Franciszek Jozef Proch
Lawyer, journalist
Born Feb. 5, 1915, Zielona Gora, Poland; came to U.S., 1949; son of Andrzej and Leokadia (Regent); married Tamara (Sils); children: Andrzej, Janina, Izabela.
Education: Master of Laws (M.L.), A. Mickiewicz University, Poznan (Poland), 1938; counselor-at-law certificate, Munich (Germany), 1947.
Career: political prisoner in Dachau concentration camp (Germany), 1940-45; scientific secretary, United Nations (UN) Relief and Rehabilitation Administration University, 1946-47, counselor at the occupation courts, 1947-49, editor, Lech (Polish newspaper), 1947-49, Munich; in New York City - research and policy officer, Free Europe Committee 1951-75, executive director, Polish American Immigration and Relief Committee, 1975-81; Retired.
Author: Poland's Millennium, 1966; Poland's Way of the Cross 1939-45, 1987; co-author (with O. Halecki), Poland, volume in Mid-European Studies, 1957, Planned Economy in Poland, 1958; contributor to Polish Radio, Denver (CO), 1985 -.
Member of: president, 1949-72, honorary president, since 1972, Polish Association of Former Political Prisoners; Polish Assistance - Polska Bratnia Pomoc (director, 1956-82, board directors chairman, 1981-82); Polish American Congress (P.A.C.) (president, Downstate New York Division, 1980-81); president, John Paul II Society, Denver; Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America (P.I.A.S.A.).
Honors: Cross of Valor, Polish Army, September 1939; Haller's Swords, Polish Army Veterans Association - Stowarzyszenie Weteranow Armii Polskiej (S.W A.P.), 1977; Chivalry Cross - Polonia Restituta, and September '39 Campaign Cross, Polish Government in Exile, London (United Kingdom), 1987; Honorary Citizen of the City of Mobile (AL), 1966.
Served with: Polish Army, September '39 Campaign, platoon leader.
Affiliation: Republican. Roman Catholic.
Languages: Polish, English, French, German, Latin, ancient Greek.
Hobby: studying pre-history of Poland.
Home: 9636 F.W. Chatfield Avenue, Littleton, CO 80123.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation,
New York, NY, 1996.