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Machine Company; also served as a radar man 2nd class
in the U.S. Navy while stationed in the Pacific during World War II.
Initially interested in the KC tennis tournaments,
Truxillo joined Council 2952 (Hammond) in 1953 after being recruited by
Thomas Ragusa. He later transferred to Council 3470 in Lafayette and
served as its Grand Knight from 1962 - 63 when the council won the State
Deputy's Award. He was a member of Bishop Dubourg Assembly, Fourth Degree,
and served as state secretary and treasurer. Truxillo's three sons also
joined the organization. A great believer in the power of motivation,
Truxillo initiated the "Top Twenty" program in 1972 by which
those councils with the top 20 scores in the State Deputy's Award
competition received certificates for their efforts.
"We're salesmen for the Knights of Columbus, and
membership is our product ...The Lord said you'll always have the poor
with you, and I say you'll always have the suspensions with you."
These two quotes reflect Truxillo's enthusiastic personality tempered by a
practical philosophy: to gain as many knights as possible through direct,
personal contact and to retain them through constant involvement in
programs, while also recognizing the tenuous problems associated with
membership loss. Truxillo's administration set the pace for accelerated
growth in new council development and marked a surge in membership with
531 new knights between 1970 -72.
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