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     The Columbian Squire program was first organized in Jonesboro, Arkansas by Dennis Calaway late in 1988.  He had been a principal organizer of the College Council at Arkansas State University in 1981.

During the years of the college council, Calaway and others had gotten involved with "big brother" work.  Dennis decided to promote the Squires program because it would be an extension of this ministry. 

     The Circle was named after Mark Allan Butler, a young father and member of Blessed Sacrament Parish who died at the age of 28 in a drowning accident at Lake Norfork on July 2nd, 1983.  He had been in Mountain Home that weekend helping his father-in-law with the construction of the Knights of Columbus Hall.  Mark had been initiated into the Knights of Columbus Council 1702 with Dennis Calaway in October 1980.  Mark was survived by his wife, Susan and two young sons, John Paul and David. 

     The trademark "circle activity" quickly became the lock-ins which were held at the Jonesboro KofC Hall on Highway 49 south.  The circle had a lock-in almost monthly unless they had a "famous" out-of-town trip planned, usually to Little Rock.  The circle would attend the annual Pro-Life Rosary/Mass and March in Little Rock in January.  They also went on trips to Little Rock to have fun at Wild River Country.   

     The Circle initially received its charter on December 9th, 1988.  The first charter members were:  

  
     The first Chief Squire was Scott Allen and the Chief Counsellor was Dennis Calaway, a Past Grand Knight of Arkansas State University Council 7783 and a Past Faithful Navigator of the Father Eugene Weibel Assembly 1426.

      After being inactive for about seven to eight years, the old Chief Counsellor decided it was time to have Squires in Jonesboro again.  Kevin Dunham, the Council Youth Director was working with the Dennis Calaway on other youth activities and encouraged him to work with the Squires again. Joseph Calamita, the Grand Knight of the KofC Council 1702 was very supportive of reactivating the Circle.  A Millenium Investiture was held on Sunday, December 31st, 2000 with six young men joining the ranks of Squiredom.  They were Albert, Casey, Chad, David, Drew, and Matthew.  A second investiture was held on Sunday, February 25th and Will became the seventh Squire.  A third investiture was held in Little Rock on Sunday, March 18th in memory of Past State Deputy John A. Burke.  Adam, Tyler and Sean became the eighth, ninth and tenth Squire.  The Circle could now be officially reactivated  Three additional squires joined the circle soon after reactivation and more continue to express interest in the program.

     Our previous Circle helped to reactivate the Circle in North Little Rock, Ark.  That Circle is currently inactive but we hope to reactivate it as well as starting circles in other parishes.   There are other inactive circles in Little Rock, Conway, Morrilton, Helena, Fort Smith and Batesville.   

     In April, 2005, our Circle traveled to Mountain Home to conduct the charter investiture of thirteen young men.  Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Circle 4939 was now instituted.  Our Chief Counselor continues to serve as the State Squires Chairman so our circle looks forward to be involved in the institution of additional circles in Arkansas. 

Updated August 2005