Texas Family Honored with International Award

Larry and Beth Odom and their children were named this year’s International Family of the Year during the Awards Session of the 135th Supreme Council meeting in St. Louis, August 2.

The Odoms have 10 children ranging in age from 3 to 28. Larry Odom has been a Knight of Columbus for 10 years and belongs to St. Catherine of Siena Council 8156 in Austin, Texas. He has served his council as grand knight for three years and is currently the Church Activities director for the Texas state council. The oldest son, Alex, has been a member for six years and is now a seminarian in his home diocese. One of their daughters is performing mission work while discerning a possible vocation with a religious community in the Philippines.

Beth Odom is very active in the local home schooling group, taking on leadership roles to keep all members informed of current initiatives and to coordinate various events for the children and their parents. She is very active in the local pro-life community and serves with her husband in the Leadership Circle of their state’s Alliance for Life.

This family has opened their home to those in need, including a family of five who were looking for housing upon their return to Texas after serving in the Army; another family of five whose home had burned down and another family of three who were homeless and unemployed.

The Odoms have served as lectors, and been involved in religious education, liturgy coordination and numerous other parish and diocesan ministries.

Just prior to entering seminary, Alex served as chairman for one of the council’s monthly barbecues, helping to direct the proceeds to the seminary. Daughter Sharla founded a pro-life organization in the parish’s youth group. She now brings the group together each month for a pro-life youth rosary. All of the children have been or are presently altar servers.

Also honored as Family of the Year runners-up were the Michael and Kathy Kiedrowski family of St. Wenceslaus Council 8839 in Dickinson, North Dakota; the Brian and Tegwin Rome family of Archbishop John Roach Council 10031 in Chanhassen, Minnesota; the Jose and Rita Rivera family of St. Leo’s Council 9461 in Hilton, New York, and the Michael and Tanja Dubois family of Brandon Council 1435 in Brandon, Manitoba.