History of the Order of AHEPA - The Years 1939-45 (includes 272 names)

The following is courtesy of the ORDER OF AHEPA - Taken from the book "The History of the Order of Ahepa (The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) 1922-1972" by George J. Leber, Executive Secretary of the Order of Ahepa.  Published by the Order of Ahepa, Washington, D.C. 1972.

This book is available through the U.S. Inter-library loan program, you can work with your local library to obtain a copy.

CHAPTER SEVEN:  The Years 1939-45

The Sixteenth Supreme Convention was held in Providence, R.I. during the week of August 20-26, 1939.  Convention Officers elected were:

Alexander D. Varkas, Chairman

Daniel Pananicles, Vice Chairman

Peter T. Kourides, Secretary

The new Supreme Lodge elected for the year 1939-40 was:  

V.I. Chebithes, Supreme President (elected for his fifth consecutive term, 1935-39, and previously elected for three terms (1924-1927) for a total of 8 terms as Supreme President of the fraternity)

Van A. Nomikos, Supreme Vice President

Louis P. Maniatis, Supreme Secretary

John G. Zazas, Supreme Treasurer

Constantine G. Economou, Supreme Counsellor

George E. Loucas, Supreme Governor

George Papaeleas, Supreme Governor

Re-elected to the Sanatorium Board of Directors:  John I. Manta, Dr. S.D. Zaph, and Chris E. Athas

Delegates to the Providence Convention were:

Supreme Lodge

V. I. Chebithes

Van A. Nomikos

Louis P. Maniatis

John G. Zazas

A.A. Pantelis

George E. Loucas

James J. Dikeou

Constantine Halikas

Mother Lodge

James Campbell

George A. Polos

John Angelopoulos

Past Supreme Presidents

George Demeter

Achilles Catsonis

Harris J. Booras

District Governors

Peter N. Derzis

Theodore Agnew (father of Vice President Spiro T. Agnew)

Arthur A. Karkalas

Sidney P. Skokos

Stephen Scopas

James Mazarakos

Peter L. Bell

James L. Sardonis

Tom Drellis

Milton Kourbetis

Harry A. Reckas

Sam Selavenites

George M. Poulos

Panos Lampros

George N. Kalkas

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"Although we made it a practice to list all of the Chapter Delegates to all previous Supreme Conventions, the increasing number of such delegates makes it no longer practicable to continue publishing these lists.  Space has become a factor.  We apologize for not being able to print these lists in the remaining pages of this book, but feel that our readers will agree with us that it isn't practical, since almost 50 such meetings are involved.

"We do wish to pay tribute to those delegates of the 1923 through 1938 conventions, who represented Ahepa during its most crucial years, at the national meetings.

"We will only list the Supreme Lodge, Mother Lodge, Past Supreme President, and District Governor delegates in the following pages."

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Emmanuel A. Cavacos of Baltimore receives the silver medal of the Legion of Honor from France for his contributions to French art.

Alex Kampouris New York Infielder, is honored by New York Ahepans at a major league game in Nw York.

Steven Anastasion of New Haven, Conn. enters Annapolis Naval Academy as a midshipman.  He was former president of the New Haven Sons of Pericles chapter

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The First National Convention of the Order of Daughters of Penelope, Senior Women's Auxiliary, was held in conjunction with the Ahepa Supreme Convention in Providence, R.I., and the Grand Lodge elected was:  

Mrs. Emmanuel Apostolides, Grand President and Founder

Estelle Eliades, Grand Vice President

Marie Zuras, Grand Secretary

Mrs. Theodore Mangas, Grand Treasurer

Mrs. Simeon Agnos, Grand Governor

Josephine Pandell, Grand Governor

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Sons of Pericles Supreme President Nicholas L. Strike establishes three new chapters, and reactivates five inactive chapters during the period of September-November . . . . Father, son, and daughter (Tom Peters, Sr., Tom Peters, Jr., and Helen Peters of Fort Worth) were installed as presidents of their Ahepa, Daughters of Penelope, and Sons of Pericles chapters on the same evening.

Ahepa selected a 1939 Hellenic All-American Football team, which included:

Michael Baltisaris (End, Univ. of Tennessee)

George Alevizon (Tackle, City College New York

Nick Kerasiotis (Guard, St. Ambrose)

Archie Kodros (Center, Univ. of Michigan)

Peter Vires (Guard, Univ of Kentucky)

Luke Pappas (Tackle, Univ of Utah)

Michael Cormazis (End, Bowling Green)

Nick Contas (Quarterback, Northwestern Univ.)

Louis Ghecas (Back, Georgetown Univ.)

Alexander Campanis (Back, New York Univ.)

Andrew Marefos (Fullback, St. Mary's)

The Supreme Lodge of Ahepa visits with President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House in March, 1940.  Those making the visit were V.I. Chebithes, Van A. Nomikos, Louis P. Manioatis, John Zazas, Constantine G. Economou, George E. Loucas, and George Papaeleas.

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The 17th Supreme Convention was held in Seattle, Washington, during the week of August 11-17, 1940.  Convention officers elected were:

George C. Vournas, Chairman

P.S. Marthakis, Vice Chairman

Peter T. Kourides, Secretary

Delegates to the convention included:

Supreme Lodge

V. I. Chebithes

Van A. Nomikos

Louis P. Maniatis

John G. Zazas

C. G. Economou

George E. Loucas

George Papaeleas

Constantine Halikas

Mother Lodge

James Vlass

Past Supreme President

George E. Phillies

District Governors

Peter N. Derzis

Theodore Agnew (father of Vice President Agnew)

Jean M. Kossarides

James J. Starr

George E. Mortis

Thomas Kouchoukos

John P. Harritos

Zack T. Ritsos

John Ormas

William H. Girgulis

P. Pitsos

E. J. Fostinis

Andrew S. Nicholson

E. Tasso Morisse

In addition there were 155 Chapter Delegates at the convention.

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At the 1940 Seattle Supreme Convention held in August, 1940, the delegates elected the following new Supreme Lodge for fiscal year 1940-41:

Van A. Nomikos, Supreme President

George C. Vournas, Supreme Vice President

Peter T. Kourides, Supreme Secretary

Charles Davis Kotsilibas, Supreme Treasurer

Daniel Pananicles, Supreme Counsellor

Charles N. Diamond, Supreme Governor

George Kisciras, Supreme Governor

Anthony Serdedakis of Washington, D.C. enters the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis

Winners of the Sons of Pericles National Essay Contest were the following, in order of prize finish:

Chris G. Petrow, Ames, Ia.

Jerry P. Hontas, Canton, Ohio

George C. Mitchell, Kearney, Nebr.

Cae Fellouris, Boston

Mary Ann Theodoredis, Bethlehem, Pa.

John D. Blecatsis, Manchester, 

Gus Sotiropoulos, Springfield, Ill.

Louis Geannopoulos, Chicago

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The Ahepa Supreme Lodge again visits with President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House.  The visit was made on April 25, 1941 by Supreme President Van A. Nomikos, Vice President George C. Vournas, Secretary Peter T. Kourides, Treasurer Charles Davis Kotsilibas, Counsellor Daniel Pananicles, Governor Charles N. Diamond and Governor George Kisciras.

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The 18th Supreme Convention was held inCincinnati, Ohio during the week of August 17-23, 1941.  The first session of the Pan-Hellenic Congress was held on Monday evening, August 18.  Besides deligates of the Order of Ahepa, the Congress included delegates from the following other associations:

Pan-Cretan Association

Pan-Arcadians

Pan-Epirotai

Pan-Icariaki

and miscellaneous societies, churches and communities.

The Congress elected the following officers:

George Demeter, Chairman

Constantine Tsangadas, 1st Vice Chairman

James Veras, 2nd Vice Chairman

William Belroy, Secretary

Convention Officers elected:

Achilles Catsonis, Chairman

Christ J. Petrow, Vice Chairman

Socrates P. Zolotas, Secretary

The Cincinnati Supreme and District delegates were:

Supreme Lodge

Van A. Nomikos

George C. Vournas

Peter T. Kourides

Charles Davis Kotsilibas

Daniel Pananicles

George Kisciras

Charles N. Diamond

Mother Lodge

James Campbell

S. J. Stamos

George A. Polos

George Campbell

Nicholas D. Chotas

Past Supreme Presidents

George Demeter

Harris J. Booras

Achilles Catsonis

V. I. Chebithes

George E. Phillies

District Governors

Nick Angelakos

John A. Manikis

George Papanicolas

Jean M. Kossarides

Socrates Zolotas

James J. Starr

Arthur Lalos

Thomas Kouchoukos

George Tremoulis

Michael N. Spirtos

Zack T. Ritsos

Nicholas A. Poletis

Paul Fotopoulos

George A. Rousse

James Demos

Gregory Panopoulos

Nicholas Kogos

There were an additional 219 Chapter delegates also at the convention.

The Convention elected the following Supreme Lodge Officers for the fiscal year 1941-42:

Van A. Nomikos, Supreme President

George C. Vournas, Supreme Vice President

Stephen S. Scopas, Supreme Secretary

Charles Davis Kotsilibas, Supreme Treasurer

George E. Loucas, Supreme Counsellor

Tom Semos, Supreme Governor

George Kisciras, Supreme Governor

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The 19th Supreme Convention was held in Atlanta, Ga., during the week of September 13-19, 1942.  This was Ahepa's 20th anniversary year, and the convention was held in the fraternity's founding city.  Convention officers elected were:

Harris J. Booras, Chairman

Peter T. Kourides, Vice Chairman

Peter Bell, Secretary

National and District delegates were:

Supreme Lodge

Van A. Nomikos

George C. Vournas

Charles Davis Kotsilibas

Stephen Scopas

George E. Loucas

George Kisciras

Tom Semos

Mother Lodge

Nicholas D. Chotas

John Angelopoulos

James Campbell

P. J. Stamos

Harry Angelopoulos

George Campbell

George A. Polos

James Vlass

Past Supreme Presidents

V.I. Chebithes

Harris J. Booras

George E. Phillies

Achilles Catsonis

District Governors

Gus Gulas

Peter N. Chumbris

Peter A. Adams

Nicholas Jamieson

William Andreas

Basil S. Milonas

Basil A. Joannides

Thomas Phillips

Perry E. Gioumpakes

Nick C. Giovan

Nick G. Peet

Gregory Panopoulos

Angelo J. Manousos

There were also 129 Chapter delegates at the convention.

Supreme Lodge officers elected by the 1942 Atlanta Supreme Convention were:

George C. Vournas, Supreme President

Charles Davis Kotsilibas, Supreme Vice President

Stephen Scopas, Supreme Secretary

John F. Davis, Dupreme Treasurer

Leo Lamberson, Supreme Counsellor

William A. Vasiliou, Supreme Governor

Constantine J. Critzas, Supreme Governor

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The 1943 National Conference, Washington, D.C. - August 16-17, 1943.  Attending the conference were:

Acting Supreme President Charles Davis Kotsilibas (the Supreme Vice President who held the office of Supreme President in the absence of Supreme President George C. Vournas who was on military duty in North Africa)

Supreme Secretary Stephen S. Scopas

Supreme Treasurer John F. Davis

Supreme Counsellor Leo J. Lamberson

Supreme Governor Constantine J. Critzas

Supreme Governor Vasilios A. Vasiliou

Past Supreme Presidents:  Harris J. Booras, V. I. Chebithes, Van A. Nomikos, and Achilles Catsonis

District Governors:  

Constantine T. Gulas

Peter N. Chumbris

Thomas P. Birris

John A. Givas

Nicholas Jamieson

William Andreas

Basil S. Milonas

Basil A. Joannides

Thomas Phillips

George T. Poulitsan

Peter A. Michaels

Nicholas C. Giovan

P. I. George

Anthony Condos

Dean Soles

Angelo J. Manousos

The following were elected as officers of the Conference:  

Constantine T. Gulas, Chairman

Angelo J. Manousos, Vice Chairman

C. B. Johannides, Secretary

Bother C. B. Johannides was Executive Secretary of the fraternity, and acted as Secretary of the conference, although he was not a member of the Conference.

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The 1944 National Conference, Washington, D.C. - August 21-22, 1944.

Attending were:

George C. Vournas, Supreme President 

Charles Davis Kotsilibas, Supreme Vice President

Stephen S. Scopas, Supreme Secretary

John F. Davis, Supreme Treasurer

Leo J. Lamberson, Supreme Counsellor

Tom Semos, Supreme Governor (Tom Semos was elected Supreme Governor by the Supreme Lodge due to the prolonged absence from the country of Supreme Governor Constantine J. Critzas)

Past Supreme Presidents

V. I. Chebithes

George E. Phillies

Harris J. Booras

Achilles Catsonis

Van A. Nomikos

District Governors

George Cotsakis

Archie Zapetis

Peter N. Chumbris

Dr. Aris Carpousis

John Thevos

George L. Bourney

George K. Demopulos

Basil S. Milonas

Basil A. Joannides

Tom State 

A. G. Davis

George Geroulis

Nicholas C. Giovan

Tom Siamis

Michael D. Konomos

Anthony Condos

Ben Anattol

Dean Soles 

William Panagos

Steve Anastos

Officers elected for the conference proceedings were:

Nicholas C. Giovan, Chairman

Basil A. Joannides, Vice Chairman

C. B. Johannides (Executive Secretary), Secretary to the conference