William Penn Life, 1986 (21. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1986-03-01 / 2. szám
Reverend Daniel Borsay, Pastor United Church of Christ, Springdale, Pa. Giving the Invocation. National President Gay B. Banes makes a special welcome to Mayor Richard Caligiuri. Looking on is retired Vice-President of the former Catholic Knights of St. George, Peter Kuhn. William Penn Celebrates 100 Years By Barbara B. Be The William Penn Association celebrated its 100 year history on Founders Day, Friday, February 21 at the Home Office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The day’s festivities began with ceremonies commemorating the winter day in 1886 that thirteen Hungarian coal miners founded the Verhovay Aid Association in Hazleton, Pennsylvania which through the years and by various mergers with other fraternals became the William Penn Association in 1972. The goal of the founders was to extend a helping hand to each other and to the many Hungarian immigrants who worked and suffered in the mines and industrial centers of America at a period in history when insurance of any sort was still in the faraway future. With no sick benefits, no unemployment compensation, and no death benefits for their families, they had no other recourse but to turn to each other for help. Thus, the fraternal benefit system was born in America. Newly elected National President Gay B. Banes welcomed the 150 plus persons who attended the day’s events and gave a brief history of the Association. Richard S. Caliguiri, Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, spoke glowingly of the William Penn as pioneers in the field of the fraternal benefit system. The Mayor has a special affinity for our Society as his grandmother was a Hungarian immigrant born in Budapest. Mr. Caliguiri also prompted laughter from the crowd of guests, commenting that with the 73 million dollars in assets the Association has today, he wondered if the Society might be interested in purchasing the Three Rivers Stadium which the City of Pittsburgh has been trying to sell for a long time. Stephen G. Danko, Chairman of the William Penn Board of Directors, also spoke citing the foresighted leadership of the past 100 years which has moved the Society forward in growth in the number of members, progressive competitive marketing of insurance, and the perpetuation of Hungarian culture and ideals. He added that the present leadership including the National Officers, the Board of Directors and Advisory Board is strong and will plan the future for the best interests of the Association so that our descendants can proudly celebrate our 200th anniversary. fS Other participants in Founders Day ceremon were: Rev. Daniel Bors Pastor of the United Church Christ in Springdale, PA, v gave the morning’s invocati and National Vice Preside Albert J. Stelkovics e Stephen M. Lang, who rai: William Bodoky leads the Some of the enthusiastic crowd. Guests gathered in the Lobby of the Home Office for the program, group in singing the Hungarian Himnusz. ASSOCIATION CENTENNitt. Father Kieran Rodgers, O.S.B., Pastor of St. Boniface Church in Pittsburgh gave the benediction. Executive Vice President John Kenawell and National Director William Kohut presenting a 100th Anniversary Pen and Pencil Set to Mayor Richard Caliguiri. L. to R. Albert G. Kertesz, Mayi Stelkovics, Frank Radvany. 10
