Local History

In 1936, Bishop Joseph Schrembs of Cleveland appointed five members of the Knights of Columbus to meet with NCCJ's President Everett Clinchy and Cleveland Press Editor, Louis Seltzer. With the cooperation of Selzer, Ralph Bellamy at the Plain Dealer, Nathaniel Howard of the Cleveland News, NCCJ was launched in Cleveland.

The Cleveland office was one of the first regional NCCJ offices  Newton D. Baker, a founder of Baker & Hostetler, was instrumental not only in initiating this local movement, but in the national NCCJ effort.

The early organization was chaired by James C. Forbes of General Electric, Alex J. Brady, Erie Railroad, and attorney Alfred A. Benesch.  Those three chairs represented the Catholic, Protestant and Jewish faiths.

In   1954, NCCJ began using the Humanitarian Award Dinner, then called the Human Relations Award,  as a major fund raising vehicle.  The first recipient was Louis Seltzer, with subsequent early honorees including:

                                    John A. Greene, Ohio Bell

                                    Mr. and Mrs. Abe Luntz. Luntz Iron & Steel

                                    George M. Humphrey, M.A. Hanna

The initial dinners were held in the Rainbow Room at the Carter Hotel with approximately 1500-2000 people in attendance.  National dignitaries who were brought in to speak at these events included John Foster Dulles, Robert and Jack Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Reverend Billy Graham.