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While in the Air Force and stationed at Hunter Air Force Base in Savannah, GA, he met Savannah native, Mary Quarles. Recognizing a good thing when he saw her, he promptly made her Mary Quarles Berger, who is frequently and cheerfully found working in the background at Knights events.
“Mary and I have three children -- one son, Tom, who lives in Charlotte; and two daughters, Gina in Columbia, and JoAnna in Cary, NC. Altogether, they have given us eight grands -- one girl and seven boys.”
Joe graduated from the University of Georgia in 1961 and received a Masters degree from Winthrop University in 1975. He went on to work in the textile industry for 38 years, first with Milliken, then Lowenstein and lastly with Springs Industries, where he retired after 30 years. His job before retirement was as the Director of EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), working with customers and suppliers to bring the company into the computer age, doing business via computer and eliminating paper work.
As for his Knights of Columbus involvement, Joe says, “My father was a Knight and I was always interested in becoming a Knight. I became a Knight in 1969 in Spartanburg, SC. When we lived in Spartanburg, several of us, all members of St. Paul’s Parish, decided to start a Council. The same was true in Rock Hill when I moved here and there was no Council. I am a charter member of both Councils.”
The thing that has given Joe the most satisfaction in his years as a Knight, “is the association with the other Knights who are devoted to their faith and to the principles set forth by the Knights.” But Joe recognizes that keeping the Council alive and vital is going to take more than just hard work by current members. He says, “The biggest challenge today, and I might add tomorrow, is getting and keeping younger members to join and to stay active. This has always been the case, and (not doing so) has been the reason why some Councils have failed in the past. We must get and keep younger persons involved.
To all the young men of St. Anne Parish, Joe would only say, “COME AND SEE WHAT THE KNIGHTS ARE ALL ABOUT AND MARK YOUR MARK!” We need your input and your support.”
Joe has high hopes for the Family Committee and its new social program. “I hope that we can continue to keep the social agenda going forward. It is the live line to attracting new members. And I hope some of the ideas we are promoting become annual events rather than an occasional happening.”
Joe’s a man with a plan! And if you’d like to help him implementing that plan, give him a call at 803 366-1923.
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