History of the Order of AHEPA - The Years 1945-51 (includes 296 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 EIGHT:  The Years 1945-51


The Third National Conference was held in Washington, D.C. on August 20-22, 1945.  Attending were:
SUPREME LODGE
Supreme President George C. Vournas
Supreme Vice President Charles Davis Kotsilibas
Supreme Secretary Stephen S. Scopas
Supreme Treasurer Constantine J. Critzas
Supreme Counsellor Leo J. Lamberson
Supreme Governor Tom Semos
Supreme Governor Frank E. Pofanti
PAST SUPREME PRESIDENTS
Nicholas D. Chotas
George Demeter
Dean Alfange
George E. Phillies
Harry J. Booras
Achilles Catsonis
Van A. Nomikos
DISTRICT GOVERNORS
George Cotsakis
C. A. Lazarou
Nicholas Brous
Dr. Aris Carpousis
Steven Kargakos
Spiro Livadas
N.D. Farmassony
Fred A. Kyros
Basil Joannides
Paul Koken
Constantine G. Gatsos
Pete Mallers
Nicholas C. Giovan
George A. Xanthes
George J. Petros
Charles D. Exarky
James Geore Dikeou
Charles Valanas
Victor Adams
William Panagos
Spiro J. Kalivas
Elef. Dallas
Andrew Vlassis


Conference officers elected were:
Nicholas C. Giovan, Chairman
Nicholas Brous, Vice Chairman
Spiro J. Kalivas, Secretary


The preceding Supreme Lodge tendered its collective resignation at the 1945 National Conference, thus allowing the National Conference to select the new Supreme Lodge for the year 1945-46, as:
Harris J. Booras, Supreme President
Frank E. Pofanti, Supreme Vice President
Leo J. Lamberson, Supreme Secretary
C. G. Paris, Supreme Treasurer
Stephen S. Scopas, Supreme Counsellor
George Cotsakis, Supreme Governor
Nicholas Economou, Supreme Governor
Arthur H. Lalos continued as national Executive Secretary at the Washington, D.C. Headquarters


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Ahepa announces its "Ahepa Hospital in Greece" plan, which has been accepted by the government of Greece, with a drive for fundraising to begin on January 24, 1946 in Atlanta, Ga., founding city of the Ahepa.  A nationwide Ahepa committee is formed, with the following officers:
John Carzis, Executive Chairman
Charles Preketes, Executive Vice Chairman
Tom Vallas, Financial Advisor
Charles Bookidis, Treasurer
William D. Belroy, Secretary
James Mazarakos, Coordinator
Past Supreme Presidents and Mother Lodge members were all on the committee, as well as the following Executive Advisors:
Gus Maggos
Sam Bushong
Theodore Andronicos
Chris E. Athas
Thomas D. Lentgis
George Kelly
John Govatos
Archie Zapetas
Michael Loris
Paul Demos


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The 24th Supreme Convention was held in Baltimore, Maryland during the week of August 22-28, 1946, and the following were elected as convention officers:
Nicholas Giovan, Chairman
Peter L. Bell, Vice Chairman
Basil Joannides, Secretary


Members of the Supreme Lodge present as delegates were:
Harris J. Booras
Frank E. Pofanti
Leo J. Lamberson
Stephen S. Scopas
C. G. Paris
Nicholas Economou
George Cotsakis
MOTHER LODGE:
George A. Polos
Nicholas D. Chotas
S. J. Stamos
James Campbell
PAST SUPREME PRESIDENTS:
George C. Vournas
Van A. Nomikos
Achilles Catsonis
Dean Alfange
V.I. Chebithes
George E. Phillies
DISTRICT GOVERNORS:
Sam S. Nakos
C. A. Lazarou
Nicholas P. Brous
Peter J. Carres
Nicholas Saros
George Dimas
C. P. Verinis
Fred Kyros
John Caraphil
S. Roumell
Constantine G. Gatsos
Louis K. Tsaros
Chris Anton
James Carlos
Bill Peterson
Charles D. exarky
James Frangos
K. J. Valenas
Peter N. Stevens
Philip Kapelos
George Bezaitis
Spyro Kalivas
In addition, there were 312 Chapter Delegates at the Baltimore convention.


The following new Supreme Lodge for the year 1946-47 was elected:
Harris J. Booras, Supreme President
William G. Helis, Supreme Vice President
Nicholas P. Giovan, Supreme Secretary
Aristides Georgiades, Supreme Treasurer
Zack T. Ritsos, Supreme Counsellor
T. Bass, Supreme Governor
William Petros, Supreme Governor
George Cotsakis, Supreme Governor
V. A. Vasiliou, Supreme Governor


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The 25th Supreme Convention was held in Los Angeles, Calif. during the week of August 17-23, 1947.  Convention officers elected were:
John G. Thevos, Chairman
Peter L. Bell, Vice Chairman
Pantelis Lambros, Secretary


Supreme Lodge delegates were:
Harris J. Booras
William G. Helis
Nicholas C. Giovan
Zack T. Ritsos
Aristides G. Georgiades
William Petros
Vasilios A. Vasiliou
George J. Cotsakis
Tim Bass
MOTHER LODGE:
S. J. Stamos
Harry Angelopoulos
George A. Polos
James Campbell
DISTRICT GOVERNORS:
Pete Lezos
Nick Jack
Speros A. Versis
William Serras
James A. Millas
George H. Miller
Andrew Dedopolos
John S. Caraphil
Socrates V. Sekles
Peter Kourmoules
A. T. Tsoumas
James Yiannias
Stephen A. Prayson
Steve Pappas
Panayes G. Dikeou
George Nachicas
George Bezaitis
Nick Carras
Mike Colias
Pete Lambros
Steve Pepps
James Brahos
Peter S. Marthakis
In addition, there were 333 Chapter delegates attending this convention.


The new Supreme Lodge elected was:
William G. Helis, Supreme President
John G. Thevos, Supreme Vice President
Peter L. Bell, Supreme Secretary
Aristides Georgiades, Supreme Treasurer
Zack T. Ritsos, Supreme Counsellor
Peter N. Derzis, Supreme Governor
George Bezaitis, Supreme Governor
James J. Starr, Supreme Governor
Tim Bass, Supreme Governor


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The 26th Supreme Convention was held during the week of August 15-21, 1948 in Detroit, Michigan.  Convention officers elected were:
George A. Polos, Chairman
Constantine G. Economou, Vice Chairman
Peter Peterson, Secretary


Present as delegates were
SUPREME LODGE:
William G. Helis
John G. Thevos
Peter L. Bell
Aristides Georgiades
Zack T. Ritsos
James J. Starr
Tim Bass
George Bezaitis
Peter Derzis
MOTHER LODGE:
George A. Polos
James Campbell
Immediate Past Supreme President: Harris J. Booras
DISTRICT GOVERNORS:
Peter Lezos
Nick Serros
Speros A. Versis
Peter V. Paulus
Kurt M. Sinner
George Kastrinos
Athan M. Arugel
William Genimatas
Socrates V. Sekles
John Kras
Sophocles N. Pancol
A. T. Tsoumas
William D. Kleason
Stephen Pepps
Panayes G. Dikeou
Tony Kontgas
John E. Dakis
Stephen Berdalis
Nick Carras
Peter Grammar
Alex G. Poullos
In addition, there were 423 Chapter Delegates attending the convention.


The following were elected as the new Supreme Lodge:
William G. Helis, Supreme President
John G. Thevos, Supreme Vice President
Peter L. Bell, Supreme Secretary
James J. Starr, Supreme Treasurer
A. A. Pantelis, Supreme Counsellor
Peter Grammar, Supreme Governor for Canada
Peter N. Derzis, Supreme Governor
George Bezaitis, Supreme Governor
Charles N. Diamond, Supreme Governor


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The 27th Supreme Convention was held in Miami, Fla., during the week of August 15-21, 1949, and the following were elected as convention officers:
John K. Douglas, Chairman
H. Sanders Angela, Vice Chairman
John C. Mitchell, Secretary


SUPREME LODGE delegates were:
William G. Helis
John G. Thevos
Peter L. Bell
James J. Starr
A. A. Pantelis
Charles N. Diamond
Peter Grammar
George Bezaitis
Peter N. Derzis


MOTHER LODGE delegates were:
Spiros Stamos
George A. Polos
James Campbell
George Campbell


DISTRICT GOVERNOR delegates were:
Speros Zepatos
C. G. Marcos
Andrew D. Vozeolas
Peter V. Paulus
James Argyros
Leon J. Marketos
George J. Margoles
John Rousomanis
William Genimatas
John Priggooris
John Kras
Theo N. Tsangaris
George Kapetanakis
V. C. Beskas
Steve E. Pepps
Gus Callas
Leo Athans
Stephen Berdalis
Gus Rakus
P. Destun
In addition, there were 224 Chapter delegates in attendance.


The new Supreme Lodge elected by the Miami convention was:
John G. Thevos, Supreme President
Constantine G. Economou, Supreme Vice President
Peter N. Derzis, Supreme Secretary
Charles Preketes, Supreme Treasurer
Peter L. Bell, Supreme Counsellor
Pantelis B. Lambros, Supreme Governor
Constantine P. Verinis, Supreme Governor
Peter Grammar, Supreme Governor for Canada


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Ahepa in Australia


Past District Governor Anthony Aroney visited the Ahepa chapters in Australia, and reported to the Supreme Lodge that there were six Ahepa chapters in the states of Queensland and New South Wales and seven chapters in the formative stage in the state of Victoria, Western and Southern Australia.  The Supreme Lodge of Australia was:
Peter Aronis, Supreme President
Stelianos Georgiades, Supreme Secretary
Michael Pavlakes, Supreme Treasurer
And the following Supreme Governors:
Eustratios Christofides
Michael karolos
Demetrios Andronicos
George Trovas
Valerios Beneras
Demetrios Evlavos
Emanuel Fardoulis


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The 28th Supreme Convention was held in Cleveland, Ohio during the week of August 14-20, 1950 and the following were elected convention officers:
Louis J. Dukas, Chairman
John C. Mitchell, Vice chairman
Spero Custis, Secretary


SUPREME LODGE delegates were:
John G. Thevos
Constantine G. Economou
Peter N. Derzis
Peter L. Bell
Charles Preketes
Constantine P. Verinis
Nick Strattin
Pantelis Lambros
Peter Grammar
MOTHER LODGE delegates were:
Spiros J. Stamos
George A. Polos
James Vlass
DISTRICT GOVERNOR delegates were:
Gregory Kolivas
Sam F. Felos
Bill Simopoulos
Spero Custis
X K. Microutsicos
Louis J. Dukas
George J. Margoles
George M. Papadopoulos
John P. Priggooris
Perry E. Pakes
George Kapetanakis
D. N. Karalis
George H. Payne
John B. Grivas
Gus D. Bruskas
John Cardos
Peter Tamaras
Gust Rakus
Paul Destin
Chris A. Politz
In addition, there were 294 Chapter Delegates in attendance