Luke Edward Hart GCSG (July 31, 1880 – February 19, 1964) was the tenth Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, serving from September 1, 1953, until his death on February 19, 1964.
Luke Hart | |
|---|---|
| 10th Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus | |
 President John F. Kennedy and Luke E. Hart in 1961 | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Installed | September 1, 1953 |
| Term ended | February 19, 1964 |
| Predecessor | John E. Swift |
| Successor | John W. McDevitt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Luke Edward Hart July 31, 1880 |
| Died | February 19, 1964 (aged 83) New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Spouse | Catherine J. Hart (née O'Connor) |
| Children | 6 |
| Alma mater | |
Personal life
editHart was born in 1880 in Maloy, Iowa. He set up his office in St. Louis where he practiced law and later was an alderman.[1] He received an undergraduate degree from Drake University and a law degree from the University of Missouri.[1] In 1905, he married Catherine J. O'Connor, who predeceased him; they had six children, two of whom predeceased him.[1] From 1934-38, he was the president and general counsel of the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company.[2]
Career
editNational leader
editHart was a delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri in 1940. During World War I, he was a member of the executive committee of the United War Work campaign. He helped to found the United Service Organizations and the Boys Club of St. Louis.[1] Hart was also a member of the board of the St. Louis Catholic Orphan Board.[1]
Knights of Columbus
editHart was elected Supreme Advocate of the Knights of Columbus in 1922 and was Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus from 1954-63. He was awarded the Star of Morocco in 1920 after leading a delegation of Knights who presented a statue of Lafayette to the French people.[1] He was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great in 1927, and a knight commander in 1939.[1] He was awarded entry into the Order of St. Raymond of Peñafort in Spain and made a Secret Chamberlain of Cape and Sword in 1951.[1]
He attended the coronation of Pope John XXIII.[1] In 1951, Hart was elected president of the National Fraternal Congress. By the end of the 1950s Supreme Knight Hart was actively encouraging councils to accept black candidates.[2] It was during Hart's tenure in 1954 that the Knights petitioned to get "under God" inserted into the Pledge of Allegiance.[1]
Death
editHart died on February 19, 1964, at St. Raphael's Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut.[1] He is buried in the crypt of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.