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




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