About Us

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Our unit was named after Karel Havlíček Borovský who was born on October 31, 1821, in Borova in Southeastern Bohemia, near Německého, Brodu. Living during a period of Czech and Slovák revival, he came to be a fearless journalist and the political leader of the younger generation.

He began writing as early as grammar school when he started composing poems in German and in Czech. He made a great effort to learn the Czech language thoroughly, despite the German surroundings of his youth and the Slovák influence in the area. After studying philosophy in grammar school, he decided to be a priest.

Beginning in his studies for the priesthood in a seminary in Prague, Havlíček became disillusioned with some of the professors and students and spent most of his time studying history instead. He was eventually suspended. Although his father wanted him to become a lawyer, Karel preferred to be a grammar school teacher.

Havlíček continued, however, to think of a career in journalism. As Havlíček expanded his journalistic work, he edited various Czech papers and kept working for the right of the Czech Language to be spoken in the schools and in public. He stressed the Slavic tongue and culture. Fighting for freedom of the press, he expressed his feelings for everyone to be given free voting power, and also expressed his knowledge and ideas about religion.

In December 1851, the police captured Havlíček and carried him to jail in the little town of Tyrolean, in Brixen where he remained a prisoner for the next three and a half years. He was released in 1855, after promising to give up all his political and literary work. Returning to Německého, he died of tuberculosis one year later on July 29, 1856. His funeral was held in Prague and was a national mourning.

Historians have called Karel Havlíček Borovský a brave man, without fear and shame, a true Czech, and one of the most knowledgeable and best like characters that the Czech land has born. Czech esteem and affectionate regard for him can be compared to the American love for Abraham Lincoln. Havlíček’s services for his nation were of the same value.

ALOIS JURCIK (1908-1910) – Bro. Jurcik was the father of our unit. He and the 21 other charter members laid the cornerstones of our future.  

FRANK TOUPAL (1911-1914) – Bro. Toupal also served as District President.

JOSEPH BUNATA (1915-1918) (1920-1924) – Bro. Bunata came to Ennis from the Chicago area to continue his work in Sokol.  He was also known for his writings and travels.

FRANK PETR, SR (1918-1919) – Bro. Petr was a charter member of our unit. 

FRANK MOUCKA (1920) – Bro. Moucka was also a leader of the Sokol Band for many years. Later he left Ennis to serve as editor of the Czechoslovak newspaper in West.

JERRY ZAZVORKA (1925-1945) – Bro. Zazvorka served our unit for 20 years during the heart of the depression. He guided our unit during trying times, many times at the expense of personal sacrifices.

FRANK LAZNOVSKY (1946-1952) – Bro. Laznovsky devoted many years to Sokol work. 

BOB ZAZVORKA (1950) – Bro. Zazvorka was a member for over 50 years. He served as President briefly for a few months, in addition to other offices. He was very active through the early years of our unit.

JOE B. HEJNY (1953-1956) – Although he served just a few years, Bro. Hejny was an inspiration to our unit. He left Ennis in 1957 to take a position of vice-president of the Supreme Lodge, SPJST, during which time he continued as a member and supporter. 

JOSEPH VYTOPIL (1957-1963) – Bro. Vytopil’s philosophy and guidance will long be remembered. With his passing in 1972, we lost a great leader. Not only did he serve us as President, but he was at one time the Director of Plays, Educational Director, and held other offices. Also, his publicity of Sokol in his writings was well know.

STANLEY HOUDEK JR. (1964) – Bro. Houdek was a very devoted Sokol member. Not only did he serve us as President, but he was for many years a Physical Instructor and Náčelník (Chief). 

CHARLIE A. JURCIK (1965-1968) – Following in the footsteps of his father, the first President of our unit, Bro. Charlie has also been one of our most ardent leaders. He served as Vice-President for many years, and he and Sister Jurcik maintained membership dues and pledges. Many of us remember him as our Náčelník (Chief).

EDWIN LAZNOVSKY (1969-1975) – Bro. Edwin also followed in his father’s footsteps. He led us through many of our “growing pains”. He continued to serve as Vice-President for many years.

DON YORK (1976-1979) – Bro. York exemplified the youth of our organization. He was our youngest President and a very capable leader.

LAWRENCE LAZNOVSKY (1980- MAR 2011) – Bro. Larry, son of President Frank Laznovsky, took over the leadership of the unit after serving as Physical Director of the unit for 16 years. He was also the District Physical Director, a position which he had held since 1967. He served as Southern District President and the National American Sokol President from 2000-2010. 

DAVID SLOVAK (APRIL 2011- OCT 2016) – Bro. David was asked to step in after Bro. Larry passed away unexpectedly. David also served as Property Committee Trustee, Ways and Means Chairman, and Public Relations Director (unit and district), and also founded the Ennis Czech Music Festival. 

THOMAS BETIK (OCT 2016 - DEC 2022) – Bro. Thomas is a long time Sokol member. He also served as Physical Director, Property Committee Trustee, and District Educational Director.

MICHELLE R. SLOVAK (JAN 2023 - CURRENT) - Sis. Michelle is the first woman to be elected President of Sokol Ennis since its establishment in 1908. She served for many years as Public Relations Director and Ways and Means Committee Chair.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

The Sokol organization has its roots in the Central European city of Prague. At the time the city and the surrounding Bohemian lands were part of the Hapsburg Empire. The Czech language, culture, and traditions had been suppressed for over two hundred years in favor of the German language and government.

In the early 1860’s new laws made the re-emergence of ethnic identity possible. This emergence of nationalism was not lost on the young philosopher Miroslav Tyrs. In 1862, with the aid of his benefactor Jindrich Fuegner, he began a movement to unify the people who shared a common heritage. Tyrs established a program of building strong bodies, minds, and character — traits that were the foundation of all successful nations — to accomplish this goal. Tyrs called the vehicle that would bring about this change “Sokol”. Sokol is the Czech word for falcon, a bird known for its strength and independence, a high-flying guardian of its own domain.

This development of body, mind, and soul became known as the Tyrs System. It was based on a wide variety of physical exercises to develop a strong body. Sokol also embraced the literary and artistic expressions of the freedom-loving people. The Sokol movement quickly grew from a local activity in Prague to an organization that spread throughout the land. In no time it crossed the borders into Moravia and the surrounding Slavic nations.

European political unrest and an archaic distribution of wealth caused Central Europeans, Czechs among them, to immigrate to the United States. In 1865 the first Sokol Unit on American soil was formed in St. Louis, Missouri. As this immigration continued more Sokol Units sprang up in the United States. Eventually these independent Units came together to form what is now American Sokol.

In Europe the long-standing principles of Sokol — freedom, democracy, and national sovereignty — were repeatedly challenged. Finally, with the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to end World War I, the independent nation of Czechoslovakia was established. With the backing of Sokols in America, the Czech and Slovak Sokols were instrumental in establishing the region’s first democracy. Led by Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, the country modeled its constitution after that of the United States. Citizens celebrated in the streets. Many were proudly dressed in their Sokol parade uniforms.

Peace, prosperity, and democracy were short lived. Fifty years of foreign occupation began in 1938. First, there was the Nazi occupation and then the Soviet “liberation”. Neither regime had any use for the freedom-loving democratic Sokols who refused to swear allegiance to either. Sokol leaders were executed or sent to concentration camps, their property seized, and the organization outlawed. The Sokol movement survived in its mother country only as an underground organization.

After the “velvet” revolution of 1989 the organization reemerged. The Sokol spirit was so strong in the hearts of the Czech and Slovak citizens that, after skipping almost two generations, the organization was able to quickly gain membership and achieve national prominence.

In the United States, Sokols have always changed and adapted to meet the needs of the community while teaching and practicing our core values: democracy, freedom, equality and physical fitness. Sokols always follow Tyrs’ command, “Ku Předu, Ku Předu, Zpátky Ni Krok!” (Forward, forward, not one step back!)

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES

American Sokol is a multi-faceted organization guiding its members throughout life from early youth through maturity, to physical and moral health, good citizenship and responsible patriotism, combined with continuous self-improvement. These goals are pursued through general physical fitness activities, gymnastics and sports, as well as varied cultural and social activities.

Sokols value moral integrity and expect that members will live their lives honorably and be faithful to the truth. Our sense of morality rejects bias and prejudice.

Sokols affirm that they are proud of their citizenship in our great country, the United States of America; that they continue to vigilantly guard the democratic principles on which our country and our organization is based; that we honor the sacrifice of Sokols who fought valiantly in past wars to defend our freedom and independence; and that our patriotism is deep, sincere and extends to commitment and action in our local and wider communities.

Sokols accept the ideal of a “sound mind in a sound body”. In our gymnasiums participants strive for the ability to physical improvement through calisthenics, gymnastics, sports and fitness activities. As an educational organization, Sokols teach, develop and mentor young and old alike without concern for race or creed. It is a place of working together, learning new skills, helping one another, and giving of oneself.

Sokol was born from noble goals and a willingness to give to others. The future of Sokol is in the hands of those who accept the mantle and carry it forward. NAZDAR! (ON TO SUCCESS!)

What is a Sokol “Slet”? 

(Reprinted from “The Sokols and Their Endeavor” by Charles Bednar and Paul Sivak, 1948)

“The Slet are milestones in the life of the Sokol movement.  They are periodic gymnastics festivals, surveys of what has been accomplished in the past working period and demonstrations of individual and collective achievement in the field of physical culture.  To the Sokols, they are as significant as the Olympic games were to the ancient Hellenes. 

The Slets are organized on a regional, national and international scale.  The most significant and the most famous, however, are the international Sokol Slets, held every six years at Praha, Czechoslovakia (Prague, Czech Republic).  The first slet was held in 1882, in celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the Sokol organization, and was presided over and directed by Dr. Miroslav Tyrs.  Every subsequent Slet reflected the amazing growth of the movement and the spreading of the Sokol idea far beyond the national frontiers of Czechoslovakia.  This constant progress is probably best documented by the growing numbers of gymnasts participating in the various Slet events and in the growing number of countries represented.  While the first Slet in 1882 was, more of less, a local affair with 720 gymnasts taking active part, the tenth Slet, held in 1938, was a significant international affair, with more than 250,000 gymnasts participating actively in the gymnastics displays – among them Sokols from all over the world.  Transcending all man-made barriers – national, social and political – the Sokol Slets have become manifestations for international understanding and brotherhood.   

No other aspect of the work of the Sokols could convey more clearly and effectively the substance of their endeavor than the magnificent display of mass calisthenics.  Through symbolic mass movements, all classes of gymnasts – the children, junior and senior boys and girls, men and women – before thousands upon thousands of spectators demonstrate here the meaning of the Sokol idea of democratic gymnastic training.  These mass calisthenics, in which thousands or even tens of thousands of gymnasts take part simultaneously, are true works of art; they are symphonies of movement, color, and rhythm, odes of joy of life and happiness.  It is practically impossible to describe their effect upon the spectators, and to capture the enthusiasm and the spirit prevailing at the stadium during their performances. 

The inspiring and deeply moving effect of well performed mass exercises if the product of thorough preparation, of countless hours of practice, of a will to succeed and not to be deterred by temporary lack of success.  It is a product of free men united by a common ideal, who voluntarily subordinate part of their personal wishes and desires to the good of the whole. Regimentation could not produce such harmony; fear could not produce such inspiration. 

The American Sokols not only participate in the international Sokol slets in Praha, Czechoslovakia but, organized in the American Sokol alliance, hold their national festivals every four years, usually in the city of Chicago.  In addition to these national festivals, the individual organizations forming the Alliance – such as Slovak Gymnastics Union Sokol and the American Sokol Union – hold their own Slets every year in the center of the several Sokol districts. 

It is at these Slets that the Sokols give a full account of themselves.  It is at these Slets that the American public can best get acquainted with the nature of the work the Sokols are doing in the interest of their members, their communities and their nation.”