At the January 2026 Holy Spirit Council meeting our council was honored to welcome Immediate past State Deputy Mr. Ray Pearson, who joined District Deputy Mr. Lance Mattson in presenting special recognition to past Council Grand Knight, Mr. Kraig Keck, for his exceptional recruitment efforts during the past fraternal year.
Ray shared the significance of Keck’s accomplishment, noting that “Kraig… was our number one recruiter in South Dakota from the data that we had.” Keck brought 16 new members into the Order — an extraordinary contribution that accounted for roughly 5% of all new members statewide.
Pearson also provided context on the importance of recruitment, explaining that the state currently has about 9,300 members, and each year “we lose probably in the range of about 150 to 180” for a number of reasons. He emphasized that “bringing in new members is what we need to do,” and Keck’s leadership directly supported that mission.
District Deputy Mattson echoed this praise, highlighting Kraig’s energy and commitment: “He did a tremendous job, especially at the end of last cycle… he had just taken that job and he just brought a bunch of energy to the efforts.” Keck was quick to acknowledge that it was the efforts of the entire Council, including Recruitment Directors Mr. Jay Cudzilo and Mr. Bobby Smith that made it all possible.
In appreciation for his outstanding service, Keck was presented with two state‑level recruitment awards as a token of thanks.
Our council extends heartfelt gratitude to Kraig for his dedication to strengthening our brotherhood and expanding our ability to serve the Church and our community.
Vivat Jesus!