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THE GRAND PRIORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA There were a considerable number of Swiss born Knights throughout the United States in the latter 1930's, increasing in number in the early 1960's. Anton Leuprecht, the Autonomous Grand Prior of Switzerland and the Chief of all Autonomous Grand Priories in the world, was kind enough to invite a number of the Americans to join the Order in Switzerland. At the request of the Swiss Grand Prior, on March 31, 1962, Swiss Grand Priory members met at the residence of William Y. Pryor in Verona, New Jersey. Steps were authorized to be taken to form an Independent and Sovereign Grand Priory for the Order of the Temple of Jerusalem in the United States of America. Growth in America continued, and in 1996 the Chicago based Commandery of St. Norbert became a Priory, with Chev. Terrence J. Quandt as its first Prior. Princess Elizabeth of Ysenburg and Buedingen, Germany, became the Royal Patron of both the Priory of St. Norbert and the Grand Priory of the United States. In 1998, Brigadier General Chev. Patrick E. Rea became its second Prior. In February 1997 the Priory of St. Norbert commissioned the formation of a Commandery in Missouri. On September 26, 1997, Rear Admiral Chev. James J. Carey, Grand Prior of the Priory of the United States, and Chev. Terrence J. Quandt, presided over the dedication and first investiture of Knights in the new Commandery of Antioch at Union Station, St. Louis, Missouri. Colonel Chev. David N. Appleby, Knight Commander, was appointed its first Commander. He and Brigadier General Chev. Roger C. Bultman, Knight Commander, and newly invested Knights Lieutenant Colonel Chev. David V. Collignon, Dr. Chev. Michael N. Compton, Colonel Chev. Jay L. Furlow, Major Chev. Bruce A. Hitt, Chev. Thomas J. Moore, Colonel Chev. Everett H. Nagel, Lieutenant Colonel Chev. Christopher J. Stark, and Brigadier General Chev. William K. Wedge comprised it original members. On March 27, 1999, ( by order of Colonel Chev. Stewart Boone McCarty, Grand Prior), Vice Admiral Chev. Andrew P. O'Rourke, Grand Chancellor presided over the dedication and investiture as the Commandery of Antioch was elevated to Priory status to be known as the Priory of St. Louis the Crusader. Colonel Chev. David N. Appleby was then elected Prior.
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