Volume 96 Number 27
ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T Benevolence
H E R A L D
Humanity
ISSN —07458800
Brotherhood
July 2, 2008
Father of the Year’s family leader role stretches far, wide
By Stephanie Hernandez • Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Photographs by Joe Don Buckner
Father,
dad, daddy, pa, papa. A man who has many different names, but one job—to raise his children. John E. Kveton of Abernathy is The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s 2008 Father of the Year because he extended his job as a father to more than his children. “Anybody who needed a father,” he said. “No matter where in the world they came from.” He was a father during the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s to any child who needed him. In addition to his own six daughters and son, he and his wife began helping children in need. “My wife and I, if we saw a need to help someone we would do it,” he said. “And it started many years
ago.” More than 40 years ago, he said he began helping friends of his children. Many children have stayed with the family throughout the years. Kveton said he has taken in children from Vietnam, West Africa, Malaysia, Australia, the Czech Republic, and many more. He has a family from all over the world that his wife began tracking before she died. Kveton pointed to a world map on a wall in his kitchen. The map, covered in multicolored push-pins and sewing pins, marks where their extended family has been in the world. His extensions include many daughters, sons, grandchildren, and
Continued on Page 10.
On July Fourth, we celebrate the birthday of the United States of America, and all the great things our nation represents. We’ re proud of our country and the values it upholds, and we gratefully salute the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who fight to defend America and her ideals. God bless the U.S.A. Wishing You and Yours a Safe and Happy Independence Day Weekend!
2008 - 2009 District Three Royalty
Congratulations to the 2008-2009 District Three Royalty Court. They were crowned on Sunday, June 22 at Youth Achievement Day at Sokol Hall in Ennis. They are, left to right, Duke Kyler Dunlap and King Paris Milan, both of Lodge 154, Fort Worth, and Queen Alexa Hubenak and Duchess Lauren Traujott, both of Lodge 92, Fort Worth.
SPJST
Inside This Week’ s Vestnik
Interest Rates ......................................3 Family Fun Dates ................................3 End-of-Summer Getaway....................3 Readers Write ......................................3 Lodge Section ....................................4 Reunions ............................................14
Youth...................................................15 In Memoriam ......................................18 Czech Culture ....................................20 Czech Calendar .................................20 Advertisements .................................21 Activities Calendar............................22
Lodge 160 San Angelo honors outgoing president
Page 7
Page 13
Lodge 87 Temple hosts appreciation dinner
Page 17
Lodge 183 Arlington Youth Club activities