The history of the Knights of Columbus in Union City begins with the year 1928, when four Union City men (Paul Wiley, Sr., Paul Wiley, Jr., James Wiley and Ewan Wiley) joined Council 1101 at Jackson, Tennessee. From 1928 until the time a Council was organized in Union City in 1954, the following from the Union City area were also active in Knights of Columbus affairs at Jackson: Ed Parks, Jack Drerup, A.L. Drerup, Jr., Damon Sergerson, and the following from the Hickman, Kentucky area: Charles A. Lattus, Tom Lattus, Jake Lattus, J.C. Lattus, J.J. Lattus, Charles E. Lattus, Hugh Lattus and J.H. Lattus.

From this nucleus was formed the Council at Union City.

Another great contributor to the formation of the Council at Union City was Father Charles C. O'Donnell, cherished pastor of Immaculate Coneption Parish. With his tireless efforts, and the help of John Flynn, the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus granted a charter to Rev. E.F. Callahan Council 3837 on July 7th, 1954. Paul J. Wiley served as first Grand Knight from 1954 to 1956.

The first initiation was held in Hickman, Ky in the warehouse-turned-Council Hall , courtesy of C.A. Lattus. Starting in 1957, the Knights used the Activities Building at Immaculate Conception Church in Union City, TN for their meetings and degrees.

Membership and activities, at this point in time, were centered mainly in the Union City, TN - Hickman, KY - Fulton, KY triangle (Fulton and Hickman are both, approximately, 10 miles from Union City.) The Council area was extended to Fulton, KY in 1956, and to Dyersburg, TN in 1974.

From the conception of the Council, the 6-point program of Columbianism has been a principal point of endeavor, and much of the activity generated at monthly meetings originated in this program.

in its early days, activities included bingo, a turkey shoot, picnics for the school children of the three parocial schools in the area, and an annual New Year's Eve dance.

In 1958 the council sponsored a series of thirteen Knights of Columbus ads in a Fulton paper. In 1960 the Council sponsored another series ads in five area newspapers that called attention to the infamous "bogus oath" which was being circulated in the area then.

Activities thru 1975 that the Council sponsored included the "Keep the Christ in Christmas" program, Night of Adoration, Poster Contest for Religious Vocations, Annual November Memorial Services, the Easter Egg Hunt, the Harvest Ball, the St. Jude Dance, a bowling team, and a leadership program for the Catholic Youth Organization.

During this period, the highest that Council 3837 received was the winning of the 1974-1975 Supreme Council National Church Activity Award. This award was presented by Supreme Knight John W. McDevitt to Grand Knight Douglas Martinek, Council Chaplain Father Paul St. Charles, and State Deputy Bill Fenwick at the Knights of Columbus National Convention held in Miami in August of 1975.

At this same time, the activity "What do Catholics Believe?" was presented to the Council area on WENK radio, and through open invitation to dialogue to the community-at-large, over a nine month period. It was an attempt to educate the public about Catholic beliefs and to create an atmosphere of goodwill throughout the community. In 1975, the Council received the Knights of Columbus State Award for the most outstanding Church Activity out of all of the councils in Tennessee. At the same time, the Council won first place in Tennessee for Best Small council for its overall program.

Other national awards include: "Contest of Champions Award" (1974-1975, for highest number of new members (20) in each Council jurisdiction), "Star Council Award" (1974-1975, which requires fulfilling the requirements for the "Columbian Award" (for outstanding programs), and the "Founder's Award" (for successful membership and insurance activities.)

Notable individual achievements during this period were: "Tennessee State Knight of the Year" - (1966-1967) to Past Grand Knight Lester Mangold, "Tennessee State Knight of the Year" - (1974-1975) to Grand Knight Douglas F. Martinek, William Fenwick was elected as Tennessee State Deputy for 1975-1976, Fr. Paul St. Charles (Council Chaplain) was appointed as Tennessee State Chaplain, James Martell was appointed as Tennessee State Program Director, and Ben Davis was appointed as Tennessee State Publicity Director, all in the 1975-1976 period.

To be continued...