Established under the leadership of Jim Bush and an initial cadre of 30 dedicated men from St. Jude parish in Jacksonville, Arkansas, Jacksonville Council 11604 of the Knights of Columbus was formed in the summer of 1995. Over the past nine years the Council has grown to over 146 members who have dedicated themselves to the four cornerstones that the Knights of Columbus was built upon, CHARITY, UNITY, FRATERNITY, and PATRIOTISM.Outstanding leadership from our Past Grand Knights Jim Bush, Art Brannen, Bruce Razer, Mike Wills, John Hertzog, Mike Kieffer and our current Grand Knight Jerry Neppl, plus the dedication of our Council members have annually contributed thousands of dollars and thousands of hours of service time to the poor, persons with disabilities, religious vocations, and various CHURCH, COMMUNITY, COUNCIL, FAMILY, and YOUTH activities.

Jacksonville Council 11604 has earned the coveted STAR COUNCIL AWARD, the highest Council award in the Knights of Columbus, ALL TEN years of its existence. We have earned numerous awards as the States BEST Council in the Church, Community, Family, and Youth Awards competition, plus we were the Council of Champions winners, for Council growth, three years in a row. Council 11604 was also awarded the State's top honor as STATE COUNCIL OF THE YEAR for 2001-2002 and 2003-2004. Affiliated organizations to Council 11604 our Bishop Edward Fitzgerald Assembly 2642 (4th Degree), the Ladies of the Knights (our outstanding women's group), and the Jacksonville Knights Inc (our building fund organization).