Our continuing series profiling our Sir Knights continues. To see previous artilces, click on the "read more" link.
SK Mike McCauley
Mike, exemplified in June as a Sir Knight, is originally from the Midwest, born in Michigan, and grew up in Ohio. He graduated from the University of Akron (BSIE) and Florida State(MBA Logistics). He has been married for 24 years to his wonderful bride, Cheryl, who is a nurse. They have three children, Nicole(21), Michael(19) and Kirsten(9).
He is currently the Regional VP Merchandising (Phoenix Region) for CarMax (the largest retailer of vehicles in the USA). Prior to CarMax he worked for Darden/General Mills Restaurants as a Seafood Buyer sourcing over 30 million pounds of seafood annually from SE Asia, South America and Alaska(aka 'The Deadliest Catch') and for Lockheed Martin as a Logistics Supervisor avoiding SCUD missiles in Kuwait during the first Gulf War. I look forward to opportunity to share my experiences in the shrimp farms of Thailand, negotiating lobster pricing in the jungle of Brazil, reconditioning F16's in the desert of U.A.E. and finally how to know if you are getting a 'deal' buying/selling your next vehicle.
He joined St Patrick's in 2008 (after relocating to Phoenix), became a Knight in 2010 and a Sir Knight in June. His favorite colors: Red, White and Blue. No wonder he became a Fourth Degree Knight! His hobbies...Pop Warner Cheerleading (by 9 yr old association!), travel (have visited 5 continents), and working for Habitat for Humanity. One of the highlights since joining the St Patrick's Council has been the Pancake Breakfasts I have been a part of...my wife claims I have spent more time in the kitchen with the Knights, than I have with her over the past 24
years!!
For the good of the order, please pray for Cheryl's mother who is critically ill.
SK Jack Crosson
Jack Crosson is an interesting guy. He served on the Philadelphia Police Department for over 31 years while completing a career in the Army, serving in both the active Army as well as the Reserve. Jack has been a Knight of Columbus for over 30 years, a Grand Knight and a Faithful Navigator. Jack also was a mummer. Huh, what’s that? If you’re from Philadelphia no doubt you know what these are.
“To define them simply, Mummers are costumed entertainers welcoming in the New Year. Some of the earliest mummers date back to early Egypt, pagan Rome and Greece, England, Germany, and France. Historically, Mummery has influenced customs and perpetuated many interesting traditions. Every nation had its festivals at one time or another, each marked by parades and displays of fanciful costumes. All of these cultures passed along their traditions from generation to generation, and eventually these traditions were brought to America by immigrants.
The Philadelphia Tradition
The tradition of Philadelphia Mummery started in the late 17th century as a continuation of the Old World customs of ushering in the New Year. Mummery in America is as unique to Philadelphia as Mardi Gras is to New Orleans. For example, the Swedes were Philadelphia's first settlers. When they came to Tinicum, just outside of Philadelphia, they brought their custom of visiting friends on "Second Day Christmas", December 26. Later they extended their period of celebration to include New Year's Day, and welcomed the New Year with masquerades and parades of noisy revelers. Most people carried firearms for protection in those early days of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and it did not take long before pistols and muskets joined with bells and noisemakers to create the sound of a New Year. Those who "shot in" the New Year became New Year's Shooters, and thus the name much later evolved to officially become the New Year's Shooters and Mummers Association. Groups would travel from house to house, sing songs, and perform dances -- all to be rewarded with food and drink.
By the 1870's, what had been an uncoordinated group of neighborhood celebrations turned into an area-wide parade with two main groups of participants: Fancy Dress and Comic clubs. The City of Philadelphia finally sponsored and organized the first official Mummers Parade on January 1, 1901.
Philadelphia Mummers of Today
The Philadelphia Mummers of today total over 10,000 marchers. The parade is still held on New Year's Day, with four distinct divisions: Comic, Fancy, Fancy Brigade and String Band. Comic division clubs lampoon modern day local and national political and social themes. The Fancy division clubs wear large, ornate costumes, carrying back pieces and performing with floats and props. The Fancy Brigade division clubs also wear large, ornate costumes, and perform intricate dances and drills with elaborate props.
The String Band division clubs not only wear elaborate costumes like the Fancy and Fancy Brigade divisions, but also drill and perform playing musical instruments. One of the first String Band clubs was Trilby, who first paraded in 1902 and is still in existence today. Parade rules do not permit the use of brass instruments in a String Band; the instrumentation is exclusively saxophones, banjos, accordions, violins, bass violins, and percussion instruments. Mummers String Bands are known, not only for the unique sound, but also for their elaborate costumes. Brilliant materials, glitter, sequins and feathers are all combined to make the showy costumes. Traditionally, band members, wives and friends made the costumes. Today, professional designers and costumers are utilized. In Philadelphia, the cost of costuming an average 64-piece band is between $30,000 and $80,000, with the captain's costume costing as high as $10,000. There are eighteen String Band organizations in existence today. Every year, each String Band selects an annual theme, and debuts their new music and costumes in the Philadelphia New Year's Day parade. The marching leader of the band or Captain makes their elaborate debut doing the "2 Street Strut" (Quoted from Philly Mummers.com).”
Jack was in one of the most famous, talented, and awarded groups, the Polish American String Band, winner of 11 First prizes and 14 second prizes.
Check out their web site www.polishamericanstringband.com. You will enjoy what you learn. Be sure to see the video 2008 Mummer’s Parade Philadelphia City Hall “Ghouls Gone Wild.” Find it under Multimedia on the Tool Bar. No wonder this group wins so many prizes!