In April of 1976 Bob Bauer, Earl Asimos Jr., Jim Weisback Sr., Les Milby, Walt Handel, and Fred Smith founded the German-American Police Association (GAPA) in Philadelphia. 50 years later on April 18, 2026 the organization celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary with a banquet held at the Cannstatter V.V.
Attending from the United German Hungarians was a group consisting of: Marlene Fricker, Werner Fricker Jr., Lisa Fricker, Michael Fricker, Susi Hartmann, and Connie Reiter. Of course the entertainment for the evening was Die Heimatklänge so Bill Galgon, Fred Galgon, Joe Hartmann, John Reiter, Wayne Lepp, and Dino Jakovasic were also in attendance.
The evening opened with a cocktail hour featuring an antipasti station, a German station that had pretzels, schnitzel and more and butlered Hors d’oeuvres. A slideshow was playing on a large screen in the back of the hall showing old GAPA photos. The club’s banner was displayed prominently and the flags of the many German States hanging from the ceiling made the hall look festive.
Each attendee was given a 50th Anniversary Pin and a GAPA Challenge coin. Raffle baskets and a door prize were displayed in the hall as well, their winners being awarded towards the end of the program.
Some special attendees were in attendance including past presidents of GAPA Frank Dufner and Chuck Pinkerton.
Soon we were all ushered to our seats and dinner as well as the program began with an invocation, and the Star Spangled Banner. The board of the German-American Police was introduced from the head table. Then honored guests from attending organizations were announced as well.
Standing: (L to R) John Aceto Jr, Adam Tilger, James Snyder, Gregory Speck, Ray V Rhine, Frank Mack, William Buttenbusch (GAPA DIRECTORS)
Seated (L to R) Ron Russell (FINANCIAL SECRETARY), Ian Lichterman (RECORDING SECRETARY), Jay Shensky (VICE PRESIDENT), Jim Schwartz (PRESIDENT), Mike Woolley (SGT.. AT ARMS), Jaime Schaible (TREASURER)
Jim Schwartz has been the President of the German-American Police Association for 26 years. At the banquet fellow members of the GAPA presented Jim with a large plaque thanking him for and commemorating his service to the organization. A well deserved honor.
Schwartz grew up not acquainted with the German-American community in Philadelphia or across the greater United States. He came to be involved when he happened to see a vibrant poster advertising GERMAN DAY on a telephone pole, he attended the event that year and the rest they say is history.
Jim then spoke first about the meaning of roots, family history, traditions, culture and language:
“Knowing where you come from helps you make more grounded choices about where you’re going…people who stay connected to their background often have a stronger sense of belonging….Traditions stories, and shared experiences passed down through generations often carry lessons about surviving hardship, adapting to change, and building community…at the same time, staying connected doesn’t mean staying stuck. Some people romanticize ‘roots’ as something you must preserve unchanged, but that can limit growth. The healthier approach is to stay aware of your origins while deciding consciously what to keep, what to interpret, and what to leave behind…”
-Jim Schwartz, President
German -American Police Association Philadelphia
Jim went on to talk about how all in attendance that night share that idea of staying connected to the past as a way into the future. He made special note and thanks that the younger organization of Asian-American Police from Philadelphia attended and supported noting the brotherhood of Police officers within the City, state and nation. Representatives from Chicago, New York and New Jersey Police were there as well. He also thanked many clubs and societies in the area for their support and friendship especially the over 100 people who attended the banquet.
One thing to note is that Jim stated that this 50th Anniversary Banquet was the first banquet GAPA held in 15 years. The days in our community of annual gala black tie banquets have passed. Most organizations hold special banquets at milestone anniversaries like this one these days. And that’s ok, because it makes the times we do gather more special. Marlene Fricker I overheard saying she misses the old banquet circuit. A lot of us like to get dressed up, we like to be social, have a meal, enjoy a beverage; see people and be seen.
I call now on all my fellow members of the German Hungarians, and of our fellow clubs, dance groups and societies: Attend when you can these kinds of special functions for special anniversaries or causes when they come up on the calendar. They are important traditions in our greater community and you won’t regret participating.
It’s not a surprise to report that our German Hungarians were some of the last to leave the event the other evening. It happens more often than you think and this time was no different. You keep talking with friends, reminiscing about past times, or if you are Marlene and Susi, dancing solo to the last few songs your husbands are playing onstage.
Thank you and congratulations to the German-American Police Association, its board, members, the founders. More importantly thank you to all those men and women that wear the badge, who protect us, and serve for us in this great nation, the U.S.A.
Michael N. Fricker
