Kennewick Council 8179

.Kennewick Council 8179 was instituted on September 10, 1982 by District Deputy Gary R. Soehnlein with 57 members,

The charter members included 4 priests, 4 PGKs, 1 former DD, 1 father with two sons and also, with the same name, 2 brothers and a nephew.

The town name is derived from an Indian word kin-i-wack, meaning "grassy place" and was given in 18583 by H. S. Huson of the Northern Pacific Irrigation Co.

During our first year we got the Founders' and Columbian awards and  received the Star Council award the following year.  We had two State Directors in our Council at its beginning.

We have been an enthusiastic council.  We had 18 at our very first formational meeting, 38 at the 2nd and 30 for the election of officers.  Most instrumental in forming our council was DD Gary Soehnlein and Frank Beaudry.

Among our most humorous events:  Our FS, playing softball at a family function, cut his leg.  A member called 911.  The response included a fire truck, ambulance, policeman and a Methodist minister.  The wife's expression,. seeing a Methodist minister standing over her husband, was priceless.  Also two members wound up exchanging the same gift at a Tom and Jerry party.