2013 Election Biographies
Office of State Deputy
Brad Grill became a member of the Knights of Columbus in 1990 upon joining the Pope John Paul I Council #7199 in Parkville, and is a member of the Msgr. Maurice F. Wogan Assembly 2315, Kansas City. Brad and his wife, Clarissa, have been married for over 36 years and have one son, Jason, who is also a Fourth Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus. Brad and Clarissa have been active members of St. Therese Parish in Parkville for over 36 years. Brad is presently a member of the Parish’s Pastoral Council and is the Senior Financial Advisor to the Parish. He has been an active participant of the Education Committee at St. Therese School, having previously served as Secretary and Chairman of the Planning Committee, has been a lifelong usher, has served as a Eucharistic Minister, and is currently the President of St. Therese Scout Parents, Inc., which sponsors the Parish’s Scout Troop and Pack. Brad has also served as the Chairman and presently as a Trustee of the Endowment Trust Fund for Catholic Education, which is the main endowment fund for the Kansas City – St. Joseph Diocese Educational Programs. Brad has served over the last 40 years on numerous community service organizations, having recently acted as Chairman of the Board of the Don Bosco Community Center, Kansas City, a United Way agency.
Brad has been an active member of his Council, having over the years been involved in numerous activities, and serving as Council Advocate for an extended number of years. In 2000, Brad was asked to serve on the Missouri State Council and was elected as State Advocate, and reelected as State Advocate in 2002. After serving as State Advocate for four years, Brad was appointed in 2004 as the Director of the now known, Community Activities, overseeing the Persons with Developmental Disabilities drive. In 2006, Brad was appointed as the State R.I.B. Director and served for two years in this position. Following said appointment, Brad was elected in 2008 as State Secretary for the Missouri State Council, and after two years of service, was appointed in 2010 as State Program Director. After serving as State Program Director for two years. Brad was elected State Deputy and is presently serving in said capacity.
Brad graduated from St. Louis University and received his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He has been actively engaged in the private practice of law for approximately 40 years in the State of Missouri, and has served on various committees and as the President of the Platte County Bar Association. As a practicing attorney, Brad has received numerous awards, including the Judge James A. Moore Award given by the Lawyer’s Association of Kansas City in recognition of his efforts as a practicing attorney “. . . who exemplifies generosity of spirit and a deep concern for others and who has truly ‘made a positive difference’ in the life of another person or persons.”
Office of State Secretary
Keith Milson, 49, began his membership in the Knights of Columbus by joining Council 10136 in 1992. He became a member of the St. Louis 4th Degree Assembly #565 in March 1997. Keith has two sons, Kyle 23 and Anthony 20. They are active members of Queen of All Saints Parish in Oakville.
Keith has been taken on many leadership roles in his council having held the offices of Grand Knight, Financial Secretary, Treasurer and Recorder. As Grand Knight he guided the council to two Star Council Awards. He has also served his council as Membership Director, Youth Director and Newsletter Editor.
Keith has also been a very active Fourth Degree member of St. Louis Assembly #565. He has been an Honor Guard member for years and served the Assembly as Faithful Navigator, Captain, Pilot, Outer Sentinel, Inner Sentinel, and Trustee.
Keith has served with distinction on the Missouri State Council Knights of Columbus in the following positions: District Deputy for five years; State Youth Activities Director, State Community Activities Director and State Membership Director for two year each. Keith was elected and has served the State Council the last two years as State Secretary.
Keith has served his parish in many capacities over the years including Minister of Hospitality, Men’s Club, Activities Association Board Member, Parish Facilities Planning Committee, CYC coach for soccer, baseball and basketball, and head CYC basketball official. He is very active in the community having served with many organizations including Charter Representative for Boy Scout Troop 662, Committee Member for Cub Scout Pack 662, Missouri State High School Activities Association, St. Louis Officials Association, Engineers' Club of St. Louis, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a past President and Board Member of the Bryan Mueckl Memorial Scholarship Foundation. Keith is currently serving on National Board of Visitors of the Knights of Columbus Developmental Center at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.
Keith is a licensed Geologist, having graduated with a B.S. from Eastern Illinois University and a M.S. in Environmental Science from Southern Illinois University. He began his career with Campbell Design Engineering Group in St. Louis and has spent the last 24 years as an Engineer with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District. In 2005 he was recognized by the Mechanical Contractor Association of Missouri with their Project of the Year Award for work at the District’s Lemay facility.
Office of State Treasurer
Mike Grayson is a Charter Member of Fr. Stratman Council 11882 and life-long member of Immaculate Conception Parish in Park Hills. He is a resident of the small town of Desloge, in Saint Francois County Missouri.
As a youth, Mike was an altar server and attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the parish sponsored Boy Scout troop. Mike and his wife Gwen were married at Immaculate Conception in 1978. They have been married for 34 years and have one son, Douglas. Mike attended Mineral Area College and received an Associate’s Degree in Business Management. Mike has a 30 year career with Wal-Mart Corporation, and he is currently a department manager.
Mike joined the Order as a member of St. Francois County Council #1088 in 1993, and he received the Second and Third Degrees shortly thereafter. Mike served as Grand Knight of his current council from 1997-1999. During his successful tenure as Grand Knight, the Council received two Columbian Awards, one Founders Award, and one Fr. McGivney Award. During that time the Council also achieved the “Highest Dollars per Member” twice for the State M.R. Drive.
Mike joined Cardinal Glennon Assembly #567 when he received his Fourth Degree in 1996 and served as Faithful Navigator from 2003-2005. During his term as Faithful Navigator, the Assembly had the record for largest number of new members at one time in March of 2004 with 52 new members taking their Fourth Degree.
State Deputy Tony Braun recognized Mike’s abilities and appointed him District Deputy #43 in 1999 for two years. In 2001 State Deputy Robert Jecklin also recognized his talent and reappointed Mike for another two years. In 2003 State Deputy Jim Doggendorf reappointed Mike for a third time as District Deputy. Mike ultimately served as DD for a total of five years, earning four Outstanding District Deputy Awards and one Star District in the process.
State Deputy Ron Wood recognized Mike’s leadership and appointed him to serve the State Council as the Legislative/Adopt-A-Highway Chairman in 2004. State Deputy Mick Gilliam reappointed Mike in 2006 to a third year of overseeing this program. During his term Mike was able to compile a full listing of all councils participating in the program, what sections of roadways where being cared for and the total mileage adopted by the Knights being cleaned. Mike helped to facilitate new councils becoming active with the state and local highway department programs. Until Mike took on this program no such detailed coordination had occurred and it really paid off as the number of new councils participating in the program jumped dramatically.
In 2007 State Deputy Mick Gilliam appointed Mike as the Respect Life Chairman. With the guidance of Keith Milson, who was the Community Activities Director at the time, Mike initiated the P.A.L. (Protecting All Life) Program. The program, instituted in the midst of the Amendment 2 campaign, was an instant success as it recognized those who actively participate in raising awareness that all life is a precious gift from God.
State Deputy Greg Stratman appointed Mike as Membership Chairman - South East, in 2009. During that year the State of Missouri earned the Circle of Honor Award for membership growth by Supreme Council, the last year that the Missouri State Council won this prestigious award.
In 2010 State Deputy Greg Stratman recognized Mike’s unique leadership and appointed him the State Family Activities Director. State Deputy John Appelbaum reappointed Mike to the same position in 2011. During his three years as State Family Life Director Mike upgraded many of the programs including the first “Family Day at the “ZOU” football game at Missouri University at Columbia.
State Deputy Brad Grill appointed Mike the State Council Activities Director in 2012. Under his leadership the State Council enjoyed many successful events and the sense of Fraternity in the Council Activities programs were very evident.
With his breadth and depth of experience, his proven leadership, his dedication to our Order and our Brother Knights, Mike Grayson is well prepared to further serve our State Council in the position of State Treasurer.
Office of State Advocate
James B. Baldwin, Jr. was received into the Catholic Church on December 10, 2000. February 10, 2003 he became a member of the Knights of Columbus. He took his first, second and third on the same day. He is a member of Fr. Robert J. Arnold Council 10690 of Rich Fountain. November 22, 2003 he became a 4th degree member with the Assemble Msgr. Ralph Kutz, #2811 in Westphalia
As a member of Council 10690 he performed the duties of Program Director, Deputy Grand Knight and Grand Knight. While GK the Council received the Star Council award. He personally received the Shining Armor Award. As a 4th degree member he has held the office of Pilot. He also joined the Honor Guard and was selected as Commander this past year.
In 2008 he was appointed District Deputy for District #52 by then State Deputy Greg Stratman. He is serving in that position to date. In 2009 he was appointed as a delegate to the 127th Supreme Convention that was held in Phoenix, AZ.
He is a member of the Certified First Degree Team , a member of the Central District Second Degree Team and served on the old Third Degree Team.
He is a member of the Pro-Life Committee of the Jefferson City Diocese for the Westphalia Deanery.
Graduated from Virginia University in 1962. After a brief internship with the family law firm he went into the military. He spent three tours of duty in Vietnam. In 1971 through the military he used the law degree in military affairs. In 1976 he joined the Department of Justice
He and his wife Joan are member of St. Alexander’s Church in Belle. Jim served seven years on the Parish Council and six of them as president. He is the Parish Administrator. Both are extra ordinary Communion Ministers and take Communion to some homebound member every week. Joan is Treasurer of the Ladies Auxiliary of the 4th Degree.
Office of State Warden
Sir Knight Roland Cretel was initiated into the Knights of Columbus at Holy Rosary Council 1896, receiving his 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Degrees on February 2, 2003. He became a Sir Knight at the 4th Degree Exemplification on April 2, 2005 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Roland has served his council in the capacities of Trustee, Deputy Grand Knight, Grand Knight, and Warden, with two years in each position.
Roland is a member of Assembly #1778 and has served the positions of Pilot and Faithful Navigator during the years of 2005 thru 2009. He is also a member of the Honor Guard.
Roland has personally organized two 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Degrees at Council 1896.
Roland accepted the position of District Deputy #11 in 2010, serving under Immediate State Deputy John Applebaum and Current State Deputy Brad Grill. Roland made Outstanding District Deputy for 2011-2012.
Roland has been married to the love of his life, Rosalie for 57 years, and are the proud parents of 4 sons and one daughter, 13 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Roland served as Assistant Scout Master for Boy Scout Troops 421 and 428 and assisted three sons to the rank of Eagle Scout and his daughter to the award of WOHELO medallion in the Camp Fire Girls.
Roland and Rosalie attend Holy Rosary Parish in Clinton, Missouri, where they are both Eucharistic Ministers.
Roland attended North Kansas City High School and immediately went to work for Braniff Airlines after graduation, spending many years in a Supervisory role. He continues his dedication to a hard work ethic by working at the Country Mart Grocery in Clinton, Missouri.
Office of Delegate at Large
Bob Hook became a member of the Knights of Columbus on February 1, 1990 when he joined the St. Anthony Council #8588 in High Ridge, and is a member of the Bishop Andrew Bernard Schierhoff Assembly #2110, High Ridge since April, 1992. Bob and his wife, Margaret, have been married since August 6, 1976. They were blessed with two sons, Christopher Michael and Bradley Allen, both 4th Degree Knights. They have been members of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in High Ridge since 1981, where they have played a very active part of the parish. In the past, Bob has been president of the Home and School Association, Men’s Club, School Board, and Athletic Association. Bob was Cub master when his sons were in the Cub Scouts, and participated on the sports teams that his sons were on. He has been a Lector of the Word, Eucharistic Minister, and has trained the new Servers. In 2003, Bob joined the Diaconate class for the St. Louis Archdiocese, but had to leave the program due to an infirmity. Bob served as the Parish Picnic Chairman for 9 years. Bob is presently a cantor of the Parish Choir, and president of the St. Vincent de Paul Conference. In this position, Bob has helped restructure their conference and brought many new programs to the needy in the parish. He has chaired the annual dinner/auction for the last four years which is their main fundraiser of the year. Margaret is a Lector of the Word and Eucharistic Minister as well as Sacristan.
Bob has been active in his council for many years and has held many offices at his council. He held various offices prior to running for Grand Knight. He was Grand Knight of the Council from 1997-2000 serving 3 terms. From there he was appointed DD for District 44 by Past State Deputy Robert Jecklin, Sr. for the fraternal years 2000-2001 & 2001-2002. He was then appointed DD again for District 44 by Past State Deputy James T. Doggendorf. During these years he received an Outstanding District Deputy Award every year. He also attained Star District in the 2003-2004 fraternal years. Bob was then appointed as Fr. McGivney Guild Chairman by PSD Ron Wood. Then PSD Greg Stratman appointed Bob as New Council Development Chairman which he served for 2 years. PSD John Appelbaum then reappointed Bob as New Council Development Chairman for 2 more years. This past year Bob has served as Vocation, St. Louis Archdiocese Chairman appointed by SD Brad Grill. Bob has held a few offices in the Assembly. Bob was previously a member of the 3rd Degree Team for many years.
Bob is currently employed at Maritz, LLC where he is a UNIX System Administrator. He has been working in this field for over 30 years, for such companies such as Boeing, IBM, EDS, and A. G. Edwards. He has been at Maritz for the last three years.