auditor. PRESENTATION OF AWARDS AND GIFTS The presentation of the diploma of the Degree of Illustrious Member, with the gold service medal, to National President John Bencze was made by director Louis Vizi, and to National Secretary Coloman Revesz by director Henry Gross. The $100 gift of the Board of Directors to Mrs. Anna Green was presented by director Richard Phillips. Mrs. Green gave a nice little speech thanking the officers and directors for the gift and their good wishes. Miss Gizella Stefurovszky, second oldest employee (in years of service, rot age) of the Home Office presented the gift of the office force to the National President. She was followed by Miss Mary Köteles, the oldest em plyoee (in years of service, not age) who presented the gift of tie office force to the National Secretary. The Board of Directors had a gift for each of the two officers honored, too. It, was presented to them by Vice-President Julius Macker, Chairman of the Board, who also thanked the members and officers of Springdale Branch 296 for their gracious hospitality, on behalf of the Board of Directors. Mr. Revesz expressed his deep appreciation of the honor bestowed upon him by the Board of Directors. He sadly remembered the late Vice-President and Chairman Albert B. Ari who, according to the original plans, should have been the third officer to receive the service award on this occasion. He was further saddened by the absence of Mrs. Revesz who was prevented from the public life of Cleveland followed a similar pattern. As a representative member of the large Hungarian population of the city he did much to win recognition for his people. As a successful businessman and Deputy Sheriff he is one of the best knowfi personalities in Cleveland. The members of Branch 14 have every reason to be proud of Joseph Szalay and his accomplishments. They have discharged a debt of old standing when giving a testimonial dinner for Mr. Szalay in observance of his 35th service anniversary at which occasion he was to be presented the Degree of Illustrious Member bestowed upon him by the Board of Directors in recognition of his meritorious services as Vice-president and director of the Association. 300 ATTEND BANQUET A large group of Branch 14 members with numerous delegations of sister branches from near and far assembled for this occasion on Sunday, September 25th. National President John Bencze, Vice-President Andrew Kovács, M.D., directors Coloman Kolozsvary and Joseph Turner represented the Home Office and the Board of Directors. The Hon. Judge Louis Petrash, also a member of Branch 14, the great friend and champion of Cleveland Hungarians, gave an outstanding performance as the Master of Ceremonies. The Verhovay F. I. Association was greatly honored by the presence of the Hon. Thomas A. Burke, Mayor of the City of Cleveland, at the testimonial dinner. His heartwarming tribute to Mr. Szalay, as an outstanding representative of the Hungarian nationality and its largest fraternal organization, the Verhovay, was deeply appreciated by his enthusiastic audience. The members of the VerhoVay responded with a tremendous ovation when he declared that he had wanted for a long time to join our Association. (National President John Bencze immediately invited the Mayor to become a member of the Verhovay without further delay, because Vice-President Dr. Kovács being present he could pass the medical examination on the spot . . . Two days later the application was signed and the Hon. Mayor Thomas A. Burke, together with his Secretary, the Hon. Senator Emil A. Bartunek now are members of Branch 14.) John Bozsvay welcomed the audience and Miss Ilona Majoros sang the American National Anthem. Barna Szarvas followed with the Hungarian National Anthem. Grace was offered by Judge Petrash, the master of ceremonies. The dinner was a fine tribute of the Branch 14 ladies to their beloved branch-president. SPEECHES AND INTRODUCTIONS Congratulations and best wishes to the Honored Member were extended by Sigmund Kadar, Vice- President of Branch 14, Andrew Kovács, M.D., Vice-President of the Verhovay, Joseph Drotos, President of Branch 45, Nicholas Beregszászi, President of Branch 17, Lorain, O., I Emery Olexo, Sr., an old friend of the Szalay family, Bela Takacs, ; President of Branch 91, Akron, O., : Joseph Muzslay from the editorial1 I staff of the Szabadság daily, and Mrs. Sigmund Kadar, vice-chairman of the Banquet-Committee, who delivered the closing address. A congratulatory letter by the Rev. Andor Leffler, Ph.D., was read and then District Manager Joseph M. Toth introduced the delegation of Lorain Branch 17, consisting of President' Beregszászi, District Manager Joseph Petrick, Joseph Dovak, Michael Kertesz, George Jávor, the former Manager; from Branch 189, Alliance, O., Louis Murányi, and Emery Sera; from Branch 20, Fairport Harbor, 0., Steve Szuch, Jr., Manager; from Branch 489, Mantua, O., John Kerner, Manager; from Branch 8, Johnstown, Pa., Sigmund Molnár and Frank Nagy; from Younstown, O., director and Mrs. Joseph Turner, John Koscso, President of Br. 108, and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Juhasz, Mr. and Mrs. John Molnár; and Mrs. Palinlra.s, Manager of Br. 54, who attended with seven members of her branch. The Master of Ceremonies introduced Frank J. Pokorny, supervisor of the State Liquor Stores, director of the Hungarian radio program, Mr. and Mrs. Tibor Lengyel from Canton, O., Mrs. Coloman Kolozsvary, Jack P. Russel, City Councilman from Ward 16, Mary K. Sotak, City Councilwoman from Ward 29, Andrew Balazsik, Supreme Secretary of the Hungarian Catholic Association, Joseph Stearns, Police Prosecutor, Charles Kautzky of the Banquet Committee, Frank Szappanos, vocalist, radio director, and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Gustave v Bessenyey, Des. Varga from Garretsville, O., and Stephen Boros florist. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM The finest moments of the program were: when director Kolozsvary presented the gift of Branch 14, a beautiful gold wrist watch to Mr. Szalay . . . when. National President John Bencze presented the Diploma of the Degree of Illustrious Member with the Gold Medal to his old friend and fellow-worker to whom he conveyed the congratulations and best wishes of the Verhovay membership in deeply moving terms . . . when Mrs. Alexander Csikós pre(Continued on page 7) attending this affair by the sudden illness of their little daughter. Even so, he assured the Board of Directors, this evening will always remain one of his fondest memories. Mr. Bencze spoke of the hard struggle of the last twenty years. He pointed out that the Association, now more than 60,000 members strong, had only 18,000 members when he assumed office. However, he did not claim credit for the splendid progress of the Verhovay. Whatever was accomplished, he stated, had been brought about by the splendid teamwork of the National Officers and Board of Directors and, last but not least, by the enthusiastic labors of our field force. To be sure, he allowed, they were not always of one mind, but their differences were never of a personal nature. Each and every officer and director of the Association followed at all times the dictates of his own conscience in determining what policies would serve most effectively the advancement of the Association and the welfare of its membership. Whatever differences they may have had in regards to methods, they always have been one in purpose and that was the key to the harmonious understanding that kept the Verhovay on the road of continuous progress. The applause following the National President’s address marked the conclusion of the ceremonies. The rest of the evening, until shortly before midnight was devoted to dancing and fellowship. Perhaps the dance would have lasted until the “wee hours” of the morning, if the bus driver, twice persuaded by the branch officers to postpone the time of departure, had not finally insisted on making the last call. Even so, the good people of Springdale possibly would have dismantled the bus, had each and every one of the guests not promised them soon to return for another visit in the Springdale Verhovay Home. A promise that will be gladly kept , . .
