PAX Centurion - November / December 2015

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • November/December 2015 • Page 9 A salute to Mr. Norman Knight of the Hundred Club on his retirement Treasury Notes: Robert P. Colburn, BPPA Treasurer A s we come to the end of 2015 let me say that it has been a tre- mendous honor to serve as your treasurer this past year and I look forward with great anticipation to the years ahead as our new leadership teamgrowsmore comfortable addressing the challenges that confront our membership.Wewill stop at nothing in trying to secure for you, themembers, the bestwages and benefits that you so richly deserve. 2015 was a great start andwe will continue towork hard for each and every member. I would like remember our members who passed away in 2015. Please keep their fami- lies in your thoughts and prayers. ActiveDutyPoliceOfficerJosephZanoli from C-11. ActiveDutyActiveDutyEMTMatthew “Marty” King. I wrote last month of getting your books in order to close out the year and we are doing that as we speak here at the BPPA. However in this holiday edition of the PAX, I wanted to touch on the recent announcement of the retirement of Mr. Norman Knight. Who is Mr. Norman Knight you may be asking?Well, let me tell you a little about this tremendous friend of every Police Officer, Firefighter and EMT in the state of Mas- sachusetts. And the description, “tremendous” is an understatement! Forty-nine years ago Mr. Knight co-founded the Hundred Club of Massachusetts.Mr. Knight brought together a group of business leaders and began the Hundred Club with the exclusive mission of taking care of the needs of the families of fallen Police Officers, Firefighters and EMS workers. For 49 years they have continually, under Mr. Knight’s leadership, reached out their helping hand towidows and children of our fallen Brothers and Sisters. Mr. Knight’s generosity and the generosity of the Hundred Club is beyond belief. And the amazing part is that they seek no recognition, no accolades, and no pat on the back. Mr. Knight has consumed himself in giv- ing back. He and the Club have been very generous. Over the past 49 years Mr. Knight and the Hundred Club of Massachu- setts have contributed millions… yes, millions of dollars in cash and gifts to the families of the fallen. They have assisted families financially at the time of death, assisted with college for the children of officers and paid for camps. They have provided tickets to sporting events like the Red Sox and to cultural events like theBoston Pops. They have hosted concerts in the spring and in the fall and throw an amazing Christmas party every year for the children, and now grand- children of our fallen officers. In timeswhen our members have been in most despair following the death of an active duty Police officer, Mr. Knight has sat with the families and offered the most kind and comforting words while assuring these families that the Hundred Clubwill be there for them. For all that Mr. Norman Knight has done, he has never once asked for anything in return. Just 49 years of giving! How amazing! Unfortunately over the years the BPPA has seen its involvement with the Hundred Club slipping away. So it is now we must renew our commitment to this truly great organization and reestablish our relationship in honor ofMr. Knight. It is the very least we can do. I would encourage everymember to look up theHundredClub ofMassachusetts, join the club or make a contribution. You may evenoffer to assist in anyprograms they have. This organization, founded by this incredibleman has always had our back. Let us show them that we have their back as well. The new President of the Hundred Club is Mr. John Lynch. Mr. Lynch is a local attorney and has served on the board of the Hundred Club for many years. We at the BPPA are looking forward to working with Mr. Lynch in the coming years. To Mr. Norman Knight, We salute you Sir. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we wish for you many splendid years of retirement. God bless you and keep you healthy and safe andmay you know that you will always hold a special place in the hearts of the membership of the BPPA. I would like to wish all of you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year. – Bobby Mr. Norman Knight of The Hundred Club of Massachusetts