Timothy Patrick Galvin (August 7, 1894 – January 27, 1993)^[1] was a lawyer and Deputy Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus.^[2][3][4]

Galvin was born in Pierceton, Indiana on August 7, 1894.^[5] He later settled in Hammond, Indiana after beginning his law career.^[6][5] He enlisted in the United States Army on March 2, 1918 and became a ordnance sergeant.^[7] During World War I, after serving as a Knights of Columbus secretary at Camp Greene in North Carolina, he joined the American Expeditionary Forces in July 1918, and returned a year later.^[5][8]

Galvin married Mary Graziella Chevigny, who predeceased him in 1947, and together they had a daughter and two sons, Mary Anne, Timothy P., Jr., and Patrick Joseph.^[8][5] Both sons attended Notre Dame.^[8][5] He had a brother, Francis Joseph Galvin, Sr., with whom he had a law practice, another brother, Edward, and two sisters, Nell and Catherine.^[9]

Galvin was a member of the Class of 1916 at the University of Notre Dame.^[10][8][11] As a student, he was an editor of the Notre Dame Dome^[12] and was on the debate team.^[13]

In the 1930s, Galvin was president of the Notre Dame Alumni Association.^[14][8][5] Beginning in 1946, he served as a University lay trustee.^[15][8]

Galvin began his law career in the office of the Daniel E. Celly in Valparaiso in September 1916 before moving his practice to Hammond in 1923.^[5][8] There he was a partner in the firm of Tinkam and Galvin.^[5] He was a senior partner at the law firm of Galvin, Galvin and Leeney^[8] (established 1934) with his brother, Francis, and Edmond J. Leeney.^[9][5] Prior to this, he was a member of the firm of Tinkham & Galvin.^[16] As an attorney, Galvin was admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States bar on November 18, 1943.^[17]

Galvin was a president of the Hammond Chamber of Commerce, a director of the Mercantile National Bank of Hammond, and of the Citizens Federal Savings and Loan Association of Hammond.^[5][18]

He joined the Knights when he turned 18,^[18] and became grand knight of Valparaiso Council before becoming a district deputy in the area.^[5] Galvin was state deputy of Indiana from 1925 to 1928.^{[5][8][19][20][21]} Galvin was first elected to the Supreme Board in 1933 and served as Supreme Master of the Fourth Degree of the Knights from 1941 to 1945.^{[18][5][22][8][14]} In 1945 he was elected Deputy Supreme Knight^[23][5] and resigned from that post and from the Board of Directors in 1949.^[24][8]

Galvin was elected Deputy Supreme Knight during a power struggle for control of the Order between his close personal friend and future Supreme Knight, Luke E. Hart,^[25] and the then-Supreme Knight, Francis P. Matthews.^[26] Over several years, Supreme Advocate Hart had orchestrated the election of directors who had a different vision for the future of the Order than Matthews.^[26]

Matthews opposed having a convention in 1945 to preserve hotel space for returning WWII soldiers, but a convention was called anyway in the expectation that something could be worked out.^[23] The convention assembled in Montreal but, upon determining that a convention there would not be feasible, they adjourned to Plattsburgh, New York.^[23] Matthews felt such an action was illegal, declared himself not a candidate, and Hart's slate of officers were all elected, including Galvin and Supreme Knight John E. Swift.^[23]

In recognition of his service to the church, he was made a Knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great, one of the five Orders of Knighthood of the Holy See, by Pope Pius XII in 1942.^[5][8][27] The Timothy P. Galvin K.S.G. Outstanding Catholic Layman Award is awarded each year by the Indiana State Council in his honor.^[19]

As Deputy Supreme Knight during World War II, he argued that the United States was "fighting to uphold the doctrine at all men are created equal in the sight of God."^[28]

Galvin also served on the board of the Gibault School for Boys, an institution established by the Indiana Knights, for several decades, and as a trustee of Our Sunday Visitor.^[8] He was also on the Lay Advisory Board of St. Joseph’s College, Calumet Center, and served as a Trustee of All Saints Parish, Hammond.^[8][5]

Galvin was the first commander of the Charles Pratt Post of the American Legion in Valparaiso.^[5] During the Second World War, Galvin was a member of Lake County's Selective Service Board No. 4.^[5] He also was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks^[5] was active with the American Legion.^[8]

In 1957, B'nai B'rith of Hammond honored Galvin as the outstanding citizen of that city.^[8][5]